Well, I ordered a new hood star for Liesl the Diesel. No instructions to be found anywhere so I placed it in the hole and peered underneath. I thought to myself, "Self, just pull that pin out and the spring will be released and secure the star to the grille from underneath." So, I pulled it out with a needle nose pliers and everything came undone, falling to the garage floor with a pleasant tinkling sound.
It took me 2 hours of tinkering with various paraphernelia to get it back together again and understand how it works. I was making it way too hard- put it in the hole, grab the outer gold-colored ring and turn towards the tabs...DUH!
Well, I've got my status symbol in place now, cottered with a tiny little hex wrench.

Wish there had been a hidden camera focused on your face when it made that pleasant tinkling sound. I know that feeling of DISBELIEF that you could have caused what just happened... You feel like it was a booby trap set on purpose to cause you both embarrassment and extra work.... I FEEL for you man ! Wait till it happens on something much larger...and more expensive ..... Greg

Yes, those hood stars are quite a piece of engineering all by themselfs. I have spent a few hours trying to get it back together with no luck. After a few of them, you get the hang of getting them on and off without breaking the thing.