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How to Open a Diecast Car Hood

Diecast cars are scale models of cars that are cast from molten metal that is forced into molds, or dies. Diecast models are available in a variety of sizes from 1/64, 1/43, 1/24 and 1/18 the original size. Many people are familiar with the Hot Wheels brand, and there are many other vendors such as real car makers Ford and BMW, and motorsports organizations NASCAR and Formula One. You can pay anywhere from a few dollars to several hundred. More expensive models have more detail, including moving parts such as doors and hoods that open. Sometimes, these can stick closed.

Things You'll Need

Diecast model car
Bamboo skewer

Instructions

- 1
  Make sure your diecast model car has a hood that is intended to open. The package will contain a description to that effect. It is no use trying to open a hood on a model that does not have a hood that opens.
- 2
  Remove hood pins if they are part of the model. Hood pins are a race car feature and consist of small linchpins located at the forward corners of the hood. Be very careful because the linchpins can take a lot of pressure to remove and the pin part is so small it may project quite a distance when it comes loose. They can be very hard to find.
- 3
  Turn the model upside down with one hand to see if the hood falls open. If it does not, tap the car gently but firmly on the other palm to shake the hood loose.
- 4
  Insert the pointed end of a bamboo skewer into the seam between the hood and the quarter panel on one side of the car if the hood still does not fall open. Be careful not to mar the finish of the model. Gently pry the hood open with the skewer.

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