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I've waited seven damn years for forgeworld to make a model for Vulkan, they finally do, I drop $105 into one, paint it to the best of my abilities, and its literally been smashed into pieces...

Crowning achievement of anything I've ever painted. And my favorite sci-fi character ever. Now its not even repairable.

So I had it in my display case at home on the top self and my cousins come over for a visit. They also bring their child (you can see where this is going) and being unsupervised by his parents, sneaks downstairs to look at my model collection, grabs a chair to get to the top, and starts examining Vulkan. After they leave I go downstairs to get some painting done and walk into the room to find Vulkan smashed to bits and squished into a corner on the carpet, along with some plastic army men, and a few of my tactical marines...

I seriously have no words to describe how bummed I am about this. There is no chance of repairing it, paint is chipped to hell, flames on the back are all busted off, dawnbringer is broke in three places, legs are snapped, ect. I don't have the money right now to replace it either...

Man, that totally sucks. I would definitely be on the phone to the parentals in that case because, yeah, that's some money, and I'm sure had it been, say, a television or something, they'd be ponying up the scratch.

It's simple. Tell your cousin that his kid broke your 105 dollar model, and that he should pay you back the money for it.

I don't even know if I want to call, I'd probably regret words I say at the moment..

You could say something to the parents ... they might try to play it off as "they are just toys" ... ask them if you can take a 4 pound beater to their car and go to town .... its just paint.

Someone would pay if it were me.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Midnightdeathblade wrote:
I don't even know if I want to call, I'd probably regret words I say at the moment..

Do this call them and tell them you need to talk to them but now is not a good time ... wait a week and then explain the situation. Rational actions can beget rational results.

 Midnightdeathblade wrote:
I don't even know if I want to call, I'd probably regret words I say at the moment..

Then cool down, think about what you're going to say and give them a call.

 OIIIIIIO wrote:
You could say something to the parents ... they might try to play it off as "they are just toys" ... ask them if you can take a 4 pound beater to their car and go to town .... its just paint.

Someone would pay if it were me.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Midnightdeathblade wrote:
I don't even know if I want to call, I'd probably regret words I say at the moment..

Do this call them and tell them you need to talk to them but now is not a good time ... wait a week and then explain the situation. Rational actions can beget rational results.

That is probably the best course of action to be honest.

I think it is ... it is important to call now and tell them that you need to talk. I do not know them so I do not know if they would try to say that if you waited a week to call about it that it could have happened any time within the last week. You get it in that you need to talk but need some time to cool down, then talk about it a week later things will work out better, I promise.

Ill do that, I might not take a week but ill call back and explain once I cool down.

I can't believe this though.

 Midnightdeathblade wrote:
I don't even know if I want to call, I'd probably regret words I say at the moment..

Send an e-mail then. And say you're e-mailing because you're really really pissed and don't want to say anything that might cause hurt feelings.

Or just call them and make it brief by saying that their kid broke something expensive, you're a little angry about it, and you'll call them back once you've blown off steam.

Also, if you are worried about them playing it off as a toy, send them a link to forgeworld where the original model is for sale.

Get them to pay for it, since they left their kid unsupervised and he broke your stuff.

Then, with your own money, buy a lock for your display case. Or for your downstairs, so people can't go into your basement without your permission.

Not going to lie, I would've shed a few (very manly, of course) tears about it if it were mine.

Its certainly not an insignificant amount of money we're talking about, without even getting into the emotional value and hours of work.

You need the money, the child needs to learn a lesson. I highly recommend speaking to the parents.

Just to try and offer a silver lining, and I'm aware of what cold comfort this may seem.

This was a model you waited for years for, was one of your favourites, one you poured hours into in order to make it one of your greatest hobby achievements.

Now you get to do it again.

This time, you can learn from the experiences when doing the first one, and do it even better.

that is true. i've found many times in painting that I would do better on some parts of a model after learning from earlier parts what worked better. of course, I usually ended up going back to the earlier parts to "touch up" but I always knew in my own mind what was under the top layer of paint.
I've also found that later models turn out better than earlier ones and I enjoyed actually DOING the work of assembling and painting.

However, I DEFINATELY agree, the parents should pony up the cost of the model itself. Personally, i would call it even there while others might want payment for the time and effort. I would say, its a kid and surely was not intentional and likely elt bad enough already. Not to mention it's family. Growing up, I was always hurt more by disapointing my dad and would much rather a beating than seeing disapointment. Might be an idea to talk with the kid and explain that you would love to let them see models or teach them to playbut only if they follow these rules...
Id just ask for the $ to replace and let it go at that.
Sorry to hear about the loss and the eelings you must have gone through. i know the pain from experience. Good luck.

And this is why children should be kept in small enclosures.

An email sounds like the best bet, you can sit down and think through it as you write it, and edit as you go, so you don't come across as table-flipping when you finally hit the Send button.

Also, one thing to consider, do you have renter's or homeowner's insurance?

I seen this one and had to turn on my laptop.
#1 Do not say anything, Be exact invite them back over sooner the better.
#2 Talk to the child and tell him you want to see his favorite toy in the world and you will show him yours.
#3 Place all the pieces on your model in a box.
#4 When he comes back over with Favorite toy look at it walk out side and hulk smash it on the side walk.
#5 Hand him the box and tell him this was my favorite toy.

Then he will know and appreciate the value of other peoples things.

I am sorry to much read what happened. What a shock and upset it must have been. Kudos to you for not overreacting. The advice of others in the thread is sound. (Except those who advocate threats or attacking a child or his things... That is the stuff of sociopaths. You are clearly not that person or you'd already have overreacted as such.)

Fireraven wrote:
I seen this one and had to turn on my laptop.
#1 Do not say anything, Be exact invite them back over sooner the better.
#2 Talk to the child and tell him you want to see his favorite toy in the world and you will show him yours.
#3 Place all the pieces on your model in a box.
#4 When he comes back over with Favorite toy look at it walk out side and hulk smash it on the side walk.
#5 Hand him the box and tell him this was my favorite toy.

Then he will know and appreciate the value of other peoples things.

This would be fantastic lol! Ive cooled down quite a bit and contacted his parents they are going to refund me. ALL IS NOT LOST!

But to top off my night, I found out my "loyal" girlfriend has also been taking a stroll down "hey lets cheat on Ben with multiple guys lane"


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And im back up to rage level over 9000

Please don't attach nonwargaming images to dakka. reds8n

If someone's kid smashed my TV, I would expect them to pay for it. Same goes for any other piece of my property (within reason). A $105 model is DEFINITELY within reason for something that should be replaced. It is THEIR responsibility for their children to be kept in line. They have to pay for it.

And yes, I have children and I have nephews. If any of them damaged one of my models, I would expect it to be replaced. Luckily, I have put the fear of god in my daughters that if they break one of my models, I will be breaking their piggy banks.

 Midnightdeathblade wrote:

Fireraven wrote:
I seen this one and had to turn on my laptop.
#1 Do not say anything, Be exact invite them back over sooner the better.
#2 Talk to the child and tell him you want to see his favorite toy in the world and you will show him yours.
#3 Place all the pieces on your model in a box.
#4 When he comes back over with Favorite toy look at it walk out side and hulk smash it on the side walk.
#5 Hand him the box and tell him this was my favorite toy.

Then he will know and appreciate the value of other peoples things.

This would be fantastic lol! Ive cooled down quite a bit and contacted his parents they are going to refund me. ALL IS NOT LOST!

But to top off my night, I found out my "loyal" girlfriend has also been taking a stroll down "hey lets cheat on Ben with multiple guys lane"


Automatically Appended Next Post:
And im back up to rage level over 9000

Landmines can solve that.

Whoa! Worst day ever... Hang in there man. Sheesh!

So...barring the unfaithful village bicycle girlfriend, this story has a happy ending?

Thanks... Karma better pay me back big..

And for Vulkan, money wise yes, but for the amount of work and effort i put into him no. I will replace him and paint it better though. It will just take some time.

Feel for you man, just know that things get better and you should always have a lock on the man cave.

 Midnightdeathblade wrote:


Thanks... Karma better pay me back big..

And for Vulkan, money wise yes, but for the amount of work and effort i put into him no. I will replace him and paint it better though. It will just take some time.

Think of it as an opportunity to improve on previous one. Also, it gives you an opportunity to booby trap the room that you store your models in.

I would just like to suggest that, having lost a fantastic model, and a girlfriend, that you might consider getting Angron rather than Vulkan.

Express that rage on the tabletop! Aaaaaaargh!

Sorry for the week you are having. Hope your next model is better, and your next girlfriend is a model!

Do you have a venting object? I have a back yard with a bunch of thick branches that I can go out and break until I feel better. Once you feel controlled I would definitely take pictures and email the parents with a general idea of the price and I would expect to be reimbursed for the models at the least.

Either way I commiserate. I had an entire army broken in somewhat similar circumstances... Now I keep everything in locked containers and foam that a three year old jumped on and threw around yet didn't even disturb the models.

Bummer.

The one thing I can say, though, is that it is repairable, no matter your claims to the contrary. With plasticard, greenstuff, and bits of brass rod, all things are possible.

It's not just a toy. It's a collectors model. Liken it to a Steiff bear, an original-series USS Enterprise or something similar.