Diecast Cars » Peterbilt

Diecast Cars Trucks – Paint Striping

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:14:39 +0000

There are two basic types of paint strippers, solvents or caustics. The caustics are lye based and are generally used to strip paint from wood. The solvent strippers range from some of the “green” ones based on the chemicals in citrus (oranges) to the most aggressive, usually containing methylene chloride. Methylene Chloride will burn skin almost instantly. You must wear eye protection, have adequate ventilation and wear protective clothing when using Methylene Chloride strippers.

Automotive brake fluid is another alternative although maybe not as fast as conventional strippers, it is one of the safest. Not only is it less likely to harm skin, it won’t hurt most plastics. Model railroaders have used it for years to remove the paint from their diecast model trains and accessories. It is important to thoroughly wash the stripped casting before repainting or any remaining residue could hinder future paint projects.
Acetone is another commercially available stripper that can be found with the paint thinners at any paint store or with the paint products at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc. Although flammable and the concentrated vapors can be toxic, it is safer than most of the commercial strippers. Store it in a glass jar with a metal screw top. Acetone will dissolve will dissolve some plastics and tends to evaporate through the plastics it doesn’t dissolve. It should be noted that a safety label should be affected to the container and the container should be stored in a safe place. Even though you know what is in the jar, others may not. After carefully dissembling your model put metal parts in the jar and let them soak. The paint will usually slough off in a few minutes. You can snake the casting out of the jar using a wire hook or pick it out with tweezers or forceps Although using a metal screen to pour through is faster and removes more of the paint residue. Light brushing with an old toothbrush will usually remove any stubborn spots. Use a wooden toothpick to get any remaining paint out of door and hood lines. If the paint is stubborn, you can just keep repeating the soaking. One advantage of acetone is that it completely evaporates and won’t leave any residue to interfere with repainting. The primary problem with acetone and skin is that it removes the natural oils. Just avoid skin contact as much as possible. Keep the acetone away from windshields and other plastic parts as it will destroy them.
As a final thought I would like to stress the importance of safety when stripping diecast cars trucks or any type of metal model. If you are unsure of whether or not the solvent you are using will cause harm to yourself or the model then it is recommended to use brake fluid.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Gilio

Collecting Diecast Model Cars is a Popular Hobby

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:05:46 +0000

Diecast toy cars, trucks, tractors and other vehicles have been popular with boys of all ages for years. It might be hard to believe but diecast toy cars have been around since the early 30′s. These early vehicles weren’t made to look like a particular car or truck but were just basic vehicles with very little detail.
Diecast toy vehicles didn’t really become popular until the Matchbox line was introduced in 1947. Mattell decided to enter the diecast toy car field in 1968 and the world of diecast changed completely.

These vehicles were an immediate hit with little boys and grownup boys as well. They were modeled after the popular muscle cars right down to the red stripe on the tire. These redline tires were standard on Hot Wheels until 1977. The redline era Hot Wheels are a very hot collectible.
Topper Toys produced the Johnny Lightening line of diecast cars. Their niche in the diecast market is tractors and farm equipment.
For collectors the allure is often nostalgia, for little boys it’s the fun.
Whatever the reason you are interested in diecast toy vehicles, you won’t have a hard time finding them.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynn_Crowe

First Die Cast Companies Forged History – Dinky and Tootsie Lead the Way

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:43:07 +0000

Today, many pre-war die cast cars are considered rare and collectible items. The earliest die cast items and vehicles were made of ZAMAK alloy that didn’t stand the test of time particularly well. There was a tendency for these miniatures produced in the early 1900s to form cracks and break. Consequently, pre-war cars in excellent condition command precious prices at auction.
In America, the road to die cast model cars was paved by Charles Dowst who saw an amazing new technology displayed at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The Line-O-Type machine was targeted at publishers and captured Dowd’s attention since his family was in the business. Simply – the Line-O-Type made it possible for metal letters to be molded, set in lines of type, inked and printed for newspapers and magazines.
But Dowst, being an innovator, imagined other uses for the technology. By 1906, Dowst noticed how fascinated children were with the appearance of horseless carriages on the city streets and soon toy cars were rolling off the assembly line. By 1910, the company was producing a line of Model T Ford replicas that were very detailed, yet affordable.
An early catalog from the Dowst firm pictured a variety of items from pins and cuff links to tiny trains, boats and horse-drawn fire engines. Experts say the first real die cast automobile made its debut in the catalog in 1911 – a diminutive limousine with a closed in top and extended hood characteristic of cars from that period.
This era marked the birth of the die cast industry in America and other companies soon jumped on the bandwagon. At about the same time, die cast models were being introduced “on the other side of the pond,” in Liverpool, England. The company’s first successful products were 00 gauge model railway systems. But Hornby took railway cars and engines further, producing entire die cast scenes to create a railway station. So popular that, by 1910 the sets were being exported all over the world and led to expansion of the company to France and Germany. By 1922, the Meccano opened a branch in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
At a cost of 4 shillings, a youngster could own a sports car, a truck, delivery van, tractor or tank. Other models followed and the company grew more faithful to reproducing accurate detail in its model cars.
But, many Dinky die cast cars suffered from lack of quality in the metal used in casting during this prewar period. Consequently, models from this era in excellent condition are highly prized and sought after. A post war 1952 Dinky Foden lorry fetched 12,000£ in 2003 – or about $19,560 at the 2003 exchange rate.
Secondly, they are brimming with nostalgia for another, perhaps simpler time and place. These Tootsies and Dinky cars are not modern reproductions of historic vehicles, but die cast models that survived the hands of children and the test of time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kadence_Buchanan