Car Transporter Hot Wheels Wall Storage | ASMR | #31
Stop Wasting Wood
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My son had a problem. He had 50 Hot Wheels cars. They were in a bucket. Which means he couldn't find the one he wanted, and I was constantly stepping on them (LEGO pain is bad, die-cast metal pain is worse).
He loves trucks. So I designed a Semi-Truck Display Shelf. The "cab" pulls a long "trailer" which is actually a grid of shelves.
Design
- Scale: The shelves act as parking spots. Each "cell" is 4 inches wide and 2 inches tall.
- Shape: The cab is modeled after a classic Peterbilt.
- Material: 1/4" Baltic Birch Plywood. It looks nice on the edge and finishes well.
Tools
- Laser Cutter: I used a laser to cut the intricate grid.
- Alternative: You can absolutely do this with a Scroll Saw or even a Table Saw (cutting dados). It just takes longer.
The Build Process
Step 1: The Grid (The Trailer)
The trailer is made of horizontal shelves and vertical dividers.
- Interlocking Joints: I designed "half-lap" joints. The vertical pieces have slots cut halfway up; the horizontal pieces have slots halfway down. They slide together like an egg crate. This creates a rigid grid without needing glue at every intersection.
Step 2: The Cab
I cut the silhouette of the truck cab. I engraved details like the door handle, the grill, and the exhaust stacks. I glued wheels (circles of wood) to the bottom.
Step 3: Assembly
I glued the cab to the trailer section. I added a Backer Board (a thin 1/8" sheet) behind the grid. This prevents the cars from pushing through and hitting the wall, and it squares up the whole assembly.
Step 4: Mounting
- French Cleat: Of course. I glued a small cleat to the back. This makes it safe. Even if he bumps it, it won't fall off the wall.
Conclusion
It hangs low on his wall so he can reach it. He spends hours "parking" his trucks. He organizes them by color. He organizes them by type. It turned "cleaning your room" into a game. That is a parenting win.