(Pics) In memory of intergranular corrosion

Nice images. Diecast cancer is something most of us have to deal with and unfortunately we sometimes lose models we value. It is nice to have a record of what they looked like at their best.

Mike, didn't you also "loose" (as did I) this one too?  On mine the doors, hood & trunk are infected.

You're exactly right, Chris ! I had forgotten to include some pictures. It was normally such a nice-looking car from Signature but my doors, especially, suffered from corrosion. I believe the windows of my convertible actually operated up and down and they later made a hardtop. 

@mikedetorrice Yes, those windows actually do crank up. Pretty cool!

I think the "hardtop"  to which you refer is actually this "sedan."  Which is a decent model EXCEPT for two issues I noted probably OVER 10 years ago (...but still haven't fixed 😫 😫).

1) The roof is TOO TALL!  The doors frames, along with the A, B & C pillars all need to be sectioned/cut down.

2) The interior is a joke!  It's overly simplified, and the front bench has folding seat backs, like a coupe.

On the good side...I see no signs of diecast cancer!  "Fingers crossed!!"

The Diecast Cancer is (I think) all of our worst fears for our little cars.  I've lost three 1:24 scale models to it.  Sadly, I never had the chance to take photos of them when they were perfect, only after they were falling apart and rotting away. 

Here are the three.  First is FM's '55 Pontiac (red/black) hardtop.  It was a gorgeous model and it literally eventually just fell apart and I tossed it in the garbage bin.  And I do "fell apart".  The doors, hood, and trunk fell completely off the car! 

The second one I lost was DM's anniversary '59 Chevy silver Convertible.  Looking at the photos, you can see how it started to bend in the middle, until the doors wouldn't stay closed anymore.  It too, was introduced to the garbage bin. 

Finally the last one, also from DM, was the saddest one for me to lose, as I loved this '60 Thunderbird in red so much.  I remember when I first received it, I couldn't believe how nicely done it was.  And then one day, well reading another Forum's comments here, about his own '60 having the cancer, I went to look at mine on the shelf, and found it in the condition you see here in my photos.  Eventually it too, also fell apart. 

Every time I look at my cars, I silently hope that I won't find one rotting away. 

Yeah, it sure seems that manufactures cut corners here & there and ALL OF US paid the price.  I don't EVER recall seeing vintage Matchbox cars, or Hubley kits, or 1:1 diecast auto trim, or Hot Wheels cars, or "Grandma's sculpture, or Corgi cars, etc., etc., ever suffering from "diecast cancer."

Arguably, The Franklin AND Danbury Mints are the two biggest offenders. Sure makes you wonder....... 🤔 🤔 🤔 

Posted by: @chris

Yeah, it sure seems that manufactures cut corners here & there and ALL OF US paid the price.  I don't EVER recall seeing vintage Matchbox cars, or Hubley kits, or 1:1 diecast auto trim, or Hot Wheels cars, or "Grandma's sculpture, or Corgi cars, etc., etc., ever suffering from "diecast cancer."

Arguably, The Franklin AND Danbury Mints are the two biggest offenders. Sure makes you wonder....... 🤔 🤔 🤔 

With all fairness, I don't think we should make Franklin and Danbury take the brunt.  In the scheme of it all, with the hundreds upon hundreds of 1:24 scale cars they both gave us, the few, and I do mean few, that were riddled with the rot cancer is minimal.  Yes, in a perfect world there shouldn't have been any that got it, but we don't live in a perfect world, and no product ever produced has been perfect all the time either.  The same as no 1.1 automaker can claim they've never produced a lemon. 

In 1/25th scale but another example of rot, not Danbury or Franklin.  This one is Polistil of Italy, a Jaguar E-Type. Not out of the box until just now.

Posted by: @david-green

In 1/25th scale but another example of rot, not Danbury or Franklin.  This one is Polistil of Italy, a Jaguar E-Type. Not out of the box until just now.

 

 .......

Ouch, that one hurts. Normally, such a nice car and for it to develop into this is painful.

It is always a shame to see this happen to one of our treasures. I've had a few that have fallen prey to this dreaded cancer. As with all things, nothing is forever. Like my '59 Impala (shown) they are all packed away, and I haven't viewed them in years. I haven't yet been able to throw them out, maybe someday, nor have I viewed them in sometime. I suppose that once I view them again, they will be so far gone, the trash bin will be my only option. 

@jcarnutz For what it's worth John, all scales of junker-diecast-cancer-wrecks seem to sell for decent money on eBay. A fair amount of collectors (myself included) appreicate having spare parts, extra pieces, etc.

Maybe I'm out of line here but it seems to me that rather than just letting them rot away you might take a shot at trying to repair them. Yes, it would mean taking them completely apart and taking them down to bare metal but if they are going to be a dead loss anyway why not take a shot?

@franklemire Honestly Frank, that would be IMPOSSIBLE.  "Diecast cancer"  quite literally means the zinc-alloy metal is deteriorating into dust. There is ZERO hope of restoration or a preventative cure.

Here's an example: