FenderMender Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 This Motor Max (#73293) 1:24 scale diecast 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS soft top American Graffiti model kit included two sets of custom flame decals and a pre-primed body. The soft convertible top is plastic. The kit was bought new a number of years ago for five dollars and proved to be a decent one. Painting and detailing of the car was satisfying. The quality of the parts and all appeared to be quite good at that time, but after a couple of years degradation began and persists to this day. It is so severe now that if any panels were to be forced open, the hinges would surely break or the part itself would be bent out of shape and /or dislodged from the car. Essentially, the model is now "sealed" with no access to the engine, trunk or the interior via the doors. I wonder if others who have or had this particular kit met with these same problems- the dreaded diecast cancer! Thanks for looking... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilrathy10 Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 (edited) Wow!!! That looks like a "barn find"... I kinda like it that way.... You could stick that into a junkyard dio, and you wouldn't have to even weather it!! Or, you could set it on a flat bed tow truck and display it like that... I love the potential for a nice "save", if you will.... I'm actually wondering if I could duplicate this, somehow... I love it!!! How long did it take for this to occur, naturally?? Edited September 30, 2020 by kilrathy10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FenderMender Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 JT, I think it would be difficult to duplicate as the metal would break when forcing various distortions. Below are examples of 1:18 scale Revell Ford Mustangs that are continuing the cancer process. Note the years involved. Your suggestion about not having to weather them is correct, but adding to the "decay" with paints, stains and powders certainly improves the junkyard looks. I did this with the Mustangs. The Camaro has been decaying for about four years now. [In 2014 I put the following post together. In the year 2020, the three models are pretty much in the same condition except that "Ugly" has deteriorated even more.] Of all the various things that can totally ruin your diecasts, like dropping them, the one problem you definitely don't want your models to have is the dreaded diecast cancer! These two 1:18 Revell (#08753) 1965 Ford Mustang Convertibles in a teal color have had the disease since sometime before 2004. In 2004, I received the "Bad" and the "Ugly" as "gifts", in assorted pieces, and went to work on piecing them back together to try and actually salvage them. After about two weeks of work using jigs and braces and different adhesives, the models finally stayed together. Ever since then, the cancer has been growing steadily, with deep fissures in the body, swelling parts, and the cracking of joints. In 2013, a fellow collector graciously sent me an old "Good" version of the Mustang, missing the wipers and a rear wheel and tire. This copy had no cancer whatsoever, and with parts from "Ugly", is now complete, whole and healthy. "Ugly" , on the other hand, has deteriorated to the point wherein I had to relegate it to the beater junk yard. Current alterations to it were made in 2014. One headlight and turn signal light were removed and the front passenger seat deformed purposely to make it look the proper part. Debris and a spare tire in the back seat were added to the interior for extra emphasis. On "Bad", both doors are non-functional now as they were permanently glued with Gorilla glue to actually hold the entire model together. The hoods on both "Bad" and "Ugly" still work barely, but notice how wildly distorted they are. And on "Ugly", see how much the lower rear valiance protrudes from the rest of the car. "Ugly" currently suffers from a damaged front suspension and a non-stock, Dub-style rear wheel just to get it off the ground. Finally, both have lost big chunks of their rocker panels, making both models essentially two pieces- a front clip and a rear clip- held together by the chassis alone. Much has been written about this diecast cancer problem, and this particular teal Revell model is notorious for having it. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any remedy to completely stop the progression of the disease once the model is afflicted. Guess I'm "lucky" these two very sick ponies have survived for the last sixteen years. And that I have become an adopted parent of a "Good" healthy one. I knew a time would eventually come when one or both models reached their point of no return. It was quite a bit of fun with "Ugly" converting it to an almost complete wreck. "Bad's" fate is not so far in the future. Thanks for looking..... The "GOOD" in 2014 The "BAD" in 2014 The "UGLY" in 2014 Condition of "UGLY" in 2009 2020 : Here is what "Bad" and "Ugly" look like currently. The cracks you see are in the actual metal of the model, not in any body fillers. There are no opening panels on either car as all the hinges have given way to the cancer and the panels glued in place. Care has to be taken lest the models actually break in half. If it were not for the bodies glued to the chassis, they would. Engines in both are in excellent shape, however. "Bad" "Ugly" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilrathy10 Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Now, that's what I'm talking about.... Man, that is crazy how naturally the initial damage happened... I've got a flatbed or two ready for one of these... I can dig it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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