Too many?

[catpack68]

A year ago I had around 475 kits. I sold most of my collection off last year, and I am down to 28 kits. I think I have maybe six resin bodies/kits too.

[bobss396]

4 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

The kit stash conundrum. When it needs to be disposed of.

Half built or started kits..........mostly worthless to sell on.       But could be donated to ex military veterans organisations to finish building them as therapy.

Intact kits......worth something depending on age, condition, rarity etc. BUT, does whoever needs to clear all this stuff know how to dispose and capitalise on it? Traders will usually be interested in buying collections to sell on, and often the easiest way to dispose of complete stashes, but not the most profitable way to dispose of them.

Sometimes we just get to a point where 'stuff' has to go, before lumbering someone else with having to do it eventually.

 

I would like to get mine down to a core of 100 kits. I have been giving away partial kits to other builders. One trader I know well, he is older than me and his stash is astonishing. He buys collections, big ones at times. From guys who passed or are in nursing homes. He sells year-round at collectible shows. I sold alongside him at a show last year, we both did pretty well. Some day, someone will have to deal with what he has.

I no longer have qualms about raiding a closed kit for something I want. I just put a note on the box so I have an idea of what is left. Then there is the case of aftermarket parts, which I have a lot of. Most of that could be sold for close to the package prices. 

[Keef]

On 1/24/2024 at 11:12 AM, ewetwo said:

I have way too many kits and not enough time. lol!  And sadly no one in the family wants them. 

Dad?!?!? Is that you?  ??

[ewetwo]

11 hours ago, Keef said:

Dad?!?!? Is that you?  ??

LOL! Too funny. 

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

I posted these thoughts over on the "builder or collector?" thread, but they're relevant here as well.

If I'm honest with myself, part of my continuing to add to an already overflowing collection of hobby stuff (not just car models) is an aversion to becoming like so many retired folks I know who seem to have no interests once they quit work, and often complain of "having nothing to do".

I have no comprehension of what that must feel like. I've always had way more interests and aspirations than I had time for, and thanks to the roll of the dice, I'm still healthy and fit enough to indulge my primary interests...building full-scale cars, road-tripping/travel and hiking/exploring/camping/boating...for what looks from here as the foreseeable future.

HOWEVER...an injury or a health issue could change all that in an instant, so having indoor hobbies to fall back on gives me a measure of security from finding myself incapacitated with "nothing to do". And in the meantime, I enjoy them immensely "in the now", in spare time (which I don't have much of these days, but will again soon), so I make no excuses. 

And I have, from time to time, considered starting an actual hobby-shop if my interest in building wanes, as I already have much more stock than most of those that we fondly remember did.

When I'm gone, there's a flying RC club in my little town out west, a military aviation museum at the airport, as well as an EAA chapter, and they'll get my aircraft and military stuff to do with as they please.

There's also a railroad museum with a nice HO layout and a local club, and they'll get my train stuff.

Far as the car stuff goes, we'll just have to see. The big-car stuff like machine tools and vintage parts I'll likely leave to the local high school's vocational program. As for the car models...the most valuable ones, those that are actually worth listing on eBay (Pocher, clean '60s annuals, etc.), are clearly marked and labeled as such, and can be easily liquidated by my primary heir...along with the real cars. The remainder can be dumped at consignment shops to bring whatever they'll bring, or donated to shops that support "worthy" causes. All OK.

None of the above is "difficult" or "a burden" on whoever I leave behind.

But as long as my loved things do NOT go in a dumpster or a trash fire or for scrap metal, it makes no real difference to me, and my will so stipulates.

Edited January 28, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[Bugatti Fan]

Bill, that reminds me that I have a Pocher Mercedes kit complete and off bits from one of their Rolls Royce Kits that a chassis could be built from but would need to scratch build their own body work on it. They both need to go as I don't know what I am hanging on to them for. The only Pocher that I would really be interested in is their Bugatti to build.I

Your mention of having a Pocher in your stash reminded me!

[BlackSheep214]

53 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

I posted these thoughts over on the "builder or collector?" thread, but they're relevant here as well.

If I'm honest with myself, part of my continuing to add to an already overflowing collection of hobby stuff (not just car models) is an aversion to becoming like so many retired folks I know who seem to have no interests once they quit work, and often complain of "having nothing to do".

I have no comprehension of what that must feel like. I've always had way more interests and aspirations than I had time for, and thanks to the roll of the dice, I'm still healthy and fit enough to indulge my primary interests...building full-scale cars, road-tripping/travel and hiking/exploring/camping/boating...for what looks from here as the foreseeable future.

HOWEVER...an injury or a health issue could change all that in an instant, so having indoor hobbies to fall back on gives me a measure of security from finding myself incapacitated with "nothing to do". And in the meantime, I enjoy them immensely "in the now", in spare time (which I don't have much of these days, but will again soon), so I make no excuses. 

And I have, from time to time, considered starting an actual hobby-shop if my interest in building wanes, as I already have much more stock than most of those that we fondly remember did.

When I'm gone, there's a flying RC club in my little town out west, a military aviation museum at the airport, as well as an EAA chapter, and they'll get my aircraft and military stuff to do with as they please.

There's also a railroad museum with a nice HO layout and a local club, and they'll get my train stuff.

Far as the car stuff goes, we'll just have to see. The big-car stuff like machine tools and vintage parts I'll likely leave to the local high school's vocational program. As for the car models...the most valuable ones, those that are actually worth listing on eBay (Pocher, clean '60s annuals, etc.), are clearly marked and labeled as such, and can be easily liquidated by my primary heir...along with the real cars. The remainder can be dumped at consignment shops to bring whatever they'll bring, or donated to shops that support "worthy" causes. All OK.

None of the above is "difficult" or "a burden" on whoever I leave behind.

But as long as my loved things do NOT go in a dumpster or a trash fire or for scrap metal, it makes no real difference to me, and my will so stipulates.

A great plan....

I've already told my family should anything happens to me, I'm leaving my unbuilt kits, paints, tools, spare parts, etc... in charge to my sister. I will instruct her to reach out to a couple forums I belong to for any members who want them for their stash.

As far as built kits, I'll leave it up to anyone in my family who wish to keep to remember me by. The rest, to any member of said forums if they want it. Otherwise, do whatever they want with them.

[eldo60]

On 1/17/2024 at 10:46 AM, atomicholiday said:

How many kits do I need?  I don’t know.  How many are there???

The only real problem I have with having a lot of kits is that they can be distracting.  It can contribute to not finishing builds, because I always want to start the next one before I’m done with the last.  Squirrel syndrome.

try building 2 at a time 

[slusher]

My wife and my son says nothing will be bothered anything that belongs to me will stay as I left.   My. Son has the strongest feelings about it. I have so many built.  I have 9 I used all  the good stuff out of, 15  started  around 35 unbuilt so there is no stash. But many built since 1994. My wife encourages me in my hobby..

[TopherMcGinnis]

[TarheelRick]

When you are looking 75 years old in the face, then you peruse the basement wall of shelves full of unbuilt kits, you finally realize it is time to do something about it. So you diligently search the forums for upcoming swapmeet/shows in your area, you pack four or five boxes of models, reserve a table and head off to reduce your stock. After returning home you are so pleased that one and a half of the boxes are empty and your inventory has decreased. BUT, then you realize four kits in one of the boxes were not there when you left the house and are indeed purchases you made at the swapmeet. So much for scaling back. I am addicted to polystyrene and am not actively seeking rehabilitation.

[TopherMcGinnis]