Missing Model Alert from ACME NNL

[Zoom Zoom]

Andy Lowery had a beautifully built Model Factory Hiro Alfa Tipo 33 on display at the ACME NNL in the closed wheel competition category.

Andy's son was given the task to pack up his models after the show, and unfortunately he forgot his Dad's Alfa!

Update: A club member found it during table knockdown, got it to our president, and he has it in his possession safe and sound.

Edited November 18, 2009 by Zoom Zoom

[Mr.1/16th]

Andy Lowery had a beautifully built Model Factory Hiro Alfa Tipo 33 on display at the ACME NNL in the closed wheel competition category.

Andy's son was given the task to pack up his models after the show, and unfortunately he forgot his Dad's Alfa!

I saw the model sitting by it's lonesome as I was packing up a couple of my models from that category. If anyone knows who has Andy's model, please let me know so we can get it back to him! He is understandably upset and didn't find out about the missing model until a couple days after the show. I wondered why it hadn't been gathered up when I saw it, but was distracted as I was packing up my models. I've already found the owner of the decklid we found after the show, and hope it's as easy to find the Alfa.

WOW!! THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING! EVERYONE PLEASE HELP OUT OUR BROTHER!! WHAT IF IT WAS YOUR MODEL THAT WAS MISSING!! I WILL KEEP MY EYE'S AND EAR'S OPEN IF I COME ACCROSS IT HERE PLEASE HELP ANYWAY YOU CAN!!

[Modellpularn]

Nice to hear it was found. I've had models stolen from me, out of display cases. One was in a hobby shop, and the other was at a model contest held at a Hot Rod show. This was a long time ago, 1976-77, but I still wonder where those models ended up. Will they ever surface, or have they been smashed to bits? The first one was a replica of Milner's coupe, and the other was a custom Chevy van, with full scratchbuilt interior, the works! What's wrong with these people that snatch that type of model? I mean, he can't show it and feel proud. Makes me angry now as I'm writing this! That Chevy van was a real show winner!

[Modelmartin]

Oh Gosh! I just love happy endings!!

Actually, I left a model on the table at Toledo one year. The next day as I was walking around the toy show. One of the Cleveland guys told me I had left it and he thought another guy had it. I saw him and he said check with another guy. I checked with that guy and he said Ron Cash had it. I saw Ron at his table and he saw me walking over and dug beneath his table and held it up in front of me as I walked up! It's a miracle I haven't lost more models.

[cruz]

This is the best model founding story ever, I am in tears.....

[torinobradley]

It's good to see this story had a happy ending. Considering this was a Model Factory Hiro just adds to the amazement!

I'm not saying that all models aren't valuable, I'm just stating that the starting kit value was several times over what the majority of kits cost and the subject was rare.

I've been lucky so far and aside from a younger brother playing crash-up derby while I was in the Navy and an ugly apartment escapade, haven't suffered too many losses. Knock on wood (bang head on table)...

[Zoom Zoom]

You guys don't know the half of my relief that this was a happy ending! Doesn't really matter that it was a Model Factory Hiro kit or an AMT kit; it was built to a standard that any builder would be devastated to lose.

I saw the Alfa on the table, all by itself as most people had already packed their models, I was packing mine. I had a flashback from seeing it sitting there of a very similarly detailed Ferrari that had been left on the table all by itself, owner nowhere to be found, at the Atlanta IPMS Nationals a few years back. That model was stolen, never to be seen again. The host club did an awful job covering their backsides over that, the model had won "Best Automotive" and was a stunner with a lot of scratchbuilding. They had a claim tag system so theft would not be an issue, but botched their ceremony up so badly they gave up and let everyone out the door w/boxes of models and didn't check a single claim ticket. Perfect chance for someone to take that Ferrari...and they did. It was a stunning case of incompetence and a very uncaring attitude. I did not want our show to get any kind of reputation like that!

With the Ferrari debacle flashback I was determined to check around & make sure the Alfa was safe...and then I got distracted and forgot about it. Guys were working around it as they took tables down. The only people left were people we all know, and people I would trust, and a couple people employed by the community center...but until the model was found, I was very, very nervous...worried more that it was left behind, possibly thrown away, or taken by someone after the fact...hoping it might be in the lost & found if one of our guys didn't have it. Thankfully we tracked it down last evening and it's safe & sound & going back to the owner. I was pretty certain it wasn't theft, but you never know for sure. We all learned a good lesson, from the builder, to his son, to our guys who take down the tables after the show, to how we handle "lost & found". Running a good show demands attention like this, the ability to think on your feet and cover all the bases. It's a lot of work, but ultimately fun & rewarding.