What makes you decide to "curb-side" a model?

[JollySipper]

I'm currently working on a '56 300B. It's an excellent kit with lots of detail, especially the engine! Such an awesome engine, that I believe I'll save it for an open bay'd hot rod...

I'm wondering what may make you decide to make a model into a curb-side.......  

[Daddyfink]

Modern NASCAR kits are ideal for curbside style building. It get pretty tedious building the same thing, over and over! 

[gtx6970]

For me I rarely have a choice. Most of the kits I build anymore were curbside only back then ( late 50s - early60s annuals )

 

Otherwise. It comes down to how much time I want to put into a build that's never going to be judged, or rarely even seen my anyone but me  family and a few close friends.

[Joe Handley]

Usually if it says Snap-Tite on the box.

[iBorg]

Curbside.......most of mine are IN Box.

[Snake45]

I do most of my stuff "curbside" these days, even if it's a full-detail kit. I'd rather put my time and efforts into bodywork and paint than in engine and chassis detailing.

[Foxer]

I find it extremely difficult not to put an engine in for a kit that came with one. I am building an '84 944 and considering leaving the engine out after doing two other 944's, but am having trouble doing it.

[Xingu]

If I buy a kit that doesn't have an engine and an opening hood, I will build it curbside. Although they are all curbside once they go on the shelf.

 

[Alix Bernard]

The manufacturer decides for me(unfortunately). I grudginlgly build the curbsides. I was thinking about building the Pyro Classics, but they have the engine models AND "Tabletops" without motors.

[iamsuperdan]

If a kit has an engine, i'll build it. But I don't normally put insane amounts of time into an engine, as I don't display models with the hood up.

 

Curbside kits have never bothered me.

 

[smhardesty]

I do most of my stuff "curbside" these days, even if it's a full-detail kit. I'd rather put my time and efforts into bodywork and paint than in engine and chassis detailing.

Ditto. My builds will all be displayed in individual display cases with hoods down and doors closed. It just makes sense to me to put my effort into perfecting my skills at detailing what will be seen when on display. If the kit comes with an engine I'll build and install it, but under hood and chassis details won't even be seen.

[StevenGuthmiller]

If a kit has an engine, i'll build it. But I don't normally put insane amounts of time into an engine, as I don't display models with the hood up.

 

Curbside kits have never bothered me.

 

Ditto!

 

Steve

[ChrisBcritter]

If it was originally curbside I'll leave it that way, for the most part - especially if it's going to be a custom. Then I put the effort into the body and interior. If it came with an engine I'd feel like I was cheating myself of the challenge if I glued down that hood.

I'm making exceptions for the '58 Ford because it's not often done, and the '64 Malibu Craftsman because the wagon and El Camino had all the underhood parts (seriously, why didn't AMT make the wagon a Craftsman and the Malibu a detailed kit? Anyone know?).

[Renegade]

The only one that comes to mind is the 60 Ranchero. As a diehard Ford guy I can`t bring myself to put the chevy motor in it. It will be a curbside until I can find a small Ford six and three speed to put in it. Other than that I build the kit engines even though they sit on the shelf and are for my enjoyment and not for shows.

[Rob Hall]

If the kit comes with no engine, I build it curbside.  if it comes with an engine, I build it with an engine.  Easy choice. 

[DrKerry]

Some it just comes down to getting burned out on detail built kits. I've only built a few curbside and it could be more to the fact that how much I SLAM a car or truck will the engine and trans fit. Or if it's something that will be used as a setting for another car, ex. a hauler or what ever!!!

[vamach1]

I have hesiated for years from building several of my AMT and MPC 71-73 Mustangs due to the engine compartments being so lame.  They are like promos but with incorrect engines, and the only extra being a battery.  Brake booster and master cyclinder, windshield washer fluid container, shock tower brace - forget about it.  So some of my build will not have an engine for now and some will include parts sourced from other kits and Danbury Mint diecasts to make them respectable.  Here is a comparison on the Testors (based on the MPC mold) metal kit compared to the Danbury Mint.  Why it may not be a fair comparison based upon the costs, when you see the potential it is hard to accept the far inferior attempt at a realistic engine compartment.

[shoopdog]

I will build and install engines in all my models but I never wire or plumb them up since they are all displayed with hoods closed.

[Dann Tier]

I would say that for me, deciding on what kits to make curbside depends on multiple things which a lot of the comments have stated to some degree or other. For  example; if I have a 1970, and a 1971 Hemi Cuda, I will only build one of them as u full detailed kit. To me, if I have one really detailed example of each engine that I like, that's all I need.....the other cars with that engine will get the hoods glued down.....I wont even waste time, energy, and supplies on the top-end of the engine....off to the spare parts bin. What also decides for me about which kit gets to be curbside or not, was also mentioned earlier....dare I say it, I most definitely get burned-out doing super detailed builds. I can usually do two detailed builds back to back, then I need a break. It doesn't even bother me if its a rare, detailed, or expensive kit, if I don't wanna do the engine, i'll glue that hood down....done it many times before.

[Sixx]

For me...getting older is what's making me do curbsides...eyes & fingers don't work as good as before, plus I don't hit the contests anymore...just my model car club...

[landman]

I build most of my kits with their engine. But it is a particularly interesting engine, it winds up on display in my engine shop dio for a while then it winds up here:

Most of the engines here, on the other hand, were bought individually on eBay.

[smhardesty]

I will build and install engines in all my models but I never wire or plumb them up since they are all displayed with hoods closed.

Big ditto on that.  The only builds that get engine detailing will be "special" projects.

[SSNJim]

Buying it. Very rarely do I build any car with an engine. I'd rather do just the body and paint, a black interior, and enough suspension to keep the rocker panels off the ground. Metal axles are great.

[Snake45]

 I'd rather do just the body and paint, a black interior, and enough suspension to keep the rocker panels off the ground. Metal axles are great.

Preach It, Brother Jim!

[Robberbaron]

The only one that comes to mind is the 60 Ranchero. As a diehard Ford guy I can`t bring myself to put the chevy motor in it. It will be a curbside until I can find a small Ford six and three speed to put in it.

The problem with that Ranchero isn't just the BBC, it's the totally incorrect inner fenders and underhood compartment.  Simply swapping in a Ford engine is kind of pointless if everything else around it is totally wrong.  Only way to fix it would be to swap in the underhood area of a different FoMoCo kit that at least resembles the basic Falcon structure.

Some people have done it, to their credit, but I just can't get excited enough to put in that effort for that subject.  However, I do like it enough that I bought one, and after I build it I'll be fine with it sitting on the shelf with nothing under the hood.  Same goes for the AMT '66 Mustang and the MPC '75 Dodge Dart, and I'm sure some others I can't think of right now.