DR JAY Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 I have just accomplished the equivalent of losing the centre piece of a 2500 piece jigsaw puzzle. I have never lost anything before during a build and, several hours of cleanup and searching later, I have to FINALLY admit that I have. While airbrushing interior parts for the Fujimi Enthusiast Lamborghini Countach I am currently working on, I noticed that the part for the console that contains all of the switches was MIA. I knew I scrubbed it along with the other parts using Comet and the bathroom sink. I knew I washed and rinsed it after. From that point, I have no concrete recollection of the exact part--so the search involved every square inch between the bathroom and my office (My whole house!) Being an integral part of the interior and its detail, I'm quite disappointed at its loss. I can build a new one--it will take a while to do accurately--but a setback like this will likely result in re-boxing and storage until I "Feel" the build again. Too Bad...I was on a roll. Just sharing my pain...no one else in the house understands why a small piece of injection-molded plastic is so important to a 43 year old, grown, tax-paying property owner... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatz4u Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 we all share your pain at one time or another, cheer up, contact the manufacturer & maybe they can send you a replacement part... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylexgore Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Perhaps it went down the drain? Just a thought... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennyboy Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Was this the 1/24 or 1/16 scale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrGlueblob Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Lemonade from lemons, at least now you'll be able to introduce yourself as an experienced scratchbuilder.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 It happens! It's great to have a second kit for when this occurs. Otherwise, box up the kit and forget about it for now. A part is somewhere in your house. It will never ever reappear if you are looking for it. But when you stop looking, it will pop up out of no where! Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DR JAY Posted November 25, 2014 Author Share Posted November 25, 2014 It was the 1/24 kit. I ALWAYS put one of those mesh hair-traps down the drain before washing parts, and it was too big to go through without the mesh catch-all. I am actually an experienced scratchbuilder--this was to be an unmodified box-stock build. I have already started making the switch panel, but I never thought of contacting Fujimi. I will do that right now. (If something like this would have ever happened when I worked as an automotive repair tech, I would have lost my mind! I once had a Grey Beard pull a practical joke on me when I first began in the trade...I had a Rochester Q-Jet apart on rags on my bench following a soak in Carb Cleaner. I was going to reassemble after lunch, but while I was gone the old guy hid the accelerator pump check ball on me and never said anything until I was at the end of my rope and ready to flip tables. He thought it was funny. That was the end of messing with ANYTHING work related on my bench!) Now, to Google Fujimi... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete J. Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 I have found the best way to find a lost part is to walk around the area in bare feet with the light dimmed. Pretty much guaranteed to find it that way. Or the other best way is to order it from the manufacture. It will show up the day after your order arrives. Also, if you go to the swap meet and find the same kit, I can guarantee that that part will be missing from the swap meet kit when you get home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennyboy Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Too bad Jason....I think I have one of the 1/16 scale panels here "in stock." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DR JAY Posted November 25, 2014 Author Share Posted November 25, 2014 I went to the website...by the time I figure it out and learn Japanese, I will have the part completed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pharoah Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 it happens to everyone sooner or later. It's usually the carpet monster that loves plastic. Let me know if you find the taillight for my AMT 50 Chevy pickup. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 I feel your pain too...happens to me all too often. Keep looking and asking maybe you will find it or someone will have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTalmage Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 I lost the round chrome "hood pin" inserts for a Fairlane thunderbolt I had... fell out of the hood from coming unglued after years on the shelf and got lost in the carpet.... Funny thing is... I found them randomly in completely opposite spots on the floor about a month apart. They were lost for probably 2-3 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Funny thing is... I found them randomly in completely opposite spots on the floor about a month apart. They were lost for probably 2-3 months. Aha! Proof that my advise works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jantrix Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Check your person. Your pockets, your waistband, your shoes. Gluing a small part a while back, I dropped it and it just friggin' disappeared. Like it never was. Four people searching for this part for an hour. Nothing. Did the old vacuum trick with a piece of stocking inline. Nothing. Found it the next morning glued to the top my shoe. I have yet to live that one down at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTalmage Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Aha! Proof that my advise works! Funnier thing is... I wasnt even looking for them at that point! I had written them off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobthehobbyguy Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Don't worry as soon as you finish the replacement part the kit piece will reappear. I have lost something and then gotten a replacement and then tye original appears. That parts gremlin has a nasty sense of humor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 (edited) Found it the next morning glued to the top my shoe. I have yet to live that one down at home. I was working on the Monogram 1950 Ford pickup. I had the Model Car Garage photo etch sheet and was putting on the "F-1" lettering on the sides. I put the one on the left side and moved on to the right side. When I looked at it the next day, the emblem was gone from the left side. I cleaned up the entire model room looking for that bit of etch. It was gone forever, and since my trucks all have a bit of wear to them, I drilled a small hole where the emblem was and added a small smear of rust, as if it had been lost on a 1:1. I was satisfied and went on with life. One day I was at work sitting in a meeting, I looked down and saw a quick bright flash as I moved my arm. Yup, there was F-1 glued to my shirt sleeve, went through the wash and all! I did leave the model as it was. One time I told Bob Koronuw the story he growned, "I would've sent you the piece!' Oh well. Edited November 25, 2014 by Tom Geiger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZTony8 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Tom,I know I have a partly started Testor(Fujimi Enthusiast) 5000 Quattrovalvole parts kit.If it will work for you you can have the one from my parts kit.PM me with info(and maybe an instruction call out number) if you want it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomicholiday Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 I know the feeling. Never lost a part before and just last week I was cleaning an exhaust manifold at the kitchen sink when it slipped from my fingers and down the drain it went. Just seconds before that I was thinking "I should probably put the strainer in just in case I drop something". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Another good way to find stuff is to hold a flashlight at a low angle on the floor, so it casts a shadow. Done it many times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Been there. Lost a alternator once, could not find it for anything. Used another. Flash forward a couple of years, in the process of moving, there it was under where my bench was. I had looked there a dozen times, never saw it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DR JAY Posted November 25, 2014 Author Share Posted November 25, 2014 Well...I've spent the afternoon in a quiet house building a new switch panel/console filler. I have the shape completed and have just installed 2 AC vents from the scrap dash of a 71 Charger...(I get the irony of using Chrysler parts in a Lamborghini). I am now making switches and a cigarette lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Notarangelo Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 1972 Cheyenne pick up I did, looks great perfect paint and interior, awesome chassis somewhere is a perfectly wired and detail engine waiting to go into it at some point when I find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 My wife has help me find many parts and there is still a couple Testarossa parts still missing after 14 years.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.