Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

I need to upload more to my Facebook page so I can put more on here. I'll do more later

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...27910078_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...73664110_o.jpg

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

Now that is custom work. Superfine! Mine are just "non-original".

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

WOW ,Im drooling on my keyboard .

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

Well I feel stupid because I realized I spelled Luis's name wrong...Doh! Here are a few that he designed and I put together & painted.

https://scontent-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...31&oe=55737170

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...16a5368c0f4211

https://scontent-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...4b&oe=5586690E

A camo set I did that a guy wanted me to paint for him.

https://scontent-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...e5&oe=55B4708F

https://scontent-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...2e&oe=55834D86

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

Few more

https://scontent-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...6a&oe=55713077

https://scontent-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...f1&oe=5586DF1B

https://scontent-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...77&oe=55BC1A18

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...fd0932006adcf8

Twist to an old favorite
https://scontent-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...d1&oe=55B8304D

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...49086ab163d176

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...223c4168026ffb

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

Is all this paint, graphics and all, or do you combine methods? Yeah, I picked up on the Luis thing right away :lol:. Kidding of course

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

I combine both inkjet decals as well as Alps printer graphics. Not sure if you know what an Alps printer is but it's a micro dry printer that can print water slide decals. It can print you're CMYK colors as well as metallic cyan, magenta, gold, silver and more importantly WHITE. I also have a vinyl plotter that I make masks with, like the blue Sledster with the Merc on the back. I did lexan R/C car bodies for a long time before going small scale.

I first take pictures of stripped body and clean it up and make it to scale in photoshop. I then open it up in illustrator and design the graphics to the proper size of the bodies. Like below
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...69987190_o.jpg

After making sure it's all right I print the decals on my Alps printer.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...fff86020fa4dbc

Then on to the body. (These were different decals than the black with red pinstriping decals above)
https://scontent-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...41505454_o.jpg

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

Thanks for the details. So, basically, this is making tampos? Meaning, the same or similar technique is what Mattel,etc. do using production methods? I only know the term "tampo" yet never knew where the term originated.

My thing has been with making trucks look more regular, meaning more like what one of us may drive...more believable than fantasy or show. No chrome seats,inside bed,front panel of bed,etc. That green '62 I did has a fawn interior to be like stock and the gold one has white to look custom. I did the one grille white to lend to the just a regular truck vibe. I'd like to get into more detail. Hot Wheels don't command that so much, but to repaint a Greenlight or Jada it is. Looks like I would need to buy a lot of equipment I don't have. Custom paint jobs would be a cool option as well.

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

Wow ,that is so cool to know how all this works .

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

Tampos are kind of like a rubber stamp that stamps the various ink colors of the design onto the body. The graphics are a series of different parts of the artwork being stamped with specific colors, once all the stamps are complete you see the whole picture...kind of the same theory as silk screen printing tee-shirts. Here is a great tutorial Tampo Machine

The Alps printer uses a cassette type cartridge that contains a thin dry film on them that the printer transfers onto the decal paper as the artwork dictates (like ribbon typewriters). Once the graphics are complete you cut out the decal, put it in warm water and then set it on the body. The decal paper uses a transparent film that the artwork is printed on that releases from the back of the paper when introduced to warm water. Here is a video I found on YouTube that shows the Alps printer doing it's thing. Alps printer.

I hope you made sense of my ramblings, not the best at transferring the information from my head to paper. I understand what the look you're trying to get with you're customs. I was making a set of upper and lower trim for the 69-72's but got busy and never finished it. Also started on the 67-68 trim as well, but got sidetracked again. Maybe one day I'll get it finished.

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

Hey John, I think you jumped the gun. Check out Mike's next post where he beaks it down into particles :lol:

Mike, I think you did a great job explaining, very clear. The manufacturers use a different method/equipment. You do decals and they do tampos. A tampo is a stamp with the "s" changed to an "o" moved from the front to the rear, right? :cool: Naw, I am familiar with the screen printing process and that was a great comparison, as that's what I pictured (in my head not on paper) as you explained. Years ago, before I touched a computer, I talked to a guy at a flea market who I bought a custom graphic job from (Dairy Delivery). He was just copying, reducing, and printing...making stickers. This is a sophisticated piece of equipment yielding finer results that you are using. I also bought a Neat Streeter ('36 Ford coupe) from a guy a long (longer?) time ago. It is black with traditional flames. It looks like paint, but I could be wrong. It makes me think of those rice carvings. How long has this technology, or at least the device to the public, been available? I've had a thing for custom imprint

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

Thanks Robert!

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

I only had factory color for two.

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

Wow ,those turned out great .

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

Sweet! I love the blue one.

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

Do you think I got the color right for the green '67 interior? I need to find a blue close enough, yet. The 50th I just painted white. But now I want to do the gold inserts. I also have been wanting to get so thin styrene to make tonneaus or bed covers. For tonneaus I could do a texture

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

You're welcome.
I like all the colors you did.
I always favor blue; but the 50th you did; I like the best.

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

I agree, they all turned out great. Always liked the 50th and you did a great job.

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

I think I like the side markers "shaved" on the 50th. I still want to do all the tail lights and detailed grille is something I need to get up some nerve for.

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

I can send you some of the ones I did, I think I have a few sets already printed up. If you look at some of the ones I posted above (not the Caddy style) they are pretty close. LMK

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

So I get this email last night from my buddy showing his rendition of the Batmobile....called the Phatmobile! Haven't seen the car in person yet but looks like it's going to be pretty cool. Never really cared too much for the original design but this one is slick. IMO

https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...96940708_o.jpg

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

Yo, that's phat, yo. That's how the Batmobile would have looked if the show came out five years earlier.
Tail lights? Sure, I'd be willing to pay for some.

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

No need, pm me your addy and I'll send you out 5 pair, maybe more if I can find some. Eventually I'll do an entire page of them which would do probably 500-600 trucks.

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

They're teeny little things alright. I'm sending a PM and thanks again!. I want to do more colors. I think I have a metallic green. Oh, and I guess that lt. blue would be the same as the on the '67 I did, or close enough

Re: Pic Thread: Customized Hot Wheels,etc
 

I think those sledsters look awesome