A Jewelry Box for a Diamond...Hot Wheels® Car | The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39679","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","alt":"Diamond-encrusted Hot Wheels photo by Mattel"}}]]When Hot Wheels for Real™ closed in May, it wasn't just the life-size cars that needed to be moved out of the museum. Some very special Hot Wheels cars had to be packed up, too—including the spectacular diamond-encrusted Hot Wheels® car! In this post, Nick Schanz tells us how he built a strong "jewelry box" for this extraordinary Hot Wheels car. As the museum's Collections Preparator, Nick makes sure objects are safe and secure while on display, in storage, AND while in transit back to their original homes.

Sometimes the smallest objects need extra-special attention. This Hot Wheels® car was recently on display in our very popular Hot Wheels for Real™ exhibit that recently closed in May. This amazing car was made for the Hot Wheels® 40th anniversary and includes 2,700 blue, black, and white diamonds mounted on an 18-karat white gold frame. The blue diamonds were used for the Hot Wheels® Spectraflame® blue paint, and black and white diamonds cover the undercarriage and the engine. Rubies were used for the brake lights. The diamond-encrusted Hot Wheels® car is on loan from Mattel and now needs to be returned.

Here is how we get this done!

The first step is to build a two compartment box out of plywood that is big enough for the Hot Wheels® car and its original display box.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39680","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","alt":"Diamond Car Box 1"}}]]

The next step is to add padding on all sides of the box to prevent any movement.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39681","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","alt":"Diamond Car Box 2"}}]]

The final step is to paint the exterior of the box, add a gasket for the lid and label where the car needs to go. Now the car is ready to be safely shipped by a fine arts shipper back to Mattel!

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39682","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","alt":"Diamond Car Box 3"}}]]