Wednesday 14 September 2011

A Minor CATastrophe....

I should know better and have absolutely no excuse for the fate that has befallen elements of my ACW scratch built warship collection. The undercoated and semi painted remaining 32 models have been sitting in a box lid on a shelf in my den quite happily for some weeks now. A snug and secure place to store them - or so you could be forgiven for thinking.

I had not reckoned on the cunning of any one of my three felines.

I got home yesterday evening only to notice that the said box lid was at an odd angle. I took this out from its slot on the shelf and was mortified at the sight that greeted me. The ships, instead on being in their neatly ordered rows were in a complete jumble. The funnel rack (a device I use for storing the funnels in pairs whilst the hulls are being painted) had an odd number of funnels knocked off and mixed in with those in the lid separately (meaning a tedious sorting out at some point) and three of the ships damaged to a greater or lesser extent. USS Lexington had a funnel knocked off which is easy enough to repair - once I have sorted through the two dozen or so to see which one matches the remaining one! General Bragg (both versions I should add) suffered the worse and both models had the forward mast snapped in half at the join. This would not ordinarily be a problem but for the fact that the grade of plastic rod I used I no longer have so will need a trip to Modelzone to replace it.

The evidence as to the culprit was compelling - numerous black and white hairs were found in the proximity. The only problem is that we have three black and white cats and extensive interrogation failed to reveal the identity of the perpetrator. Sadly SWMBO took a dim view of water-boarding the offending felines so the mystery will remain unsolved....;-)

The models are now residing inside a cupboard.

10 comments:

Robert (Bob) Cordery said...

My wife thinks that I am a bit paranoid about trying to keep our cats out of my toy/wargames room. This is exactly why I am!

I hope you can get the damage fixed ASAP.

As to the cats ... well I haven't found a way to stop them doing what they want to do when they want to do it as yet!

All the best,

Bob

Tim Gow said...

Cats. Can't live with 'em. Can't live with 'em. A simple philosophy but one which works for me!

Peter Douglas said...

David



RossMac seems to suggest scantily clad females to control wild animals. I'm not sure this would work with cats.

PD

Conrad Kinch said...

I've grown rather fond of our two, though it must be said they are both very good with figures. I've placed them on my wargames table on several occasions and watched carefully pick their way off again.


"Sadly SWMBO took a dim view of water-boarding the offending felines so the mystery will remain unsolved....;-)"

Your failure to make hard choices David is why the terrorists, ahem, cats will win.

David Crook said...

Hi Bob,

Fortunately the damage was limited but the lesson has been learned and so the models are now residing in a cupboard. I had made the basic error of assuming that as the box had been in the same position for weeks it was 'safe'....

Unfortunately the cats(s) thought otherwise....;-)

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Tim,

At least I will not have to worry about either of our Guinea Pigs causing similar mayhem....;-)

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Peter,

An interesting idea but I am unconvinced that SWMBO would entertain the notion....;-)

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi CK,

All three are quite cute and ordinarily have provided valuable assistance over recent months with my various projects so the 'attack' when it came appeared to be somewhat out of character.

The main suspect, Minnie, the youngest of the three is actually as mad as a box of frogs and had obviously taken offence at my lack of effort in finishing the models in question.

Doubtlessly in her feline mind she thought that due to the lack of activity on my part these models must have been surplus to requirements and so fair game for some 'fun'....;-)

My fault entirely and an object lesson in never underestimating your enemy - or the capability of the feline mind.

All the best,

DC

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Just when I thought I knew where the dangers in my household lay, I'll have to keep an eye on the cunning four legged one too

David Crook said...

Hi Geordie,

The surprise lay in the fact it took so long for one of them to attack the box - I am reminded of a description I read in the Seven Pillars of Wisdom or somewhere similar - "...and forty years later, the Bedu had his revenge..."

Stealth is a feline feature.

All the best,

DC