Adhesive
Sticker Sheet - This
refers to a paper backed sheet with pre-cut designs. The
pre-cut designs have an adhesive applied to their underside and
when pulled away from the backing, they can be directly
applied.
Blister
Pack – This refers to
the packaging the majority of Spectraflame Redlines were sold
in. A blister pack consists of a paper backing with colorful
artwork and the Hot Wheels logo on the front and the listing of
available cars on the back while a clear plastic bubble,
referred to as a blister, is secured to the front enclosing the
car.
Casting
– Refers to the actual Hot Wheels model itself.
Crumbler
- There was a brief period around 1971 when the composition of
metal used was of lesser quality or of a poor mixture which led
to what are called by collectors as “crumblers.” These
“crumblers” are just that – the base or body crumbles due to
moisture or humidity that causes the metal to swell through
minute fractures ultimately reducing it to a pile of rubble.
For instance, the body can be pristine without any flaws while
the base has swelled or completely crumbled into many pieces.
Unfortunately, there is no way to cease the process once it has
begun and “crumblers” have ultimately no value. It is also
worth mentioning that this condition can exist with castings
still sealed in their blister pack.
Base
- The base of the car
is simply the chassis. It sometimes provides characteristics of
early or late run production but more importantly supplies the
year first produced, copyright and patent information as well as
the casting name and its country of origin. For castings
introduced during the years of 1968 and 1969, the U.S. base is
less detailed then the Hong Kong base and the U.S. base does not
have four open square cut outs revealing part of the suspension
whereas the Hong Kong base does. For castings introduced in
1970 and lasting through to 1972, the U.S. and Hong Kong bases
were similar, lacking detail on both but were still stamped with
their country of origin, casting name, year produced and copy
right and patent.
Filler
– A casting that is in either poor condition or has been
repainted which will serve as a space holder until a better
example is found.
Hybrid
– This term is used to describe a casting that has been produced
with both U.S. and Hong Kong parts. The number of parts used
from one origin versus the other can vary drastically from one
to many. A great example is the Custom Barracuda where you can
have a U.S. made body, interior and hood and the base, wheels
and glass are Hong Kong parts. There are several hybrid
castings but the most familiar are the Custom Camaro, Custom
Barracuda and Sand Crab.
Power
Bulges – This term
refers to the hood scoops or air vents that were cast onto hoods
and engine covers.
Peppering – This
refers to fine particles found under the paint that gives the
finish a rough texture that can be seen and or felt and usually
results in tiny black specs resembling pepper.
Tampo
– This refers to the painted designs that are applied by a pad
press to particular castings. The term was derived from the
manufacture of the equipment used by Mattel for this particular
process.
Toning
– Also known as mottling, refers to wisps, small to medium dark
spots or larger dark patches found under the paint leaving an
uneven hue and in some cases affects the entire car or just
certain parts like the hood or rumble seat. This is said to be
caused by imperfections in materials such as the zinc-plated
metal itself, or improperly polishing the casting during
preparation prior to painting. Also, it has been stated that
environment and storage conditions have contributed to the cause
or acceleration of toning such as moisture and UV rays.
Water
Slide Decal Sheet –
This refers to a paper backed sheet with a very thin clear top
that would have sponsor logos or other designs such as flowers
printed on it. When this sheet is submerged in water, the logos
or designs will slide off from the paper backing and then can be
applied.
Wheel
Type & Style – Both
U.S. and Hong Kong wheels came in a variety of sizes ranging in
small, medium and large. Also, from 1968 through 1969 and into
the early part of 1970 the wheels for both U.S. and Hong Kong
were a bearing type that was pressed over a Delrin bushing.
From 1970 to the end of 1972, a new type of capped wheel and a
new, smoother suspension was used in both U.S. and Hong Kong
castings. From time to time, a casting made in 1969 that would
normally have bearing type wheels has been found with either a
combination of bearing and capped wheels or all four wheels are
capped wheels. This merely indicates a transition from the
bearing type to the capped wheel type and in some cases may
demand a small premium in value over the traditional counter
part due to it being a rare variation. Being wheel style is
more of classification of distinct differences between the U.S.
and Hong Kong made wheels, these will be broken out and
explained here.
U.S. bearing style – The U.S. redline wheel in its early stage has chrome mag spokes with a
red stripe embossed on the outer perimeter. Shortly after and
continuing on until the end of all U.S. production, the chrome
on the mag spoke was replaced by a silvery matte finish, still
with the red stripe around the perimeter. Later U.S. wheels in
all sizes have been found to include the chrome mag spokes
return but in a blocky kind of shape.
HK bearing style
– The Hong Kong redline wheel in its early stage has chrome mag
spokes with a thinner red stripe then the U.S. style embossed on
the outer perimeter. Because of the force of the strike in
producing the wheel itself, there tends to be a more recessed
impression of the mag spokes giving the wheel a “deep dish” like
appearance. The “deep dish” appearance is indicative of early
Hong Kong produced cars and shortly after, this force subsided
leaving the wheel’s appearance as it is most commonly found and
much more resembles the U.S. while retaining the chrome mag
spokes and thinner red stripe.
U.S. capped style – The U.S. capped wheel style is made with chrome mag spokes and a
thicker or heavier red stripe around the perimeter when compared
to the Hong Kong made capped wheel.
H.K. capped style
– The Hong Kong capped wheel style resembles the U.S. capped
style with only one slight distinction being that the Hong Kong
wheel has a thinner or lighter red stripe around the perimeter
of the chrome mag spokes.
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