Liquidating entire collection of models and models supplies.

[Bills72sj]

  On 7/13/2021 at 6:37 PM, Tom Geiger said:

I've thought about this topic a lot over the past few years.  I've watched people retire over the years and sell off their collections. Some moved to smaller quarters, others just sold out of that same reason you gave, to dispose of it so the family won't have to deal with it later.

I'm 62 and am hopefully looking at a long retirement.  For the folks who sold off everything... now what? Are you going to sit around and watch daytime TV with the wife?   I'm hoping to spend my time building a lot of models!   I got a free preview of retirement the past year or so with Covid, and ya  know what? I got more models done than at any other time in my life!  So I think model building will be a major part of my retirement. Why would I sell everything?

What I have done is that I stopped saving things for the future.  I have kits, decals, after market parts etc that I had tucked away for some future killer project.  I've decided that the time is now!  So I dig into those precious supplies and enjoy using them on a model.  I found I had a dozen 1950 Ford pickup kits... so I dumped all the unsealed ones into a big tub.  I enjoy building that kit and now I can experiment without worrying about destroying a part. I have many of each part.    And if I want a part for something I am building, I don't hesitate taking it out of a new kit on my shelf.  I will put a note in the box, "took carb and wheels", but having that part on my new project sure beats the $10 sale someday!  

The end game?  Someday I will die.  There may be a time when my health deteriorates and I can no longer work at this hobby.  That's when I will sell it off.   But I'm hoping that I can enjoy the collection I've built over my lifetime for the rest of my days.  And when I go to the big junkyard in the sky, my wife has the names of a few trusted friends and dealers.   

So David, everyone must decide what's best for themselves.    I just wanted to share my perspective. I trust you will choose wisely.

 

Expand  

I am in agreement with this plan. I am 60 working in the HVAC industry. My problem is I do not have the time or if I have the time I do not have the energy. I too look forward to retirement where I would actually get to build (not grow) my collection. I am at just under 300 kits with few duplicates. I do a bit of parts swapping with kits but not enough to make an unbuilt incomplete. I put notes in kits too for what was taken or added. As far as selling for maximum return on every kit, that is really a lot of work. It basically comes back to how much is your time worth.

[slusher]

  On 7/13/2021 at 6:37 PM, Tom Geiger said:

I've thought about this topic a lot over the past few years.  I've watched people retire over the years and sell off their collections. Some moved to smaller quarters, others just sold out of that same reason you gave, to dispose of it so the family won't have to deal with it later.

I'm 62 and am hopefully looking at a long retirement.  For the folks who sold off everything... now what? Are you going to sit around and watch daytime TV with the wife?   I'm hoping to spend my time building a lot of models!   I got a free preview of retirement the past year or so with Covid, and ya  know what? I got more models done than at any other time in my life!  So I think model building will be a major part of my retirement. Why would I sell everything?

What I have done is that I stopped saving things for the future.  I have kits, decals, after market parts etc that I had tucked away for some future killer project.  I've decided that the time is now!  So I dig into those precious supplies and enjoy using them on a model.  I found I had a dozen 1950 Ford pickup kits... so I dumped all the unsealed ones into a big tub.  I enjoy building that kit and now I can experiment without worrying about destroying a part. I have many of each part.    And if I want a part for something I am building, I don't hesitate taking it out of a new kit on my shelf.  I will put a note in the box, "took carb and wheels", but having that part on my new project sure beats the $10 sale someday!  

The end game?  Someday I will die.  There may be a time when my health deteriorates and I can no longer work at this hobby.  That's when I will sell it off.   But I'm hoping that I can enjoy the collection I've built over my lifetime for the rest of my days.  And when I go to the big junkyard in the sky, my wife has the names of a few trusted friends and dealers.   

So David, everyone must decide what's best for themselves.    I just wanted to share my perspective. I trust you will choose wisely.

 

Expand  

Wise words Tom.  David, your kits are paid for and you have them. There is no rush to sell them take a month or two and think about my friend. Please think about it.

[Misha]

  On 7/13/2021 at 6:37 PM, Tom Geiger said:

I've thought about this topic a lot over the past few years.  I've watched people retire over the years and sell off their collections. Some moved to smaller quarters, others just sold out of that same reason you gave, to dispose of it so the family won't have to deal with it later.

I'm 62 and am hopefully looking at a long retirement.  For the folks who sold off everything... now what? Are you going to sit around and watch daytime TV with the wife?   I'm hoping to spend my time building a lot of models!   I got a free preview of retirement the past year or so with Covid, and ya  know what? I got more models done than at any other time in my life!  So I think model building will be a major part of my retirement. Why would I sell everything?

What I have done is that I stopped saving things for the future.  I have kits, decals, after market parts etc that I had tucked away for some future killer project.  I've decided that the time is now!  So I dig into those precious supplies and enjoy using them on a model.  I found I had a dozen 1950 Ford pickup kits... so I dumped all the unsealed ones into a big tub.  I enjoy building that kit and now I can experiment without worrying about destroying a part. I have many of each part.    And if I want a part for something I am building, I don't hesitate taking it out of a new kit on my shelf.  I will put a note in the box, "took carb and wheels", but having that part on my new project sure beats the $10 sale someday!  

The end game?  Someday I will die.  There may be a time when my health deteriorates and I can no longer work at this hobby.  That's when I will sell it off.   But I'm hoping that I can enjoy the collection I've built over my lifetime for the rest of my days.  And when I go to the big junkyard in the sky, my wife has the names of a few trusted friends and dealers.   

So David, everyone must decide what's best for themselves.    I just wanted to share my perspective. I trust you will choose wisely.

 

Expand  

I heartily agree with Tom! I’m sixty-nine and was fortunate to retire early which has allowed me to get back to model work much in the same way as it was as a kid; it was my main activity apart from school during those years. Now I enjoy my stash, have a wide array of tools, have a workbench room and a paint room. While I have health issues I am still able to carry on with building allowing me great satisfaction. When I do reach a time when I’m unable to do so… well, perhaps I’ll reduce the stash by offering it to fellow club members. I would rather the kits go to fellow modellers that I know and have shared good times with. I will hold onto certain unbuilt kits as I enjoy opening the box and browsing thru the sprues. Cheers Misha

[ewetwo]

  On 7/15/2021 at 12:56 AM, cobraman said:

I think I like your plan Tom.

Expand  

Me too Ray.