Kess 1960 DeSoto, warning about trim loosening

I have this model in both colours, and thankfully they are both OK so far. But I do have two other Kess models where trim has loosened and/or fallen off with the models just sitting in a cabinet without being handled. I think Kess are particularly bad for this, although one or two Neos have suffered the same way and I have a GLM Imperial, maybe 2 years old, where the windscreen/windshield frame has sprung loose on one side.

My remedy is to take a scalpel blade and gently smear a thin layer of white glue along the loose part (while holding down the rest of the P/E part with a finger or a pair of tweezers to stop it detaching any further), press it into place with a fingernail and gently wipe away any excess glue with a cotton bud,  then pin the piece down with low-tack masking tape overnight. But as you say, there is a risk of other parts coming loose when you handle the model. It's the price we pay for fine P/E detail, I fear.

Thanks for the warning!

THESE COMPANIES NEED TO GET BETTER AND MORE CONSISTENT WITH THEIR FACTORY ASSEMBLY AND QUALITY CONTROL RE: THIS ISSUE AND BANANA EFFECT.  I DON'T MIND THE ODD TRIM PIECE NEEDING A DAB OF GLUE OCCASIONALLY BUT FOR THE MONEY PAID QUALITY IS REASONABLY EXPECTED.  THIS IS WHY I VERY RARELY BUY NEO ANYMORE.

This is why I've cut back drastically on my resin purchases, they are just too delicate! Although I will say that I see fewer problems on the Goldvargs than the others.

I have been concentrating on Brooklin, which seem much more durable and long-lasting. 

@graeme-ogg  Good tips Graeme!  One simple thing I do to secure things such as moldings and windscreens, side mirrors etc. in place while the glue dries, to minimize further handling damage, is the following.  I take an item that has some weight to it (I use a thick handled combination screw driver with a bit installed) and using a series of larger sized post-it pads to get the required height, I lay the screwdriver  flat on the stack of post-its.  I then simply push the stack of post-its and screwdriver over to the model and ensure that the tip of the screwdriver bit maintains pressure on the point being glued.  I have had great luck with this simplistic method; especially with windscreen corners.  The weight of the screwdriver maintains pressure required, without the usual issue of dislodging the entire windscreen, wipers and such.  This works well with repairing broken side mirrors as well.  I just dab a bit of glue on both broken ends, let it set up a bit, then with a flat bit in the screwdriver, I use it to support and keep the mirror piece in place while it dries.  No more botched mirror repairs.

• @jack-dodds Great tips, Jack.  Thanks for posting this!

Posted by: @whodeytink

Hey guys,

This is for owners of the Kess 1960 DeSoto.  I have the two tone green one.  I was fixing a side spear piece that popped loose and noticed both lower corners of the windshield have lifted loose.  Driver's side a little, passenger side A LOT!  I tried for an hour to fix it to no avail.  Then two more super thin pieces of window trim just fell off.

I'll never buy another Kess model as their assembly sucks.  I had the Rita Hayworth Cadillac and sold it because it had so many assembly flaws.

I don't know what I'll do with the DeSoto.  It looks horrible and any handling only seems to make more pieces fall off.  Photo etched parts are great, if they stay on.

Just a heads up to check your model if you have this one.  Hopefully mine is an outlier.

 

Mark,  Email me regarding your Desoto disappointment.    jquilter{at} peoplepc.com

@graeme-ogg Glad to hear yours are OK, Graeme.  I really like this model and all was good till yesterday.  Now I feel like getting my hammer out. 

@john-quilter Done.

My suggestion is send a message about Kess issues to Carmodel, they always reply messages from Collectors 

I basically do what Graeme Ogg suggests except I use PACER FORMULA 560 CANOPY GLUE which is white and dries clear and water soluble before it dries. It is much better that just plain white glue. I have used it for years for repairs and on certain parts of my builds. You can find it on the web.

@parisi50 Thanks, Curtis.