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Posted

Every one seems to be interested in how many kits do you have as if that is some measure in this hobby. I have a more interesting question. How much(dollars, euros, pounds, shekels etc. do you have tied up in kits and accessories, retail value. This will probably scare the heck out of you when you total it up and everyone who reads this has to promise not to show it to their or anyone else's spouse. B)

Since I started it, I feel it is only fair to be the first brave sole to throw it out their. Last time I counted which was over ten years ago, I had a little over $32,000 in my purchase cost. With the increase in model cost and the additions , I would estimate the retail value are now well over $50,000. I have some high values stuff that bumps this number up significantly.

Ok, your turn!

Posted

Taking in all modeling stuff is subjective though. For instance I have a Sherline lathe & Mill and the required essentials for CNC. A band saw . That alone was $3000.00 Then there is 10 or so Airbrushes $1000.00? I have equipment for casting, Pressure pot 12x24 700.00 and a vacuum chamber $800.00.

I don't really need this stuff for enjoying model building, but I was in the right place at the right time.

Posted

Are we counting airbrush rigs, paints, putties, and glues, and books/magazines for reference materials? I have at least as much in that stuff as I have in kits themselves.

I couldn't even begin to guess but I'm confident that I'm now into five figures...and I'm not sure the first figure would be a 1, or even a 2....

A good deal of what I have is now worth considerably more than I paid for it at the time....

Posted

I am a total cheapskate. I mostly buy what I can find for peanuts. I have a few kits I paid retail for, but most of them are from yard sales, auctions, Ollies, or 40% at HL. For example, today I bought an AMT Prowler (open/started) for $1.00. Since I usually find them for $5 or less, I'm guessing I have spent $400.00 or so for my 60+ kits. What are they actually worth? Don't know, don't care. If I want to build something, I got plenty to choose from. :)

Posted

This hobby is supposed to be FUN, and keeping a ledger on how much I've spent on this hobby since the late 50's is not part of it. I have better things to do with my time.

Posted

What happens on my credit card , stays on my credit card. No sense in letting the wifey have any idea what I spend.

; D There are advantages to getting divorced.

Posted

I dont want to kill the fun,but sharing such info on public forums can be risky. Also if you inform about when you leave on vacation lol.

Posted

anyone know when the Revell Dickswinger's '49 Ford is being released? i need to reserve at least a case, maybe 2.

Wow, you really like those Dickswingers!

Posted

just want to make sure i have one entry in every category at next year's Humblebrag Finals. and an unopened kit to donate to the IMCBM in Salt Lake after my ultimate demise.

Posted

So it's not how many you have...it's what they're worth? Hmmm.

Do common thieves steal model cars? I understand most are drug addicts,so do fences and/or drug dealers take model cars as payment?

I'm thinking it's probably safe to discuss what/how many we have here.

Posted (edited)

The question I asked was kits and accessories. I did not intend to include tools as an accessory. In that category I mean photoetched, resin parts, upgrade or transkits. That sort of stuff. I keep track of it be cause I was robbed about 10 years ago and I have an inventory. That was all the record I needed for the insurance company. No arguments, just a check. Was I robbed by pros? No. They came into the garage and grabbed a couple of RC cars, some kits and left all the tools alone which are far easier to sell or pawn. Modeling stuff, not so much. I doubt that there are many people outside of our community that know the value of rare or expensive kits, much less how to get rid of them.

My curiosity is more about what people hold. It is one thing to have 200 kits at $20 apiece and another to have 20 kits at $200 each.

Edited by Pete J.
Posted

I don't really know, but if I sold everything on ebay and got average fair prices for it all, I could probably buy a decent used car.

Posted

Pretty sure there's another thread that's basically the same question... How much have you spent on the hobby... ? Is it really necessary anyway? It's a hobby, it's something we like/love to so... Money & how much we spend or have invested in it really doesn't matter, whether we want to insure everything or not... Just my opinion. ?

Posted

It sounds like he's interested in specific inventory...."investment" grade models vs. just misc run of the mill models?

Posted

I dont want to kill the fun,but sharing such info on public forums can be risky. Also if you inform about when you leave on vacation lol.

Either way, its the same amount, not sure I follow.

Can you elaborate how Shari how much spent in the hobby can be risky?

Posted

Can I include the cost of the larger home I bought to house my collection? :lol:

Actually I refuse to add it all up. In the same way I haven't amortized the two cases of beer I bought this afternoon. I consider it money spent.. doesn't matter if it's a kit, money pulled through the cash machine for a day at a show, or the funds spent flying out to GSL.

As I said on another thread, I've never taken hobby money before my family obligations have been fulfilled. It's mad money I can spend to on things I enjoy. An investment in my sanity.

Posted

A little over a year ago , Pete J ( the O.P. ) gave me some really good advice about insuring my model collection , I'm not sure if I thanked him properly but I will now-Thanks Pete !

After I talked to my insurance agent about buying a policy to insure my collection , I could tell he didn't take it seriously at first . He dismissed the hobby as ' kid stuff " .

I took a lot of pictures then sent my agent the link to my Photo Bucket - he then looked at eBay and a few other places that sell vintage and collectable kits . The next time the agent called me he said he never would have guessed that model cars had become so valued .

Now I have my collection insured and pictures documented .

The best advice I could give at this point is : IF you have a large collection , whether you rent or own your home - even if you have the collection in storage , check into a separate policy .

Thanks again , Pete !

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