While many articles here at Redline Derby focus on racing and cars (as it should be!), I also want to feature the people behind the cars. Weekend Customs is a spotlight on amateur diecast customizers creating cars for the track and the shelf. Don’t expect a spit shine polish or rare collectible, these are people that just love to play with cars.
Our first Weekend Customs spotlight is on a Redline Derby Racing charter member, Aaron Sulser, from Columbus, Ohio. His first custom, “Dead Reckoning,” was a learning experience that resulted in a true garage band hot rod meant for the drag strip. It might be a little rough around the edges, but it highlights a lot of what you can do to add your own style to a diecast.
Weekend Customs with Aaron Sulser
Redline Derby Racing: You said this was your first custom diecast. What turned you to customizing?
Aaron Sulser: I’ve always enjoyed making models. I think you and I started talking about the possibilities and I went from there.
RDR: Your Dead Reckoning car looks like a Matchbox mainline. Are you a Matchbox or Hot Wheels guy? Why?
AS: I prefer Matchbox since they are based more off of real cars.
Dead Reckoning
RDR: Did you have an idea for Dead Reckoning before you started, or did you just wing it?
AS: Mostly just winged it, though the getting the hearse really set it off.
RDR: I love the name Dead Reckoning. How did you come up with that name? Inspiration?
AS: Inspiration was from a movie “Land of the Dead” they had this kick-ass bus/tank thing that they used to drive around towns and kill zombies. It was called Dead Reckoning.
RDR: What tools did you use to create this beast?
AS: Dremmel mostly. Cutting wheel tool and grinder for the Dremmel. I also used paint and decals.
RDR: The decals look especially great, did you create them yourself? How’d you decide on which ones to use?
AS: I found a clear decal paper at a hobby store that you can run through your inkjet. I like the flame idea that you see on a lot of cars but my flames come up from the bottom, as if from Hell.
Custom printed decals
RDR: Are there any tips or tricks you can share about printing your own decals? Is it worth it?
AS: The decal paper isn’t cheap so us it sparingly. The biggest problem is that it is a clear decal so you have to consider what it will look like ontop of a colored car. That’s why I painted my hearse white so that the decals will show. If you are wanting to put it on a colored car then you would want to buy a white decal paper. But then you have to cut out the decal exactly so as not to have a white border on everything. I think it is worth it if you really want to take the customization to the next level.
RDR: How long do you think it took you from start to finish?
AS: Couple hours maybe. I worked on it over a few weeks time here and there.
RDR: What, if anything, would you have liked to have done to Dead Reckoning that you weren’t able to do? What would you have changed?
AS: I would like to have made it a black car, but the decal situation made this a bit tricky.
RDR: And now the important question, how does it race!? Did you intend for this to be for the shelf custom or for the track?
Lets race!
AS: I fully intended this to race. I put larger wheels on the back and didn’t glue it together so that I could add weights if necessary. It actually races, surprisingly well.
RDR: Do you have plans to make any more customs? If so, do you have any ideas in your head for what you’ll create next?
AS: I want to do more. I just don’t have any ideas yet. I usually just looks for cars and let the idea come from there.
RDR: Did you collect Hot Wheels/Matchbox when you were a kid? Do you remember any favorite car or story you can share?
AS: I had a few when I was a kid. I think my favorite was the General Lee. Once I was mad at my older brother for a day of his tormenting me. I went to his room, got his favorite hotwheels car, threw it in the toilet and peed on it. Ahhh sweet revenge
RDR: If you wanted to get a friend into customizing diecasts, what would you tell them? Why should a diecast collector try to customize?
AS: I don’t think a collector would be into customizing. You have to be willing to destroy some cars. If you had a backup to the car then go ahead. I would just explain to a friend that its fun to create these cars and it’s rewarding to work with your hands on something like this and have it turn out well.
RDR: So was customizing fun and challenging enough that you’ll make some more? Was it worth it?
AS: I enjoyed it. I would like to make more, I just have to find the time to do it. Now that the weather is getting colder my indoor activities will increase so I plan on making some more. It was worth it.
Are you a weekend customizer?
I want to thank Aaron for sharing his experience and for helping get Redline Derby Racing off the ground. When Aaron isn’t customizing diecasts he’s at home with his family either watching Ohio State football, designing web sites with Cube Five Design, or hunting ghosts with Dark Alley Paranormal.
If you’re a weekend customizer and have a project you want spotlighted, please send us a message on Twitter, Facebook, or use the Redline Derby Community Forums.
