As a kid I often ended up with bent axles on my die-cast cars.
It happened most to Matchbox Superfast and red line Hot Wheels after a hard circuit. Don't think it was a problem for Corgi Rockets.
Not sure I was any good at re-bending them into shape again. Was there an easy way to do it?
Never had this problem, but the details onsome of my die casts are a bit bent out of shape- would really like to know if they can be straightened out!
ReplyDeleteWhat sort of details Andy?
DeleteI have some model trains (sorry,not rockets!) with bent couplings, Lone Star "OOO" gauge pieces from the late 50s or early 60s. I'd like to restore them.
ReplyDeleteI hope some model train fans are reading this Andy. My life has sadly been trainless!
Deletesmall bag filled with sand and hammer
ReplyDeleteor
heat it and bend it with finger
THEN
put the axle on the mirror - you will easly see if it is bent (old test for Mini4wd axles)
Great tips Ran. They sound simple enough for me to have tried as a kid too!
DeleteHot Wheels had a Speed Shop accessory pack that included some plastic shell tires, engines and exhaust pipes that were held on by dark colored double sided tape. It also included a lube gun and wheel wrench. The lube gun essentially was a stiff wick to apply sewing machine oil to the axles. The wheel wrench had a slot that fit the axle and allowed you to bend it back into shape. It didn't work well on Matchbox as they had a thicker and stiffer axle but on Hot Wheels, it was a god send for the heavy handed of us.
ReplyDeleteHere's a pic of both tools. https://hotwheelsracetracks.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/ss15.jpg?w=584&h=417
Fab Lance! Never heard of the Speed Shop accessory pack. I didn't have one. Great idea though. Hot Wheels thought of everything! A wheel wrench for red lines. Love it!
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