Bull in a China Shop!

LOL, sorry but that is so my story too.  For every part I fix I break 4 more. 

Posted by: @kevins

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I have a gift for breaking stuff, alway’s have. My Mom was the first to notice so any item semi-valuable was kept on a high shelf. A couple of weeks ago I decided to examine and marvel over one of my most detailed Danbury’s, the ‘47 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon, a spectacular model of an exceptional 1/1. The first thing to look at is the unbelievable detail in the engine compartment. Truly remarkable engineering went into that side opening…..OH SH*T!!, knocked off the spotlight. I’ll put it away and fix it later, too upset with myself right now. Yesterday I thought it would be a good time to repair it, so off the shelf and onto the workbench. All went very well, I was patient and thorough, looked like new so back to the shelf. While cleaning up the workbench I noticed a tiny piece of chrome that looked like a door handle. Pulled the Buick back down and…you have got to be kidding, it was missing a door handle. OK, no big deal, fixed it very easily, no one was hurt. Back to the workbench I noticed a headlight, yeah, you guessed it. I’m never touching another model once the Buick’s out of the holding area! ( out of harms way on

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the copier)

And you don’t feel that you’re risking anything by having it propped up like that ? 
🤣  I 🙏 it stays safe ! 
steve

Oh, so Mr. Butterfingers, oops, I mean, Kevin! Do you really think you're the only one who does this? Noooo Signor. And keep in mind; the more expensive the model, rarer the model and most favorite the model, these are the ones to suffer most. 

Glad you got it fixed. Take a big deep breath and back away from any diecast. HA!   

Yep, dang gum those pesky little hood ornaments on Sunstar Buicks & Lincolns 🤬 

steve

My models are in curio cabinets or multicar plastic display cases hung on the wall. I was checking out my DM '57 Bird and the trunk lock is missing. I have no idea where it could be or how long it's been gone. It's not in the case or the box it came in.  A real mystery...  Maybe the best thing to do is put these models in individual cases when purchased and never touch them again!

Posted by: @pete-rovero

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My models are in curio cabinets or multicar plastic display cases hung on the wall. I was checking out my DM '57 Bird and the trunk lock is missing. I have no idea where it could be or how long it's been gone. It's not in the case or the box it came in.  A real mystery...  Maybe the best thing to do is put these models in individual cases when purchased and never touch them again!

Pete, that will only happen if each case is locked and the keys are thrown away! We all suffer from this damaging obsession.    

Gents, welcome to the club. These mishaps validate my opinion that operating features are a total waste of time and money. As beautiful as they are, these models cannot withstand any handling whatsoever.

Posted by: @sizedoesmatter

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Gents, welcome to the club. These mishaps validate my opinion that operating features are a total waste of time and money. As beautiful as they are, these models cannot withstand any handling whatsoever.

Another one along those lines, which I think Tony Rich? warned us about is DMs 1936 Packard Phaeton. Best to just find its spot and leave it there!

@whodeytink +1. Kevin you are not alone not that that should make you feel better. At least you found the parts.

My nemesis? Antennas,  no matter how careful, I end up knocking one of at some point. I'm glad they're easy to fix/replace.😆

@geno Thanks to everyone for assuring me I’m not the only clod on the panel. I’ve got an example that totally blew my mind, call this one Kevin’s ‘believe it or not!’ If it didn’t happen to me I probably would have a hard time with it. I had taken a couple of photos of my DM ‘39 Ford for a post on the Zone a while back, I think it may have been for a comparo. Some time later I was looking at it on the shelf and noticed that the ‘deluxe’ script was missing from the hood front. I took a look on the shelf, not there. I decided not to fret over it, no sign of it ever being there, probably a factory flaw, or even if not, no sense in trying to find something that small, and it’s really not that noticeable. Still with me? Literally months later I was at my workbench looking for the cowl light that I knocked off of my DM ‘33 Ford Cabriolet (for the second time!) I noticed a tiny little flash of chrome, and when I looked through the magnifier the tiny flash spelled out ‘Deluxe’. One of the loudest “you gotta be shi**ing me” moments I’ve ever experienced. Somehow I got it carefully pulled of the bench top and glued back on the Ford, not a perfect job but close enough for me, and well above my expected ability.

That's an amazing story Kev. I got to the point where whenever I'd get a new model, I'd run a light coat of clear over any script, lettering, emblems, etc. To assure they'd not disappear down the road, lol.

@kevins Good for you Kevin. I've learned that if I pull a model out of it's display case to show someone, I'm sure to break something so I've quit doing it. Being a slow learner, I have about a dozen models with parts missing. You sir, are not alone.

Okay, now I don't feel like such a dolt, for losing antennae, mirrors, and any other mini piece of chrome that can come off.