Do you want to show your Hot Wheels around and make your kids' heads turn? Do you want to make it even more stylish, cooler and unique than before? If yes, then customizing your Hot Wheels could be a worthy solution. But do you know how to customize Hot Wheels?
First, drill the rivets out and take apart the body.
Then strip off the paint and apply new paint.
Finally, swap the wheels with new ones and set back all the parts together to finish customizing Hot Wheels.
A detailed guideline will help you understand the process. Stay tuned till the end to find out how to customize your Hot Wheels car.
A Step-by-step guide for Hot Wheels Customization: Beginners to Expert
The best thing about customizing is that you do not need to follow any specific guidelines. You are free to show your creativity by making unique designs.
However, you may find it confusing at first. That's why today I will show you how to customize hot wheels cars. I will explain the process of customizing two Hot Wheels cars for your better understanding.
The Hot Wheels Car I will be customizing are:
Hot Wheels Nissan 300 ZX Twin Turbo
Hot Wheels Datsun Bluebird Wagon 510
A Hot wheels modification kit includes a drill machine, paint remover, spray paint, pliers, and a few other small tools. As I go through the customization process, I will mention what kits you need to buy to customize Hot Wheels.
Customization #1: Nissan 300 ZX Twin Turbo
Things you need to customize Hot Wheels:
- Hot Wheels Nissan 300 ZX Twin Turbo
- Drill machine
- Drill bit
- Tape
- Paint remover
- Brush
- Water
- Towel
- Hair dryer
- Spray paint
- Wire cutter
- Extra wheels
Step 1: Drilling
First, you need to drill out the river from the bottom of the car. If you don't have a drill machine, you can buy the DEWALT XTREME 12V MAX* Cordless Drill / Driver Kit. Its cordless design makes it convenient to use, and you can use it for other works too.
Warning: Don't drill down too much, or it will break the car apart.
Step 2: Disassemble The Body
After drilling out the rivets, disassemble the whole Hot Wheels diecast car. It may feel stiff, but it will come out if you put some pressure on it.
Step 3: Apply Paint Remover
Now, apply the paint remover to strip off the paint. But before that, tape the tail line to keep the unique design of Hot Wheels Nissan ZX 300 Twin Turbo. You can use the Citristrip QCSG801 Paint & Varnish Stripping Gel to remove the paint. Use a brush to apply the paint to the Hot Wheels body.
Tip: Keep the Hot Wheels car on a steel bowl while applying paint remover to protect the surface from chemicals.
Step 4: Wash off paint
Once the paint starts to strip out, wash the car body in water and clean it completely. Remove the tape while cleaning.
Step 5: Let It Dry
After washing the car, wipe the body with a towel and let it dry for a few minutes. Here, I am using a hair dryer to dry it quickly.
Step 6: Attach Tapes
Now, attach a tape again on the back. That's because now you will be painting the Hot Wheels body again.
Step 7: Spray Paint
Then, prepare the spray paint for applying. You can use Krylon K05543007 COLOR maxx Spray Paint for an excellent outlook. For better results, shake the spray bottle for a few seconds and move on to the next step.
Caution: Wear goggles and a mask for safety.
Step 8: Apply New Paint
Keep the car on a surface and start spraying on it. Place the paper on the surface to protect it from the spray color. Turn the car body to ensure you have painted every area.
Step 9: Swap the Wheel
Use a Wirecutter to remove the wheels from the bottom part of the car. If you don't have a Wirecutter at home, you can buy the Channellock Diagonal Cutting Pliers.
After cutting out the wheels, install a new set of wheels. For installing the new wheels, you will need to have some extra wheels in your hand.
Hot wheels custom parts are available in the online market. Get these YMCtoys Collectable Diecast Replacement Rims For Cars & Trucks to swap the original tires.
However, depending on the scale size of your Hot Wheels, you may need to try different wheels. If you do not know what a scale measurement is, you can read my article on hot wheels scale size.
Step 10: Reassemble
Finally, reassemble the parts to finish the process. Congratulations! You have customized your Hot Wheels for the first time!
Customization #2: Datsun Bluebird 510
Things you need to customize Hot Wheels:
- Hot Wheels Datsun Bluebird Wagon (510)
- Drill machine
- Flat head screwdriver
- Pliers
- Aerosol paint remover
- Spray paint
- Extra axles
Step 1: Drill Out the Rivet
Most Hot Wheels have two rivets beneath the main body. Use a drill machine to take those rivets out.
Step 2: Take apart the car
Now, take apart the body. Use a flat head screwdriver to remove the parts easily. CRAFTSMAN CMHT65021 is a good flat head screwdriver, in my opinion. Also, snip off the axles free with pliers.
Step 3: Strip off the Paint
Then keep the main body in a steel bin and apply a paint stripper to remove the paint. Here, I am using the Citristrip Aerosol Paint and Varnish Stripper. Let it soak for around 15 to 20 minutes, and then strip off the paint using a brush or towel. Then wash off the residues.
Step 4: Spray new paint
Now, apply a new spray paint of any color you want. Try to do it in a well-ventilated area to ensure safety. Let the paint dry overnight for better adhesion.
Step 5: Reinstall the parts
Finally, set new axles and reinstall all the parts together. Here's another Hot Wheels Car customized.
How to customize Hot Wheels easily?
From the above customization process, you can see that customizing Hot Wheels is simple and easy. First, you need to take apart the body, then repaint and swap the wheels, and finally set them together again.
However, if you do not want to go through the hassle of drilling and changing wheels, you may also try an easier process. Strip off the paint first and apply any paint you want. Then attach some Hot Wheels Sticker Decals to make it look cooler.
The key point here is that you can do anything you want. Customization means showing your own creativity. There is no hard and fast rule or process you need to follow for customizing Hot Wheels.
You can also look for custom hot wheels for sale online. Etsy, eBay, and AliExpress are some of the online stores where you can check for custom hot wheels.
After customizing the Hot Wheels Car, you also can make your own Hot Wheels track. Check my detailed article on hot wheels make your own track to learn the guidelines.
How to customize Hot Wheels no drill?
You need to drill out the rivets on Hot Wheels, so you can easily swap the wheels and paint the body. However, if you don't want to invest in a drill right now, you can customize it without a drill.
Use pliers to cut out the axles and remove the wheels from the Hot Wheels, so you don't have to use a drill. Then use separate axles to set new wheels to customize the Hot Wheels.
You can buy separate axles from online stores. These EUDAX STEM Toys Shaft Round Rod Axles are highly durable and perfect for customizing Hot Wheels. Use the pliers to adjust the size.
Can You Get A Custom Hot Wheels Made?
Normally, Hot Wheels don't offer custom-made Hot Wheels. If you want to get custom Hot Wheels, you may try to look online for anyone who provides such services.
How do I add details to my Hot Wheels?
You can add details to your Hot Wheels with paint pens. Select your preferred color and draw the little details to the front and back. Keep your hands steady to get a better finishing.
Can You Paint A Hot Wheels Car?
Yes, you can paint a Hot Wheels car. But for that you will need to strip off the original paint first. If you try to paint on top of the original paint, it will not last long.
What Kind Of Paint Is Used On Hot Wheels?
Hot Wheels call the paint it uses "Spectraflame." It is the most common color that Hot Wheels use on their diecast cars. Besides, Hot Wheels also use enamel, chrome, metaflake, satin, matte, and spectrafrost colors.
How to create your own Hot Wheels?
You can create your own Hot Wheels in several ways. The easiest way to create your own Hot Wheels is using cardboard. First, select your design and then cut the cardboard with specific measurements. Then attach the pieces and color them to create Hot Wheels.
How Do You Organize Your Hot Wheels?
You can use multiple containers to organize your Hot Wheels. Use one container to keep the tracks and another for the cars. You also can organize them on the shelf by dividing them into different categories.
My Final Opinion
As you know now how to customize Hot Wheels, you can instantly get into work. Although I have used only two models here, you can customize any Hot Wheels car you want. The basics here are to disassemble the parts, paint on the body, swap the wheels, and reassemble. Besides, you can do anything to make it unique.