Biggest Modeling Goofs

The usual stuff, but I keep an up to date thumb print SOMEWHERE on every one of my builds. I'm thankfulfor opposable thumbs but sometimes I wish I had six eyes (already wear glasses ), and four hands. I forgot gravity once  only once don't need anymore reminders of Its exsistence.

Cadet Chuck

Me, too.  I never make misteaks.

Bad spelers of the world, untie!

Yes! I bought the DO-26 kit and the instructions were a complete joke!

I've got two, both paint SNAFUs. I grabbed the wrong color and airbrushed in the garage on a sunny day. Couldn't see that the color was wrong due to the glare from outside. I only discovered the mistake when I went back inside to "admire" my handiwork. Hey, Dunklegelb looks a lot like Afrikakorps Gelb if you aren't paying attention! The other mistake was reversing the camo colors on a two tone scheme. I went back out to fix the first one, didn't bother correcting the second one (was too late as the decals were on already). Oh, one more modeling mistake - buying a Mach 2 kit, seeing the horrifying lack of quality first hand, then turning around and buying more kits from them.

I just had a new, weird one happen to me over the weekend.  I had been working on a couple of kits and had finished some small sub assemblies.  Satisfied with my work I left the bench and went back upstairs.  Apparently the sun shone through the window at just the right angle to severely warp both sub assemblies, one was a engine nozzle on an F-16 and the other were the cooling radiators on a Spitfire.

The usual modeling related ones. Spilled glue or paint, the occasional cut finger, assembly mistakes, etc. The most spectacular one that comes to mind is when I was using my hand grinder with the wheel brush attachment in the garage. I was grinding the burrs off a bracket to create a base for mounting a model. Got the grinder too close to my brand new Dirty Jobs t-shirt (one of the ones colored with Hawaiian mud), and that wheel grabbed that fabric and shredded that shirt right off my body. Got a bit of belly in there too. That was fun explaining to the wife.

Twice spilled liquid plastic solvent on my work matt, getting solvent on model parts! Fortunately had the presence of mind to not touch the parts and let them dry preventing finger prints. This situation was the inspiration for a spill proof jar, even submitted the idea to FSM and they published it in Reader's Tips! * Note the missing lines on the cutting matt, yes liquid plastic solvent removes these markings. Another advantage is the hockey puck has a rubbery grip allowing the jar to be opened with one hand.

Me, too.  I never make misteaks.

Sorry,I don't have any modeling goofs,everything is great .

Was gluing some pieces to a build with Tenax.  Laid the applicator brush down to hold the critical parts together and watched the applicator roll towards another FINISHED build sitting on the table!  I lunged to grab the applicator (and all this happened in slow motion mind you! ) only to hit the Tenax bottle and watch (still in slow motion) the bottle fly over and spray the build with Tenax!  It was horrible....looked like something from a bad B Sci-Fi movie.  And yes, I cried!  I cleaned up most of the mess, but had to have the wife do the actual deed of throwing the build away.  I couldn't do it.  Had her do it while I was at work.  I couldn't do it.........in need a tissue.    Excuse me.

Eagle90

Biggest: trying to use lqauer thinner to clean up some primer on an aircraft model. It dissolved the plastic!

Another one;laying your brush with MEK on another kit part on your work bench

Lastly, glueing an painting a whole cockpit then discovering the fuselage halves will not fit because you installed the whole cockpit to far forward.

ruddratt

next time your exacto knife with a new #11 blade in it rolls off your workbench

Won't happen with one of these: http://www.dickblick.com/products/fiskars-softgrip-craft-knife/

You can hold it very securely too, without it twisting off-line in your hand and ruining a cut.

Well Now ;

 Do you want fifty five years worth ? The biggest three were when I cut myself to the bone on the right thumb removing sprue and boy , did that hurt  ! It left a scar that definitely shows up on fingerprints .( Job requirement .)

 The next time it was when I was shaping a wooden hull with a high speed belt sander . Took off the tip of the left index finger faster than I could say ouch *&^&&%$%** ! Still have all ten digits though and those few scars from leg catching

    Oh , and the one where the super - glue exploded out of a loose top and glued my hand to a large 12 meter sailing model . Thank Gosh I had a gallon of lacquer thinner in the shop at the time  . Sure ruined that model though .

My thumbprints have been permanently altered by repeated application of #11 blades.

OUCH!  That sounds terrible!  Thankfully I haven't injured myself building before other than cuts and little stuff.  Most of these mistakes are old ones that I mentioned but are funny when I look back.  Lots to learn from. :)

Most of my goofs are done to myself, not the kit I'm working on, which is unfortunate as the kits don't feel any pain.  So, next time your exacto knife with a new #11 blade in it rolls off your workbench, please do not pinch your knees together attempting to catch it - it goes into the meaty part of the leg quite easily, but hurts like the dickens when you pull it out.

I've done a few but can't remember one that sticks out in my mind.