Lately I've been picking up and redoing old Hubley 400 series diecast cars for my layout. A few months ago I did an REA truck and now I have a Taxi and a Buick convertible. The first photo shows the REA truck as completed. The next 2 are my current project as received.
These are the completed vehicles.
The flash kind of washed out the colors. The Taxi yellow is very close to the original and the blue on the Buick is a darker blue.
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Super job!
How did you strip the paint and what paint did you use?
Jim Z
Very, very cool. Thanks for sharing.
Very nice. I have found that 1/24-scale autos can look great with Std Gauge:
Gotta find a source for replacement tires for Franklin Mint. Some of these are cracking to bits.
PD
Jim Z posted:Super job!
How did you strip the paint and what paint did you use?
Jim Z
To strip older items like these or prewar Lionel I use Easy off Oven Cleaner. After they sit for a while I spray the item with 409 cleaner and the paint washes of with a stream of water. For Paint I used Rustoleum for the yellow and I think it was Rust X paint for the blue. The silver was a lot of tedious hand painting.
Are you able to remove the wheels when restoring them, or are they just taped around?
Nice work
Joe Lyons posted:Are you able to remove the wheels when restoring them, or are they just taped around?
I remove the wheels by very carefully spreading the crimp to the axle. Occasionally I break one but i epoxy the axle to what's left at reassembly. I have also found one of the craft stores sells 1 inch wood wheels that look very close to the original. The axle hole is too large so that has to be filled with a dowel and redrilled. Now I'm looking for something to make replacement axles out of. I really like the old Hubley cars and trucks they're a pretty good size match and there are plenty around.
Rattler21,
please send me an email.
nice work
Pete in Kansas posted:Lately I've been picking up and redoing old Hubley 400 series diecast cars for my layout. A few months ago I did an REA truck and now I have a Taxi and a Buick convertible. The first photo shows the REA truck as completed. The next 2 are my current project as received.
These are the completed vehicles.
The flash kind of washed out the colors. The Taxi yellow is very close to the original and the blue on the Buick is a darker blue.
Beautiful Pete!
Joe Gozzo
Pete in Kansas posted:Joe Lyons posted:Are you able to remove the wheels when restoring them, or are they just taped around?
I remove the wheels by very carefully spreading the crimp to the axle. Occasionally I break one but i epoxy the axle to what's left at reassembly. I have also found one of the craft stores sells 1 inch wood wheels that look very close to the original. The axle hole is too large so that has to be filled with a dowel and redrilled. Now I'm looking for something to make replacement axles out of. I really like the old Hubley cars and trucks they're a pretty good size match and there are plenty around.
Do the old Hubley 400 series diecast cars have a solid chassis or can you get to the center of the axle.
If you can get to the center of the axle, you can cut the axle in half pulling the wheels and axle from both sides (make note on the front and rear wheel/axle sets).
When assembling, insert the two wheels and axles from each side, then join the two sections with brass tubing using JP weld to hold the axle together.
pd posted:Very nice. I have found that 1/24-scale autos can look great with Std Gauge:
Gotta find a source for replacement tires for Franklin Mint. Some of these are cracking to bits.
PD
Nice PD, since I will be running STD and O gauge I have been wrestling with 1/32 scale.
Joe Gozzo
VERY NICE WORK! I found some excellent 1:24 vintage 1940's Chevy sedans and convertibles and panel trucks at my local CVS in their diecast models bin at the front of the store. All reasonably priced!
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