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...so why did it upset me so much?One of the kits I'm working on is a Tamiya Steyr 1500A/01. Sometime last night the mirror got broken off. Normally this would annoy me for a bit while I looked for the part or figured out how to make a replacement. This one has left me feeling very upset and brought me close to tears. You see, there's a story behind this kit, a very long story (don't worry, the telling is actually quite short).Some of my earliest memories are watching my brother building his model kits, and later on his helping me build mine. We were always working on kits together, going to the hobby shop together, sharing the latest issue of our favorite modeling magazine. We shared our hobby right up to the point where I moved out of Texas in 1999. College, marriage, work, and other aspects of life conspired to keep me from being able to go back and visit for many years. The next time I was able to go back was in 2006. It was for my brother's funeral.For many years his health had been deteriorating due to diabetes and serious heart problems. He finally lost his battle after a long, difficult fight. Our father was at his side when he passed. I flew back for the funeral and while there helping my father sort through his things I found a new, unopened model kit, the Steyr I'm currently building. My brother had a love for the less "glamorous" kits. He preferred building trucks, artillery pieces, horse-drawn field kitchens and such to the more popular subjects - and he was very, very good at it. The Steyr was exactly the type of kit I'd expect him to have on his desk. When I found it I knew I had no choice but to bring it home with me. Building it would be a sort of memorial to my brother, a final connection with someone I dearly miss.I've held onto that kit for 8 years as I just didn't have a safe place to display it until we moved to where we are now. I started working on it two years ago, doing a bit here, a bit there, then putting it away again until I felt able to continue once more. For the last few days I've been focusing on trying to get it finished. Last night I set it aside to let some parts dry while I worked on other bits. When I picked it up just a bit ago to touch up some paint and found the mirror broken off it was like a giant fist had punched me in the gut. A reaction all out of proportion to the damage done, really. I guess this particular assemblage of plastic bits means more to me than I had ever realized.
Tarasdad
On the Bench:
I'm very sorry to hear that. If I read it correctly, it disappeared in the carpet, maybe? You might be able to put some pantyhose over the opening of the vacuum cleaner and run it over the floor to see if it'll pick it up without sucking it into the bag, if it didn't wander too far off.
The missing mirror has been found.
Hi :
If you've read my posts you know I feel somewhat the same way .I still have a " Buckley " D.E. my uncle built for me . He served on the type . When I moved to where I am now I found it was damaged .You could've knocked me over with a feather ! I waited for a re-release to restore the broken parts !
Uncle Tim was the reason I joined the NAVY . He didn't lie , didn't glorify war , but fed my interest in small fighting units . Why ? Like he said ." If you live close enough to scratch each others butts, you fight as one for your " Family "on your ship and for her , since she's your home .
Tarasdad: I'm sorry to hear about your brother. So far I've not lost anyone that close to me but I know what you mean- sometimes it's just a little thing that brings back a flood of emotion. Hang in there buddy.
"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen
Glad you found the part. Our memories of our loved ones are very often closely associated with material, physical things.
Associations with things often trigger memories, good or bad. Sounds, sights, smells, weather conditions, items, can all trigger memories of significant events or people from our past. I look forward to seeing that Steyer completed one day.
F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!
U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!
N is for NO SURVIVORS...
- Plankton
LSM
I am sorry to hear of that kind of loss. The closest person I lost was my Grandpa. We were very close. Lived in the same town and saw each other at least once a week. Heard so many stories and knew so much about him. The things of his that I have are very special to me and I can understand. I have a horse carving he bought in Mexico that got damaged in one of my moves. The ear broke off and I never did find it. Needless to say that was quite upsetting.
Its neat you are building that in honor of him! Very cool thing to do.
Boeing Build - June 15 2015 Mustang Build - Feb 1 2015 Artillery Build - April 16 2015
Boeing Build - June 15 2015
Mustang Build - Feb 1 2015
Artillery Build - April 16 2015
The kit is nearly done, just need to install and paint the step stirrups. After that it's the very few decals the model needs (been in the box so long the carrier film has yellowed!) and then I decide if I want to weather it or just let it be. My paint skill have suffered somewhat due to lack of use during my absence from the hobby sad to say. Makes me very hesitant to do any but the absolute minimum, probably very light dry brushing and nothing more. My brother was the one who had the artist's touch with weathering, I was never very good at it.
So there's a trick for yellow decals. Tape them up on the inside of a window that gets a lot of sun, but no condensation. If that's a problem put them in a baggie.
It may take a week or too, but they will magically turn white again.
I'm sorry to hear of your loss and please accept my sympathy. I lost twin brothers at birth many years ago. I was really looking forward to tormenting those guys!
Modeling is an excuse to buy books.
You Know :
Funny you should mention that . You've heard or read about my 12 year old son . That young man was an absolute whiz with Decals even though his first build of a regular plastic model came tragically short in time to his loss .Yes, treasure that item and savor the memories every time you see it .
The advice given to save the decals may work .It has worked for me .I go one step further and clear coat the top of the decal with clear flat ( military ) or clear gloss ( civilian ) that way they don't break apart from age .
Decals are on. Yellow was just my bad eyes, got them in better light and they were fine. Did take a little extra soaking to convince them to come off the backing paper. I used Micro-Set and Micro-Sol to snug them down. Just need to hit it with a coat of flat and it's done. Will post pics when it's ready.
tankerbuilder The advice given to save the decals may work .It has worked for me .I go one step further and clear coat the top of the decal with clear flat ( military ) or clear gloss ( civilian ) that way they don't break apart from age .
Well, she's done.
Took me a bit longer than anticipated and still needs just a bit more work - small amount of weathering and dry-brushing then a good shot of Testors Dullcote - but otherwise it's a done deal.
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