HPZ Academy

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on the bench.

Guides from our workshop, written after ruining enough castings to know what works. Real timings, real measurements, the tools we actually use.

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G

Glossary

The words that come up in our guides and product pages, explained in a sentence or two.

BBearing series
HPZ wheels with a miniature ball bearing in each hub. They roll much farther than plain-axle wheels on a track.
LLong axle
The longer of the two axle lengths, for wide-track castings. Puts the tyre flush with a wide arch instead of tucked inside it.
PPrecoated
A decal sheet sealed with clear film at the factory, so the ink will not dissolve in water. No need to spray the sheet before cutting.
WWhite toner
Opaque white printing for decals on dark paint. Printed mirrored and applied face-down.
FFlash
The thin film of excess resin along mould seams. Scrape it off with an upright blade, then sand.
PPour stub
The plug of resin where it entered the mould. Clip it close, then sand flat.
CCA glue
Cyanoacrylate, or super glue. Thin CA wicks into tight joints, medium is for general assembly, gel bridges gaps.
TTucked fitment
The tyre sits just inside the arch lip, with a small even gap above it. The default clean look.
PPoke
Wheels that stick out past the fender. Right for a stanced build, wrong on a stock-look car.
TTrack width
Distance across the outside faces of both wheels on one axle. Set by axle length.
RRivet
The mushroom-headed post that holds a Hot Wheels base to its body. Shave the head, keep the post.
DDecal softener
A setting solution that softens decal film so it pulls down over curves and panel lines.
SSurfacer
A fine filler primer, usually grey. Shows the defects you missed before colour goes on.
DDry-brushing
Painting with an almost-dry brush so pigment only catches raised edges. Makes 1:64 metal detail readable.
PPanel-line wash
Very thin dark paint flowed into recesses and wiped off the high points. Adds depth to engines and body lines.

Stuck halfway through a build? Send us a photo and we will help.