How to Customize a Hot Wheels Car

A customized Hot Wheels car can be a model of your dream car or a replica of a car you once owned. For a true collectible, consider having your dream Hot Wheels car customized by a professional. If you just want a chance to build your skills and express your creativity, customizing a Hot Wheels car can be a fun and inexpensive hobby.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Hot Wheels cars
• Dremel
• Paint stripper
• Metal epoxy
• Metal files
• Sandpaper
• Graphics software
• Laser or inkjet printer
• Paint
• Clear coat
• Tweezers

1. Gather drawings and photographs of the car you want to emulate. Consider merging pieces from the bodies of different cars for a unique customized car. Mix features like headlights, fins and wheels.
2. Purchase Hot Wheels cars that match the body and style of the cars you want to create.
3. Purchase decals with your name, company logo or other images (see Resources below). Alternatively, you can make them with graphics software, like Photoshop. Use a laser or inkjet printer and sticker paper.
4. Dismantle the car. Remove the wheels. Strip the paint. Remove features you don't want by grinding them down or cutting them off.
5. Smooth the surface with sandpaper or a metal file. Dust off the car with a clean cloth. Use a metal epoxy to attach parts of cars together and to fill in spaces. When the epoxy is dry, sand and smooth the car. Wipe clean.
6. Paint the body with the base color or metal flake. Allow it to dry. Apply a second coat or a glaze. When it's dried, add details like flames or stripes. Use tweezers to apply the decals. Apply a clear coat. Allow it to dry overnight.
7. Browse the Internet for skilled artists if you want a more professional job than you can do yourself. Many artists do specialty customizations, ranging from NASCAR cars to branded trucks and farm equipment and emergency services vehicles.