A couple of weeks ago I started this project by trying to find a good donor car since Hot Wheels does not make a 1989 Taurus station wagon. Finding something close, then finding something that’s close and available makes this task difficult. I figured that most of the detail would be in the paint and of course the massive tree attached to the top of the car, so I went with something the I could work with and something that was readily available, a Hot Wheels ’70 Chevelle station wagon. Of course a 1970 Chevelle station wagon looks nothing like a 1989 Taurus wagon, but the station wagon in the movie wasn’t stock either. The Taurus wagon never came with faux wood on it. So, for the purists out there, tough! I’d do my best to make them look close. This starts by removing the hood pins and changing the head light configuration to make it look more like the Taurus. A little filing and sanding on the hood pins, some JB Weld to cover the Chevelle head lights, more sanding, then it’s first coat of primer. I’m still kicking around ideas for this, so this won’t be a quick project. As many times as I’ve watched Christmas Vacation, I would’ve sworn that the color of the wagon was light metallic green, not to be confused with the Truckster in the previous Vacation movies. [Read more…]
Archives for October 2018
Christmas Vacation Custom Wagon Continues
New Die Cast and Pops
My family knows all of my vices. Over the past few months, they’ve flooded me with some of my favorite pop culture goodies. As most of you know, we’ve collected die cast cars for many, many years. Mostly Hot Wheels and mostly VW die cast, but if we see anything else that we like, we’ll try to get it. A couple of years ago, I started collecting Funko Pops. Not all of them of course, but just the ones that I really like. Luckily my kids share a similar taste in pop culture. I’m very easy to shop for. 🙂
Hot Wheels Dodge Challenger SRT Custom Complete
I finished the 1:64 scale Hot Wheels Custom Challenger this afternoon. I wanted it to mimic our 2018 Challenger Scat Pack. I think I got pretty close. I’m no paint expert, but I’m satisfied. The water slide decals really made the similarity stand out. If I had a better ink jet printer, the decals would’ve turned out much better. This was the first time I used the water slide decals, next time, I think I’ll try to use the water slide decals for a laser jet printer. I may revisit this custom again in the future and give it another try, but I like this one and it was a change from the regular VW customs that I do.
Water Slide Decals and Paint
Spent some time this evening working on the Hot Wheels 1:64 Challenger that will eventually match our 1:1 scale Challenger SRT Scat Pack. Started on some of the details such as headlights, running lights and tail lights. I still need to pick up some testors red paint to finish the touch up and the tail lights. I also got the Testors water slide decal paper and sealer that I ordered. I mocked up the graphics in PhotoShop, scaled them, then printed them on my ink jet printer. This particular paper will only work on a ink jet, but I think they make the decal paper for laser jet as while. This stuff is not cheap. Nine 8.5×5.5 sheets run around 15 dollars. After the decals are printed, they need to dry over night, then 3 light coats of decal sealant. The sealant runs around 5 dollars. I ordered my supplies through Amazon, but most hobby stores will have these in stock as well. After everything is completed, the paint detail is cleaned up, I’ll give it a good polishing with the dremel, polishing compound and wax. Last step will be to apply the water slide decals.
Installing A Hard Start Relay
There are numerous reasons why you may want to install a hard start relay on your vintage VW. A hard start relay basically directs the electrical current from the battery, through the relay and to the starter motor instead of routing it through the ignition switch. This eliminates a path of approximately 15′ of wiring and potentially bad connections. Once installed, your ignition key simply activates the relay. You can pick up a 4 post, 12v relay at most automotive stores, Ebay or Amazon for around 5 dollars. I already had some 12 gauge wiring and terminals, so I only have about 5 dollars and 30 minutes invested in to this project. You can buy ready made kits, but they can be pretty expensive, up to 35 dollars. Mabel wasn’t exhibiting any syntoms that would justify the install of the hard start relay, but not knowing what the future may hold, I thought I’d go ahead and install one. You don’t have to be a electrical genius to install the relay, but it does help to have the right tools. It doesn’t require any cutting or splicing of the original wiring. Wiring will vary from year to year, so depending on the age of your VW, your install may differ just a bit, but for the most part, it’ll be the same. If you look at the first pic, you’ll see that I’ve labeled what connector goes where on the relay. Start by disconnecting the battery. Locate the wire that goes from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid. Unless your VW has had previous wiring changes, more than likely, it’ll be a larger red wire with a quick disconnect. This wire will go to pin 87 on the relay. Make up a jumper that will go from pin 85 to the ignition switch (quick disconnect). Next, you need to make up a ground wire that will go from pin 86 on the relay to ground. I grounded mine where I mounted it to the floor pan support. Now you’ll need to make up a cable that’ll go from the positive post on the battery to pin 30 on the relay. You can also run this from the B+ post on the voltage regulator if you don’t want to run it to the battery. Lastly, you’ll need to mount the relay. You can mount it just about anywhere that will ensure a good ground. I chose the floor pan support. Don’t forget to connect your ground wire to the relay.
Hot Wheels Dodge Challenger SRT Custom Update
Just an update on a previous post concerning our 1:64 Hot Wheels Dodge Challenger SRT custom that will mimic our 1:1 Challenger SRT. I’ve started some of the detail work on the grill area, hood, gas filler cover, etc. There’s still a lot of cleanup to do, but at least you can see what direction I’m going with it. I ordered water slide decal sheets and sealer that I’ll use for the custom graphics. Hopefully I’ll be able to print enough detail for it to look good. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish this one up next weekend.
Latest VW Beetle Desktop Wallpaper
Last week I took Mabel down to my favorite place to take pics of our cars. These were my favorites and the ones that I’ll be rotating as my desktop wallpaper until I decide to take updated pictures next spring. Feel free to use them for yourself. Just click on the pic you want, right click within the pic and save to your own pc.
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