Lost Small Parts - What do you do?

What brand ?

I lost 2 door handles to a Helicopter build . Revell was the company , went to there web site fill out the missing part forum . Next day , I had a e mail from Revell stating about 4 to 6 weeks I should have 2 door handles . About 3 weeks after e mail . They sent me 4 door handles no charge ..

Rick

I would contact the kit manufacturer for replacement parts. A lot of times they will send you replacement parts at no charge.

If I can scratch the part I do.  One thing you can do with weapons is encase them in a "canvas" or soft cover.  Many shipboard weapons are secured except during use and drills.  Many of us make canvas covers in Kneenex dampened with a diluted white glue mix, or with painted bare metal foil or tinfoil.

Trumpeter customer service does not have a sterling reputation for replacing lost parts. But there are plenty of Aftermarket options for 1/350 20mm Oerlikons out there so you can go that route. Or you can try to scratch some on your own and/or do as Don suggested and go the covered gun route. Or lastly, check your stash- many kits have duplicate sprues that often due to their layout will provide the builder with a few excess guns that will end up in your spares bin. You just might have some of those. Especially on ship kits that offer alternate armament fittings.

Throw up a request somewhere for help on this or another forum,many modelers have extensive excess parts boxes.On Armorama a few years ago a kind soul in England sent me a spare tank hatch at no charge.The community is willing to help out when they could.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll try scratch build first but the idea of the canvas covers is very interesting. Never thought about that type of approach. Probably be useful to have some aftermarket spares on hand, it seems they would probably look better anyway

Aha!

  There is a thought right? Now remember if you look carefully the 20 mm guns were stowed barrel up under that canvas cover.

 Or you can try to scratch those puppies, which I don't recommend. I have built that ship. Now, you do try to remember this. The ship is small, so try to get her color Before they went blue. If you don't ,she will disappear into the darkest corner of your cabinet never to be seen again. This model's size, as it turns out, makes sea blue and deck blue help to obscure any fine work or small deck fittings of P.E . disappear

Most of the time, I find the tiny parts insignificant.  If I lose one, I just forget it and move on.  Nobody will ever notice the difference, and in a year or so, I will forget about it myself.

Just get some Evergreen rod and tube assortment ( small ) this will solve a great many problems .