Found Finally!

[THarrison351]

I've been going through all my boxes of built unbuilt models, models, and diecasts that are stored while I've been furloughed. So, I guess this has been kind of a treasure hunt for me. I knew I was missing several NASCAR models, but they weren't anywhere I expected them to be found. I hadn't seen them since they were packed away around 2004 when I changed office jobs and the new office wouldn't accommodate my models. I've also moved so the box they may have been in was changed in the move. I found them today. They were underneath a bunch of 1/64 diecast in a smaller box. Nothing was on the outside of the box to indicate what was inside. Their condition for the most part is not great. The oldest were in pieces and dirty, but complete. I also had a diecast and two snap together models my son had built. Three are the oldest NASCAR models I have in my collection. I stated in my 1983 Bill Elliott Melling Thunderbird  topic I had built it once before and redid it as the Cale Yarborough Hardee's Thunderbird. Well, that's sot of correct. The body was redone. The chassis is under the Wrangler car, hence the red window net which you'll see when I repair and clean it. The Wrangler chassis is under the Hardee's car. I can tell because it has yellow plastic and the chassis under the Wrangler is white. Anyways, I'll give each car it's own topic as I clean and repair them. The picture is showing the cars better than they are. Windows are loose and most of the suspensions are broken free.

 

[PappyD340]

Nice group!

[randyc]

Nice!  Your Zerex car looks like mine did.  All yellowed up.  Cool to see these still around.

[THarrison351]

Thanks Randy. I did a little research because I thought all my cars that had yellowed was due to Testors clear enamel paint. That is probably true for several of my cars. I know there were more that were never clear coated and several coated with clear lacquer. So why did they yellow? I had wrapped a lot of models in packing paper years ago. All of that paper has turned yellow along with the instructions in the boxes. It turns out that paper was not acid-free and was exposed to some heat in the attic was exacerbated the problem. Models I wrapped in tissue paper didn't suffer the yellowing unless they were painted with enamel clear. Lessons learned the hard way. I only clear with floor wax and I use tissue paper and bubble wrap for storage. 

[randyc]

TEstors clear enamel turns yellow no matter what.  Mine were stored indoors and mostly sun free and still yellowed.  

[Tom Geiger]

I think you can see the big difference between the body and wheels on this 57 Ford. Both were painted white, body only was clear coated with Testors clear. Model was built 30 years ago, photo taken 10 years ago

[THarrison351]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I have several that were cleared with Testors enamel and stored in acid-free paper and in a controlled environment. Here's a good example. The body was cleared but the chassis is the original color. Where the clear laid thicker, it's even darker.

This has no clear on it. You can see some of the decal glue around the edges of the decals if you look close. It was painted white originally and stored in paper that was not acid free. The white on the decals is still white. I guess the ink is not affected by the paper.

[slusher]

I never used Testors clear enamel and I have those cars in the same cases 26 yrs and counting like the day they was built. Will post one when on my laptop. It’s great you have your older models...

[DrKerry]

Nice stable of NASCAR!!!

[THarrison351]

11 hours ago, DrKerry said:

Nice stable of NASCAR!!!

Thanks! I have more. These were ones I couldn't find that had been in storage since around 2004 or so. I had moved to a new home as well and the box they were in was marked 1/64 diecast. I decided to start looking through all my boxes that I hadn't and there they were. Fortunately I was able to clean and repair these cars. As far as my NASCAR stable, I have looked at my inventory and I may have a problem, I have over 140 modern era NASCAR 1/24 diecasts from various manufacturers. Mainly Action, Lionel, Team Caliber, and Racing Champions and 31 from 1971 or older by Icons and Franklin Mint. My plastic kits are comparatively lacking in number. I have completed 31 modern era NASCAR cars and 6 from the old era. I have one on the bench (#21 Blaney VA Tech). My 1/64 NASCAR collection exceeds over 200. The unbuilt models (all types) hovers around 300 and I have sold off around 150 or so over the years. Oh yeah, I have nearly 100 Danbury and Franklin Mint cars and trucks too. See what I mean about I might have a problem, but I digress.

[DrKerry]

You're problem is like all the rest of us!!!! Maybe not to some peoples levels but we are all affected by the bug!!! LOL, glad you found them and shared them with us...