Rebuilds or New Kit

[Slotto]

Just curious, which do you prefer, building a fresh new kit or rebuilding something either you or someone else built?

Me? I'm leaning towards rebuilds.

[Dpate]

New. Takes enough time to build it- don’t wanna just rebuild as it’ll be how I want the first time. 

[Monty]

Gotta agree with Dpate.  Unless the kits is pretty much unavailable anymore, I can't see buying a built version, especially if the previous builder's paint and glue work were sloppy.  

I've turned down built versions of my Holy Grail kit because I basically didn't want to do double the work.  

[StevenGuthmiller]

Not gonna waste my time trying to save a common kit that I can start from scratch with a brand new one.

Why?........

 

On the other hand, if it's an old, obsolete, vintage kit?

I'm all over it!

 

 

 

 

Steve

[Bills72sj]

New, it greatly reduces the hassle of missing or damaged pieces. The only model I have rebuilt was a 70 Pontiac Grand Prix as it was way cheaper than a kit at the time.

[atomicholiday]

I'll go for the new kit too.   Only reason I would do a rebuild is either you can't find them anymore,  or the kit has something  sentimental about it. 

I have a Monogram '57 Chevy that I plan to rebuild.   Very common kit,  right?   But there's  only one that my dad painted for me when I was a kid.   You can't put a price on that. 

[StevenGuthmiller]

3 hours ago, atomicholiday said:

But there's  only one that my dad painted for me when I was a kid.   You can't put a price on that.

THAT, I would never rebuild!

Once you re-do it, it's just another Monogram '57 Chevy.

 

 

 

 

Steve

[peteski]

When I build models I try to get the as close to perfect as I can.

I don't have much time to spend on hobbies.  I rather have pristine kit to start with, and fix any problems it already has, or fix my own mistakes than "wasting" hours trying to deconstruct someone else's work, fix their mistakes, and strip paint.  Unless there is a extremely important reason to rebuild a model (mine or someone else's), only new kits for me.

Yet, I enjoy spending time fixing old or  non working mechanical or electronic devices.  I like to take them apart, figure out the problem and repair it (even if I have to fabricate some piece that can't be purchased).  I'm "Mr. Fix-it" to my family and friends.

Edited August 14, 2023 by peteski

[iamsuperdan]

I prefer new. 

But for the right subject matter, I'm not opposed to rebuilders.

 

[atomicholiday]

24 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

THAT, I would never rebuild!

Once you re-do it, it's just another Monogram '57 Chevy.

 

 

 

 

Steve

I hear you.

Here’s the story on this one.  Dad painted the body, but I did everything else.  Very poorly too, as I was just a little kid.  It sat on our mantle for a few decades and time wasn’t good to it.  We’re talking mid to late 70’s here.
I got it back when Mom sold the house, but it was in pieces by that time.  It sat in a box for a few more years until I started getting back into the hobby in my early 30’s.  It’s now the mid 00’s.  Not sure how I managed it, but it’s not a total glue bomb like you’d expect.  Anyway, I disassembled it back then and back in the box it went, where it will remain until I feel I’m up to the job.

My plan is to clean up and redo what needs done with everything except the body.  Dad’s paint job is by no means perfect, but it does mean quite a bit to me..  I plan to preserve his work.  At times I considered clear coating it, but I don’t think I will now.  If it got screwed up, it would be lost forever.

I’ll dig it out and post some pics tonight.

[bobthehobbyguy]

I'd say build a fresh kit. If it's one of your old builds it's a snapshot of your skills when it's built. 

As said if it's a common kit tearing it apart and stripping can consume limited bench time.

 

[Slotto]

I'm a little surprised that everyone prefers a new kit over a rebuild. Well, that's ok. I dig diving into a used car and putting my stink on it. I love digging through the bone yard and adding missing parts.

I picked this kit up for free. I needed to strip the body and add an engine. That means custom exhaust and headers. This is what gets me up in the morning. I'm stoked in the direction this is going.

I'm kinda curious to see where this thread goes.

[stitchdup]

It depends how it being built. If its something pro touring/euro look i go for new but if i'm going to be doing a custom it makes little difference but i'd tend towards a rebuild. I might still use all new parts on it though. I've got a few builds that have never been finished but they've still been complete rebuilds. One 39 chevy van has been a lowrider van, a chopped street rod 4 door bustle back sedan, a ute and now it very nearly a 37 lincoln heavily chopped sedan. Its never been painted but the bodywork has been near complete each time its rebuilt.

[atomicholiday]

6 hours ago, atomicholiday said:

I hear you.

Here’s the story on this one.  Dad painted the body, but I did everything else.  Very poorly too, as I was just a little kid.  It sat on our mantle for a few decades and time wasn’t good to it.  We’re talking mid to late 70’s here.
I got it back when Mom sold the house, but it was in pieces by that time.  It sat in a box for a few more years until I started getting back into the hobby in my early 30’s.  It’s now the mid 00’s.  Not sure how I managed it, but it’s not a total glue bomb like you’d expect.  Anyway, I disassembled it back then and back in the box it went, where it will remain until I feel I’m up to the job.

My plan is to clean up and redo what needs done with everything except the body.  Dad’s paint job is by no means perfect, but it does mean quite a bit to me..  I plan to preserve his work.  At times I considered clear coating it, but I don’t think I will now.  If it got screwed up, it would be lost forever.

I’ll dig it out and post some pics tonight.

As promised.  She’s seen better days, but hopefully there’s a brighter future in store.  I still have all the original parts in bags stored with it.

So, yeah, I’ll do a rebuild, but it’s got to be a pretty special project.👍

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, Slotto said:

I'm a little surprised that everyone prefers a new kit over a rebuild. Well, that's ok. I dig diving into a used car and putting my stink on it. I love digging through the bone yard and adding missing parts.

I picked this kit up for free. I needed to strip the body and add an engine. That means custom exhaust and headers. This is what gets me up in the morning. I'm stoked in the direction this is going.

I'm kinda curious to see where this thread goes.

I enjoy all of that, plus some, if it’s an old obsolete kit that is worth the attention, but I just can’t see myself wasting the time on fixing all of the other guys screw ups if it’s a kit that I can pick up for 20 bucks brand new on eBay.

I’ll be honest, I haven’t built a modern kit in probably 20 years, but if I did, I’d start fresh and save myself a lot of unnecessary work.

 

 

Steve

[Scott8950]

Vintage rebuilds all the way for me.

[Classicgas]

8 hours ago, iamsuperdan said:

I prefer new. 

But for the right subject matter, I'm not opposed to rebuilders.

 

X2

[Can-Con]

20 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Not gonna waste my time trying to save a common kit that I can start from scratch with a brand new one.

Why?........

 

On the other hand, if it's an old, obsolete, vintage kit?

I'm all over it!

 

 

 

 

Steve

Exactly how I feel about it too.