Are We Model Hoarders?

[highway]

As I look over the pictures that have been posted of the collections some of you have I can only say one thing I'm jealous.

No, not really. My Hobby room is about eight by ten. I don't have room for a collection like some of you have.

But, then it seems to me if a person has more models than two of the local Hobby Shops combined they are a hoarder, I meant collector.

I'd love to have that much space, Don! The space in my living room that I call the model room is about 5 foot wide by maybe 8 foot long area I sort of boxed in with my shelves.

A pic before I stacked the other shelves on top of the ones on the left of the pics above.

Also, as I said in my post replying to Robert, I don't consider my self a collector, but I do have more kits than two of the three hobby shops in my area COMBINED, and I'm closing in on the third!

[my66s55]

I am neither a hoarder or collector. I am an investor. At 55 years of age in 2000, I started accumulating my investment. I located every plastic model kit, diecast and resin car model that I wanted for display in my home and purchased then. Now, I knew I wasn't going to work much longer and needed something to keep me busy. I don't play golf. Besides its very expensive. I don't watch a lot of tv and what I do watch if off an indoor rabbit ears. So modeling cars was to be a big factor in retirement. I amassed over three hundred kits, almost all pre-1972. Now, keep in mind that in that time period you could by kits from Hobby Heaven on closeout for about $5 a piece. E-bay was a decent place to buy and even my local hobby shop had kits for $7-$10. Now ,I have a choice of what I want to build, the money is already spent when I had it to spend and the same kit today, if I could find it, is much more money. I made an investment in my future retirement and if I pass on, there's money for my son.

[Kaleb]

Here's a question for everyone: How would you feel if your model kit collection caught fire and burned?

Depending on whats left, it may make one good diorama lol

[highway]

Here's a question for everyone: How would you feel if your model kit collection caught fire and burned?

Depending on whats left, it may make one good diorama lol

You know Josh, that is not something to laugh at and I pray you never have to live through it like I have!

In 1997, I had that very nightmare come true, and not only did I lose my home, which was not insured at the time, but everything INCLUDING my approximately 250 to 300 kit collection that I had built since I started building at age 8. I still to this day almost 15 years later am trying to replace some of the more rare kits from that collection I would like to have again.

EDIT: By the way, to answer Dave's question, it feels like _____!

Edited March 31, 2011 by highway

[Nick Notarangelo]

I already lost one complete collection of models to fire when I lived in rhode island,almost 1000 kits and stuff from scifi and comic books.no im up to about 100 kits and thats it,luck for me I had all my hobby tools and a limited amount of paints at a freinds so I didnt lost my tools

[Mark Brown]

Here's a question for everyone: How would you feel if your model kit collection caught fire and burned?

Between all the models, model parts, paint, CDs and books, it would be a fire that would probably be visible from space!

[57peppershaker]

When I got my 1;1 57 Chevy 6 years ago, I had to cut down what I bought & sold some of the kits I'd probably never build. 90% of my 57 diecast collection is being sold or has been.

I must have 120 kits that are planned builds, mostly 57's & muscle cars. I try to limit myself to what I buy now, but couldnt resist 2 more Revell sedans & 69 Nova yesterday !

About anothe 100 that are a keeper collection (nearly all of the 57 Chevy kits that I know have been issued)

I first got into 57 Chevys throgh kits, hence my user name.

Hoarder ? Nah, but I'm working on it

[oldnslow]

I quess I'm in the addicted to plastic, collector/hoarder/builder catagory. The collection was over 5,000 several years ago and I stopped counting. I've been buiding models since I was 9 and I'm pushing 61 hard. The habit has been on and off again as family andf life dictated but I've always been a builder, model cars, trains, motorcycles, street rods and dragsters. Physical restraints are coming on my ability to do the full size stuff and the models have taken priority again, but I really like to stay busy with my hands, but look on the bright side, with this many kits I'll get to live to Mathusela's age to build the ones I want!

[paul alflen]

ANY GUYS WHEN WE DIE OUR STASH OF KITS WILL FLOOD THE MARKET, THOSE RARE STASHED KITS WILL BECOME PLENTIFUL AGAIN,AND PRICES WILL PLUMMET!!!!!!!!! EITHER THAT OR OUR KIDS AND GRAND KIDS WILL TOSS THEM!!!

[Mark Brown]

ANY GUYS WHEN WE DIE OUR STASH OF KITS WILL FLOOD THE MARKET, THOSE RARE STASHED KITS WILL BECOME PLENTIFUL AGAIN,AND PRICES WILL PLUMMET!!!!!!!!! EITHER THAT OR OUR KIDS AND GRAND KIDS WILL TOSS THEM!!!

Unless modelers get specific in their wills (probably a topic for another thread) I expect most of them will wind up in estate sales and then get eBayed by people who specialize in liquidating estates.

[kitbash1]

I do believe that most people here are not hoarders. I do question those who have several thousand kits stashed in closets, basements, attics, storage sheds, garages, and storage lockers away from their homes. They may have only the vaguest idea of what they have stashed away in those areas. And, what are they going to do with them? I doubt that any of those kits would ever get built...or see the light of day.

[DRG]

I, personally will leave everything, after the daughter and wife have picked what they want that's built, to the local Model Club.

[2000-cvpi]

ANY GUYS WHEN WE DIE OUR STASH OF KITS WILL FLOOD THE MARKET, THOSE RARE STASHED KITS WILL BECOME PLENTIFUL AGAIN,AND PRICES WILL PLUMMET!!!!!!!!! EITHER THAT OR OUR KIDS AND GRAND KIDS WILL TOSS THEM!!!

Hopefully I will still be young enough to dumpster dive.

[spkgibson]

I'm sorry Steve, but I don't sell or trade my kits.

Besides, though it's not finished, that Cuda's body is no longer stock. If you recall the concept Cuda Juha Ario won the Custom Model Car Clinic in Car Modeler 1999 with, that's my inspiration & the reason I bought the kit.

Yes I remember that car, I also have that issue sitting on my desk, Alot of work went into that car he did.

[mrmike]

I figured that after a few days of no new posts, this subject was destined for the archieves, but I am sitting here looking at my parts box and all the built kit boxes that I have not cleaned out due to my parts box being quite full. The 2-In-1 and 3-In-1 kits are starting to become a bit of a problem for me now. With parts in the kits that I am not using, where shall I keep the the extra bits? It reminded me of this thread and I thought that this would add a new wrinkle. We have discussed the kits aspect of model hoarding, but what about the spare parts that we all have? Do you keep them, toss them, trade or sell them?

What do you do with your spare parts?

[Clay]

I usually go through the left overs and keep what I want. Since I don't have the collection most of you guys do, I dont have that much extra. So it doesn't take up that much space.

[Dr. Cranky]

Are we addicted to styrene? I know I am . . . and if I'm not careful I ended up opining all the kits I get just to get a strong whiff of youth, fantasy, and CRANKY start the imagination. I really like this thread . . . it makes me feel young again! Thank you.

[Jon Cole]

NEVER... NEVER... NEVER... throw away model parts! It goes against the model builders code. I have it written down here... somewhere... maybe under this pile? I dunno. It's somewhere around here.

[niteowl7710]

I found it Jon...it was under that pile of tires..

Modeler Builder's Code Rule #7, Subsection A, Paragraph 3

- Modeler of the First Part (Herein referred to as builder), shall never upon completion of Model Kit of the Second Part (Herein referred to as 2n1/3n1/4n1 model kit), ever under any circumstances dispose of leftover parts from model kit, except to trade with Modeler of the Third Part (Herein referred to as "Trading Partners") for other leftover parts from model kits.

- Violation of this Subsection shall require Builder to be substantially mocked by Modelers in the Fourth Part (Herein referred to as "Forum Members"), when at such time Builder realizes he needs the parts he just disposed of in his next build.

I put my spare parts in labeled zip lock bags, and then into a Rubbermaid tub they go.

[Boreham]

last time I did an inventory it was 220...that was 3 years ago..

trouble is I ain't building..and as One Forum member branded me lately.."A collector"... hoarder I can handle... but not Collector

here ""some"" on the recent (last 2 years ). purchases..

[mrmike]

Part of my problem is that I need to better organize my parts box. I also belong to the Classic Plastic Model Club and any spare parts that I don't want or need, I can bring to a meeting and let the other members take what they want.

[Matt T.]

I've got to buy all these kits, otherwise the hoarders will get them!

[Danno]

last time I did an inventory it was 220...that was 3 years ago..

trouble is I ain't building..and as One Forum member branded me lately.."A collector"... hoarder I can handle... but not Collector

here ""some"" on the recent (last 2 years ). purchases..

What you really need is ... an escort!

[Aaronw]

Not loooking to ruffle feathers, but doesn't it seem that lots of people get pretty judgemental on this topic?

I mean, who's to say how someone should enjoy their hobbby? There's definitely something negative trying to label people as "hoarders" because they buy more kits than they build. I don't mean that to come across as defensive, as I definitely have several lifetimes' worth of unbuilt kits, it's just that there's no cookie-cutter "right" amount of kits to have, or not have, is there?

I noticed a similar phenomenon with 1:1 cars, and I think that anything people are passionate about brings out the "what I would do" scenarios. Often, when I have one of my Mustangs out somewhere, people will walk up and say things like "If I owned this I'd put Cragar wheels on it!" as if somehow that had any relevance. If it's not your car who cares what wheels you'd theoretically put on?

I dunno, I guess I just really don't get why anyone would waste time trying to determine if people are builders, collectors, hoarders, etc. People all just have the number of kits they want to have, and it realy doesn't hurt anyone else, so why not just move on and not trouble youself with fretting over it?

I always find these threads on whatever forum tend to end up with a fair number of badwrongfun comments. They also tend to bring out the amatuer psychologists who try to explain how we are compensating by having a large number of kits.

I'm not a hoader or a collector, I'm just a bad businessman, I'm starting a hobbyshop, but never quite get to that actually opening a shop stage.

[Harry P.]

I dunno, I guess I just really don't get why anyone would waste time trying to determine if people are builders, collectors, hoarders, etc. People all just have the number of kits they want to have, and it realy doesn't hurt anyone else, so why not just move on and not trouble youself with fretting over it?

It's just harmless forum chatter, that's all.