[Guest]

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum, so this is my first post. I was referred to this site by ajrichar. I'm sorry if this question has been asked before. I did a quick scan through the tutorial list to no avail.

I just purchased my first two models, a 1:18 AutoArt Black DC5 Honda Integra Type R and a White one. Reason being was that the Black one comes with a black interior (seats, floor carpet and door trims) and the White one comes with a red interior and i wanted to model my own real life ride, a Black one with a red interior.

So switching the seats and floor carpet is easy, the whole floorpan falls out with the removal of 4 screws and everything with it but the door trims are causing me a bit of grief.

Could anyone tell me or give me tips or a method for removing the plastic door trims from the doors so I can swap them over? Do I have to remove the doors from the car or would it make it easier to do this and if so, how do i do that?

Please help. Thanks for listening and thanks in advance for your help!

Cheers,
Sang

 

[Guest]

Welcome Sang!!! Im glad ajrichar told you of this place! Hope you like it here, we are a friendly bunch and Im sure there is a member out there to help with a wide array of questions.

Regarding your question I would suggest using the following:

a thin cloth (an old shirt will do)
small but not too small flat head screwdriver
and patience

Ok now if I were you I would take the interior out of the car you want to work with. This will make it easier to handle the model. Then cover the screwdriver with the cloth so as to not scratch the paint or even chip it. Once covered find a spot on the door panel that is not easily seen when model is assembled then VERY carefully push the cloth covered screwdriver into that spot but remeber before you do any of this try to find a screwdriver that will more than likely not damage the door panel. Once the driver is in about half way inside inbetween the door and door panel then twist the driver slightly to test whether or not the panel will let you remove it. (Note this is very simple in Maistos and sometimes difficult in AUTOart's) If the door panel still doesnt pop off then while the screwdriver is in place use another screwdriver that is slightly larger and small enough to fit with the other one and twist it slowly to test the panel again. If this doesnt do it the it must be glued or there is another way to open it. Whatever you do just take your time and if you have doubts then dont risk breaking it. Also dont push the screwdriver in any further if it starts damaging the model. I know I being long winded but I feel it necessary for this situation. Please let me know if you need anymore help. I hope this helps. Good luck! :cheers

 

[ajrichar]

Hi Sang,
Good to see you could make it across to DX! Welcome, and I hope that you find the information you are after. There are a few 'specialist' modders here who have pulled apart a whole range of cars in the past (ie. Collector X). Sit tight, and I am sure one of these members will find this request and assist you as best they can.

In addition, I hope that you visit DX again and again, because it really is the friendliest, most useful diecast forum anywhere.

See here:
http://www.diecastxchange.com/forum1/index...showtopic=20286

Anyway mate, good luck with your project. I hope it is a success!
:cheers

Anders

 

[Guest]

:welcome

Sang !!!

 

[Guest]

thanks for the welcome guys. quick useful advice already. that was quick. cheers collectorx. im gonna give that a go when i get home from interstate. definitely feel more confident about it all now with those tips. i'll post before and after pics (hopefully after pics of a successful conversion)

cheers!

 

[Road Runner 72]

:welcome Sang, so I take it there is another australian among us.

good luck with you swap overs, if all else fail's you can change your real life ride insides over :giggle

:cheers

 

[Guest]

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right]

:lol changing my real life ride's interior would cost more than buying... (just did the maths :confused ) 100 diecast models!!! :scared and that's just for the recaros!

this site is great. i've just been reading through all the threads. you guys are crazy! im stunned at what can be done to a diecast. if this interior mod is successful, i think i'm gonna have to go the whole hogg... find matching rims to my current set, red out my tail lights, clear side indicators, replica of my audio boot install... omg, thanks for introducing me to this crazy community andrew! :happy :cheers

edit: ps, yup, im from brisbane.

 

[Guest]

Hi Sang. I've swap interiors on many models. To remove the door panels, I use an old credit card. If it slips, it's soft enough not to cause any scratches. Good luck.

 

[Guest]

thanks for the tip TMD.

i've hit a snag though everyone. ive removed the four visible screws from the floorpan but the floor doesnt want to drop out as easy as i had hoped. the front seems to be loose but the rear doesn't.

are there usually only 4 screws in the base of AUTOart models? is there usually resistance from clips or something hidden that i can't see? i dont want to force it too much in case there is something holding it in that i have to undo first. any tips?

cheers!

 

[cobalt1959]

Welcome to DX Sang!

 

[Guest]

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right]

Two more options that may help:
1) Look for any other mounting screws that may be hidden from sight or under removable panels.

2) Also have you tried opening the doors while removing? Sometimes the dash board gets caught on the doors and doesnt allow removal.

:cheers

 

[Guest]

ok i got no idea :nowork its not the dash, the front is willing to fall out. its the rear. i can't find the hidden screws. i think they may b under this black thing but i dont know how to remove it. it seems to also b held in by the exhaust pipe. i cant figure out how to remove anything. anyone with any experience with models that look like this from the underside? :cry

 

[Blitz]

I can't tell from your picture, but trying looking in the rear wheelwells. They sometimes will stick screws in there. If not in there then I'm not sure. Usually they don't hide the screws too much, but ya never know.

 

[Guest]

i cant figure it out! so frustrated. does anyone on this forum live in brisbane, australia who could maybe have a look at it for me? feel so useless. removing the floorpan was supposed to b the easy part

 

[cobalt1959]

I've never had an Autoart model, so I don't know how they are constructed. Have you tried to gently remove that black piece your talking about? Does it have a gap between it and the floor pan that you could slide a flat screw driver under. If you can, just use gentle pressure and see what happens. The same goes for the exhaust pipe, but don't force either one of them, because if they are glued in or the tabs are heat pressed on the other side, and you force them, you will be trying to repair the mounting tabs later on. It is also possible that there are one or two mounting screws under that rear suspension/axle assembly, and/or the rear tires, that you can't get to with the tires on. Hope this helps. . .

 

[Guest]

i was skeptical but i figured i'd try anyway and removed one of the rear tyres. low and behold you were right cobalt! there lies a screw. only, now how to get to it. is it commong palce to have to remove the rear wheel somehow? do i need a right angle screw driver?

 

[Blitz]

I would think you have to figure out how to remove the wheels first. I really hope you get it though. I love the Type-R and I'm anxious to see your project.

 

[Blitz]

I would think you have to figure out how to remove the wheels first. You might try a 90 degree type screwdriver or smaller with long shafts. I really hope you get it though. I love the Type-R and I'm anxious to see your project.

 

[Guest]

it is done!!!! i found that the cross support that held the rear wheels in place could be dislocated from its attachment point and that made it possible to push the wheels out of position temporarily to remove those screws! the rest was as everyone said. everything fell out nicely and the door panels came out with a credit card, screw driver and some patience. found that they were held in by tight plastic pin and socket joints and a little bit of glue. so the swap is complete!

thankyou everyone so much for your advice, help and guidance. i appreciate it so much. seeing how easy it was to remove the boot tray has inspired me to mock up my boot install in my real car now too.

i'll post pics sometime during the coming week.

one question though.... what's the best disolvant for super glue???someone who i am very upset with took off a side mirror by accident when playing around with the models when i wasn't home and instead of telling me, they used excessive superglue to reattach it and it's all over the mirror now! there was some on the rear quarter panel too but we managed to remove it with water and nail polish remover. can't seem to make the same progress on the mirror. any suggestions?

 

[Guest]

ok so sometime next week became sometime in the next hour ...i couldn't wait

before:

after: