The Diecast Zone · Model Car Club Since 1994
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Topic starter
12/04/2019 9:02 am
Getting up the nerve...
Although I've built literally hundreds of model car kits, taking apart these beautiful die casts is a little nerve-wracking for me (I put the wrecker project aside until I get the stuff George recommended for removing the decals). I swapped the tires around to the black walls on this one a little while back. To complete the utilitarian look, I plan to take it apart and paint the grill and bumpers white. Wish me luck...
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12/04/2019 9:06 am
DUDE !! ... You Got This ... Do It !! ... Do It !! ... Do It !! ... Do It !! ...
12/04/2019 9:16 am
go for it, but...
just know there are screws hidden in there somewhere that prevent the model from coming apart easily... I have yet to dismantle a mint car that did not have hidden screws trying to foil my best attempts to not destroy model in the process. Inevitably, you have to remove something glued in with the glue NASA uses to hold the heat tiles on to get to that one screw. Why can't they use THAT glue to hold the mirrors on???
Or it could be a puzzle that has to be taken apart to get to the one screw holding on the part you need to remove. DM 41 Chevy is a good example. Broken rear axle. Rea suspension held in by screws from top side under the rear interior compartment. Ugh. Parts car did not make it unscathed.
13/04/2019 4:49 pm
If it makes any difference John, here is a truck load of luck heading your way soon.
13/04/2019 5:46 pm
DM and FM models are not made to be taken apart and any attempts to do so results in a fight to the death between man and model.
I have disassembled about 8 models now, some much easier than others. There are about another 10 still to disassemble - these are parts car.
Now, I am finding the job to be easier, but still fraught with frustration, but not as bad as it once was.
Pulling apart a small group of the same model means that repetition can make the job easier to find screws, but not any easier to remove some of them. Persistent attempts can easily damage the screw heads and slots. As you know, these are all Philips head so think of those when I say slots.
I've encountered screws with head slots that are a minutely different size to any of the screw drivers I have. They are often smaller in size - even a tiny bit can fail to turn the screw. Short handles do not allow enough strength to be brought to make a screw crack to start its first turn when the screw is stubborn. Sometimes screws can be frozen in place especially those that have been sold as "Barn finds".
With these problems in mind, I bought on eBay from China a set of long handled drivers thinking that Chinese screws could be easier to shift using Chinese screw drivers.
The sets I do have are no doubt made in China, Stanley as an example, but these are so short its difficult to grip these with sufficient strength to effect the start of a turn.
All the best to you in your model building - it is fun even with its ups and downs.