Here's two versions of my "Texas Trifecta Express" just finished this evening.

One of these will be a prize in the upcoming Dairy Delivery Shootout DownHill Race at the end of this month.
I will let the winner of this prize choose between the Tangelo Pearl and LimeTime Pearl.

These Classic Drag Trucks are a real effort to Customize.
From body prep (chrome plating is hard as steel) to reassembly, they are much more difficult than regular HotWheels to work with.
In the end they are worth the pain to personalize.

Several layers of House Of Kolor paints, Intercoat clears and lots of taping.
Special paint stands had to be invented to hold these castings since the Drag Truck body itself has no rivet post.

Lots of time went into the Decal graphics.
The Decal Paper used is always Clear InkJet Decal paper from Papilio.com,
The shapes are several individually colored circles stacked concentrically, then shifted, bevelled and stretched into a teardrop.
Because of the compound curvature of the winged bed cover one decal including all 5 shapes could not be used.
5 separate Decals had to be laid down individually in perfect alignment with exact spacing.

More of my Center Caps dress out the bare end factory axles.
The winged bed cover gets a little Lemon Yellow trim to accent the SnowWhite Pearl.

Special Decals created to custom fit the taillights.
Urethane Clearcoat with lots of Brilliant Gold Pearl-Ex Powder.

Al House Of Kolor products, Of Course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the way they looked yesterday,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/CadillacPat/Drag%20Trucks/PICT0013.jpg

Now their finished appearance,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/CadillacPat/Drag%20Trucks/PICT0012-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/CadillacPat/Drag%20Trucks/PICT0013-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/CadillacPat/Drag%20Trucks/PICT0014-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/CadillacPat/Drag%20Trucks/PICT0015-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/CadillacPat/Drag%20Trucks/PICT0016.jpg

The winged bed covers had to be shaved a little in places to loosen them up so they wouldn't remain in an unsightly open position.
Just a little nudge and they sit down nice and tight on the bed.
For anyone attempting one of these make sure you do a lot of test fitting before you paint.

2 more to finish and then some more in different colors coming up.

Good luck to all you Customizer/Racers in the Texas Trifecta II.

--CadillacPat the UnCustomizer--
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/CadillacPat/Rt66SilverBulletWebEmail.jpg

Mmmmmm. Tasty.:)

Those look GREAT, Pat! :thumbsup:

Great job as always Pat!!! :thumbsup:

I can't say I understand the process making the decals, but your work is phenomenal!

WOW again :thumbsup:

those look great pat. i hope to get in on one of your races soon.

Great deco!

Thanks Everyone,

Gunn,
I know you'l join in when you have time.
With all the acivities we have here on the HT Custom Board I'm just happy to see everyone participate in whatever they can.

Soon as my Urethane Clearcoat and a few other things arrive from the folks at House Of Kolor I'll post up 3 more of these Drag Trucks.

--CadillacPat the UnCustomizer--
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/CadillacPat/Texas%20Trifecta/Sig-a-Web.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/CadillacPat/Texas%20Trifecta/Trifecta-Web-Chrome-skull.jpg

MAN O' MAN do I want to win one of those bad boys!!!

I can't say I understand the process making the decals, but your work is phenomenal!

Thanks TJ,
Good words like that should not go unanswered,

I'll pull up one of my Decal Tutorials to give you some insight how I make them (Decals).
While all of my images are now produced and printed using PhotoShop I have a "Make Your Own Decals Using MicroSoft Word" Tutorial that might be interesting for you.
This Tutorial is also posted over on HotWorldCustoms.com

Just give it a going over and you'll get an idea of what takes place behind the scenes with good image creation and manipulation.
It might even inspire you to try it out.

--CadillacPat the UnCustomizer--
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/CadillacPat/BulletProofWebcopy.jpg