61 replies to this topic

[Jairus]

I got caught up in a build-off on the Model Cars forum.

The premise is to build a 1/25 scale version of your favorite Hot Wheels or other 1/64 scale version.

I picked the Dodge Deora as my car since it was my very first Hot Wheels car.



The chassis I picked is simple enough as they never said it HAD to be a static model car - will be some neat Dynamic pieces left over from the Proxy.



The chassis will have a brass pan connecting the frame to the body and that is not in question. What I am having problems with are the wheels.
I need some wheels that match the 1/64 example as close as possible. Started out by collecting Cox 5 spoke wheels for the Cheetah, but not as happy with them as I am with these:



They are MDC items and a set of two (2) is currently on eBay (3/8" wide). But I will need a second set to complete. Or... if someone has a set of four (4) in their junk box of extra stuff I would gladly purchase them! (Send PM please.)

At any rate, progress continues on the body and chassis until I can find the correct wheels.

Deadline for the build-off is October 24 and the finished product will end up on eBay this fall.

[Cheater]

Maybe this will help with the detailing...

[Jairus]

Yeah, I took a few pictures of the real car at the Peterson Museum.





But... the challenge is to build a replica of the 1/64 Hot Wheels.

Less is more...

[Mr. Frank]

Gonna be a cool build... Put one of them on an FCR and mounted a camera in the bed.

Mr. Frank

[havlicek]

Very cool Jairus! On a semi-related note, as a kid we had a thing where we all ran those Ford pickups that used to look like a van on the front...I think they were called simply "Econolines". The "Little Red Wagon" dragster was a 1:1 example. Mine had (of course) a K&B 16D

-john

[Pablo]

Sending wheel PM

[Jairus]

Thank you all for the suggestions and offers for wheels. I almost took a couple of you up on the offers but noticed a bit of a problem.
The chassis is a sidewinder, normally pretty wide if you are playing with a vintage legal width car of 3". Unfortunately, this is a model car body and that is even narrower!

A set of 3/8" wide rears will barely fit the space on the gear side.


My original Cox wheels already had inherent problems with using nuts on the back side... But the biggest problem in my eyes were the fact that they, while being 5 spoke, really did not match the look of the car in my opinion.

That and the fronts were slightly smaller diameter than the rear.


Remember... the Deora was most likely the only one of the Hot Wheel lineup that used the same small wheels front and rear!
As far as I know... that made it pretty unique.



Dug through my stuff and found a matching set of wheels front and rear. Rears are still 3/8" wide and the fronts quite a bit narrower. I had planned on using these for a Monogram Chaparral but that is a project that I lost interest in a long time ago.



The mocked up chassis next to the body. Still need to true up both the front and rear. Turning them down to 1" dia. will help the look a lot better.
Incidentally, those Indy Grips got passed over. While I love the sidewall and the traction they would provide, one tire split as I slid it onto the rim. Even tho I soaked them both in HOT soapy water, the first went on beautifully, but the second... not so much. Oh well, I had a back up set of vintage foam tires (still soft) that will work just as well.


From the side you can see that the rims are a perfect match. Inserts will now be used to match the look of the Hot Wheels redline wheel.
Many thanks to Bob Steere for the Dynamic "reducers" (Item #761) for adapting threaded wheels to a 1/16" front axle.

Next, True those tires and cut a brass pan!

[68Caddy]

Love that one Jairus and I'm sure looking forward to see the end result.



Nesta

[HarV Wallbanger III]

Jairus, I always loved this one and had a model kit of it.... I think MPC did it???

[Jairus]

Glued and trued up the rear tires.
Found a set of fronts that were already 1" after stretching over those large Revell rims. (Just seemed wrong to destroy a set of mint soft Monogram tires by turning them down a 1/16")


Noticed that while set right, the body is way higher than the chassis. Plus there is not much room under the chassis for a brass pan. Dang... is nothing going to go right with this build?

The boards may not be realistic in their shape compaired to 1/1 originals, they at least look correct in relation to the Hot Wheels car. And that is the point!

Night!

[Gator Bob]

NICE !!!

[Jairus]

Hey Bob!!!
You were correct. The 1966 Chevelle SS wheels are perfect.


Only thing out there in scale is from a Lindberg '66 Chevelle kit. I didn't have, but a friend on the MCM forum is sending me a set.

[Gator Bob]

Perfect Jairus !!! .........and they are on the way
Those Wheel caps and Redlines are the key when you are building a Hot Wheels Deora on steroids

These were 14" hub caps on the 66 Chevelle SS, had a set on my 67" Box o Nova" Chevy II and they are IMO the nicest caps Chevy ever made.

[68Caddy]

I remember those wheels back in the sixty's, they where so cool but I did not know they where hubcaps?
Good choice either way, lets hope the parts arrive soon so I can see the next step.



Nesta

[Mopar Rob]

I always thought that the Hot Wheels wheels were modeled after the optional HURST Mags used on GTO's?

[68Caddy]

That's the way I remember the wheels on some of the hotter models from GM in Sweden, sure did not look like hubcaps to me then?
Heck I was a teenager back then, but I sure checked out cars very well.


Nesta

[Jairus]

Well Rob... they might have been originally.
I think when Mattel hired Harry Bentley Bradley to design the first dozen or so cars, they envisioned a generic 5 spoke mag that could have been ANYTHING! Cragar, Radir, Hurst, American... whatever!

I simply picked the '66 Chevelle Super Sport wheel because it more closely matched the flush rim - convex spoke wheel of the 1/64 Hot Wheels car. Does it not?

[68Caddy]

I like the last smiley, Jairus on the last post! Way funny.



Nesta

[Jairus]

The chassis pan not only adds needed weight to the lightweight Dynamic frame but it holds the body solidly in place. The pan is made from .040 brass slightly bent downward at the sides. With this I can control the rear ride height. Which I think is too low. The front however needs to be dropped slightly by using another guide. Possibly a Limegreen Jet Flag?







I am quitting for the night. Beer and a movie call......

[68Caddy]

Hell I rather watch your project then a movie, sure looking good.



Nesta

[Gator Bob]

Nesta, the one in Jairus photo is a hubcap that GM did a great job making it look like the custom wheels of the day, if you look close the black steel wheel behind.

Rob, The Hurst wheel in the lower photo has polished spokes and what looks like a steel trim ring also. The one on the GTO is how they were. Nice wheels for sure!!

Jairus, more pics please. we want to see the wheels!

[Jairus]

Just got them today but am working on the 2 motor '57 right now. Rear body mount.
J

[sportblazer350]

Jairus, i have one of these kits ready for a chassis, so maybe i will copy your idea and make a vintage hardbody car like yours. Your selection of a Dynamic chassis and a 36d motor is my fave for vintage racing.

[Jairus]

Been working hard this last week. Finished three t-shirt designs and helped wrap a top fuel dragster. But for the three day weekend I spent some time just modeling, and managed to finish up the wheels for the Deora Red-Line build.


The redline on the tires are hand painted with acrylic red and the wheels are Revell items with Lindberg '66 Chevelle hub caps turned-down and used as inserts. The inserts were stripped of the original chrome using "Easy-Off" oven cleaner and then ground down with a dremel sanding drum. Finished up with a sanding stick till they fit nice. (Can see one of them needs a bit more 'finishing'.) The inserts are then spray painted gloss black followed a couple days later with Alclad II. Installed with epoxy.

Finished chassis...

Everything rolls nice and smoothly. The swapping of the Cox guide for a Jet Flag helped set the stance of the body to ... PERFECT!

Anyway, here it is with the body.



Time for some paint... onward we go!

[Mr. Frank]

WOW !!! Can't wait to see the finished ride...
Those wheels made it way cool.. great job...

LOOKS AWSOME

Mr. Frank