My inventory is finally done,,,,,

[smhardesty]

I created a simple spreadsheet to inventory the kits in my stash. I kept putting off getting everything entered into the spreadsheet, but decided that today would be a perfect day to get it done. I have everything entered, but I lack a bit of info on 8 or 10 of the kits I have. Before I post them here for assistance, is this the right place to post that type of thing? I don't want to put something where it doesn't belong. I think what I'll need is just the year of some of the kits that don't specify what year.

[bbowser]

Good for you Steve.  I did the same thing some time ago and it helps when I find something on ebay I "have to have", I go look and see I've already got one or something similar!

I also have many that didn't specify a date on the box or the instruction sheet.

In mine I have columns for scale, date purchased, price, condition, manufacturer, etc. along with a picture of the box.  What did you include on yours?

[mrmike]

I created a spread sheet for my stash.  I include maker, year, model, missing parts, added parts, plans, and comments.  I note when they are on the bench or issues for leaving the bench.  Works very well for me.  I found a spread sheet online that just had too many columns and it really didn't fit my needs.

[smhardesty]

My primary reason for creating a spreadsheet inventory was for the same reason you mentioned, Bruce. It's a really easy way to check inventory when on eBay, online retailers, or private parties. If it's a kit I don't have then I might be willing to go a bit more, but if I already have at least one of that particular kit, I might stick to my guns as far as a maximum price.

Mine includes Brand, Year, Make, Model, Other, and Notes. Here is a sample of mine. I think I'll add at least 2 more columns, one for Date Completed, and one for Final Notes.

 

[smhardesty]

Could anyone tell me if this wold be the right place to ask for help in identifying additional info on a few kits? I know I've got around 8 or 10 that I need either a year, model, or other info to complete the entries in my spreadsheet. I don;t want to post them here if there is a better place for that.

[1930fordpickup]

Steve there is a question and answer section lower in the forum. 

 

[smhardesty]

Steve there is a question and answer section lower in the forum. 

 

Q and A. OK. Yeah, that does make sense. Thanks. I'll get a few of my unknowns posted later today.

[PARTSMARTY]

I think it's a great idea but it would be impossible for me.

[Deathgoblin]

Good idea!!    I need to do this.

[mrmike]

Could anyone tell me if this wold be the right place to ask for help in identifying additional info on a few kits? I know I've got around 8 or 10 that I need either a year, model, or other info to complete the entries in my spreadsheet. I don;t want to post them here if there is a better place for that.

I go by what the box art says it is.  It is more difficult if there is no box art to go by and then you have to go by your best guess.  But, then by all means, ask away!

[High octane]

I used to have an inventory list, but for about three years I was "thinin' the herd" and now I can pretty much tell off the top of my head which kits I have, and which kits I don't. It works for me, and besides I'm too busy for paperwork.

[bbowser]

One feature I added to mine was a "date started" and "date completed", then a column that computes the elapsed time in days.  I have separate tabs for kits on the shelf and builds completed as well as kits I've sold.

Sometimes it is surprising how long it takes me to complete a build.  My average seems to be about 2 months!

[my66s55]

Here's how I did mine.

 

 

 

Edited September 2, 2017 by my66s55

[Mike999]

I use simple Microsoft Excel spread-sheets for each category of model: cars 1/25, cars 1/32, trucks, motorcycles, die-cast, resin 1/25, figures and accessories, etc. Since I also fool with military models, I created other sheets for 1/35 scale kits and plastic/resin figures.  Finally there's a "kits_misc" sheet for stuff like ships and large-scale horror figures. The columns on the spread-sheets are: Manufacturer, Kit #, Description, Quantity, Price, Notes.
 

 

[crazyjim]

I maintain a list of my stash in a Word document.  I print a copy before attending swap meets and contests with vendors.

[ZTony8]

Years ago I was going to an inventory of my kits and put them on my computer. I then realized I would have the inventory list I needed and no need to put it on the computer. But I never did make a list.

 

[smhardesty]

I see a few ideas for data columns I might want to add to my spreadsheet. Doug, yours is pretty impressive with LOTS of pertinent data included. I see 3 or 4 ideas just on your spreadsheet I might incorporate into mine. One of the other reasons I decided to go spreadsheet as opposed to just a handwritten inventory or a word doc is the ability to do quick sorts to search easier. I really didn't think I would need anything like a spreadsheet because when I started back into the hobby I wasn't expecting to build a stash of the size I have, especially this quickly. In one year I managed to build a stash of just under 150 kits. I really thought I'd have 5 or 6 unbuilt kits sitting around, but once I got started buying, I couldn't stop. I've slowed WAY down now, but I still hit all my sources pretty regularly, and I have 3 guys I've been buying from personally as well.

Thanks for some ideas, guys!

[mikemodeler]

Great idea and really helpful if you are regularly buying, trading and selling kits. I think we are all probably guilty of buying a kit or two that we already have in the stash, mostly because we didn't have our list handy to check first!

I have created excel spreadsheets several times before going to a show with a list of the models I took to sell and vowed to update the list as I sold them. That worked fine until I took my wife with me a couple of times and she was so happy to get rid of models that she didn't mark down what was sold. Yes, I was able to check them off but it would have been much easier if she had been keeping track at the shows!

The biggest thing I found when I did my first inventory years ago was that I had TOO MANY models! I am probably down to around 100 now, had over 200 at the beginning of the year, and will trade or sell off some more as I become more focused on what I will really build versus hoarding a bunch of "some day I will build this....."

[Tom Geiger]

I created one in Access many years ago, partly because I wanted to have some experience with the program. Past the initial effort, I failed to keep it up to date with new purchases.  So it became useless.  In fact, I think it's still on my old computer.

What I've done instead...  I found it easier to keep a photo record of my old built ups and restorables.  I keep it on Fotki so if I'm at a show or elsewhere, I can easily pull it up on my phone.  The pictures tell a big story, reminding me of the specific car.  Often I can see missing parts, damage etc in the photos.

 

[68shortfleet]

I have also been wanting to inventory what I have stashed. Thanks for the spreadsheet ideas.

Edited September 4, 2017 by 68shortfleet

[da_ashman]

Theres an online one too, https://www.scalemates.com/stash-manager.php

All you have to do is log in & add the kits youve got / purchased. Its already got pretty much every kit & heaps of aftermarket stuff too.

[niteowl7710]

I use Scalemates too.  You can export it back down to a spreadsheet if you want to, but it's immensely easier to deal with than screwing around making a home made spreadsheet.  I can bring it up on any device and it's going to show me the box art for a given kit so I'm not wondering which version of "xyz" was the one reissued in 2009.

[Rob Hall]

I have my Excel spreadsheets that I've been updating for about 20 years;  also use Scalemates..one issue w/ Scalemates is there are a lot of old kits not in the system.  It's good with imported kits, not so good with 50 yr old AMT annuals.   But it does get updated often. 

[Mike999]

I have a love/hate relationship with Scalemates. It's an incredible source.  Love it when I want to see kit info quickly, especially re-issues. It's handy to see the time-line of different kit numbers and box art of a kit thru the years. 

That's useful in maintaining the spread-sheets, since I can add "1975 re-issue" or whatever. Though as Rob said, it's better on foreign kits. 

Which brings me to the hate - when I'm trying to find a good, honest build review of a kit. I do a search and many links to Scalemates pop up.  Scalemates does link to reviews, but they are often brief in-box reviews, or in foreign languages.

So when searching for reviews, I usually exclude Scalemates to reduce the clutter.  I also exclude Amazon and eBay because I don't want to buy the kit, just read its reviews.

[niteowl7710]

Once you get used to the process of adding a kit to Scalemates - I'll admit it's not that intuitive the first time you try to do it - it's pretty easy to add things to make the database more complete.

I've probably added 45-50 "vintage" (80s/90s) Aoshima & Fujimi kits to it over the summer, as well as providing photos for a great many sets of decals I owned which had listings, but no actual photo of the finished product.