When I retire.

[DRG]

Like all working men and women I am looking ahead to when I retire. Especially at my model building time and efforts. Since there are times now when I use the paint I have rather than buy what I want I am fairly sure that will be true when I retire.

But I have a plan.

I am currently sixty years old and figure on retiring in 6 years. That gives me six years to build up a nice stash of models, paint, glue, sandpaper and so forth.

When I am working overtime I will purchase a little each week and set it aside. Now I know that means I will miss out on the newer models when I am retired but at least I will have what I need to see me through my retirement years. I figure I need enough to last me at least five years so it really isn't that many models. perhaps 350 or 400.

Any thoughts???

[diymirage]

hard to tell

if i would be building at the same rate as i do now 30 would last me 5 years no problem

my suggestion would be to be savvy when buying kits

pick the ones that are allready harder to find that way you have a good chance of trading a older (hard to find) kit for a newer one you dont have the funds to buy

[george 53]

Don, glad ta see ya made it back in!(LoL) I retiered in 06 with 32 years at GM. The first few months were ok, but after a while it got boring too. Then in Jan of 07 i found this place . after readin about it in the mag, i checked it out, an now i'm kinda like a fixture . I'm here EVERYDAY (as long as i can access a comp!) and I've made some GREAT freinds. Retirement is cool, but you really do gotta plan ahead, caz not all your buds'll want ta hang out at the same time. i spend so much time here and on the forum i mod, that i really don't build too much aymore. But then again, after doin this for over 50 years, it's more of a habit anymore than a hobby. Oh it STILL enjoy it emmensly, but it doesn't mean as much to me to BUILD EVERY DAY as it used to. I ALWAYS enjoy seeing a well built model, as i do understand the passion that goes into one. But they don't make my world go round, like some of these guys need them to do. I do it now just to keep busy. Buy what strikes your fancy, build it. ENJOY building it, an you and retirement should get along just fine!

[ian ashton]

Instead I would put the same amount that you were going to spend on kits aside, perhaps into a dedicated bank account, or under your mattress (I know you old timers don't trust the devil of modern banking, LOL!) This will afford you a few liberties: first, and most importantly, it will allow you to buy exactly what you want, as it comes out, no building a kit that you bought because it was the only option. Second, if gives you the opportunity to not be married to just this hobby - what if in 7 or 8 years you decide you hate model cars, then you'll have a ton of stuff to sell off before you can focus your time and money into something else. Lastly, storage space: thats a lot of kits to have sitting around!

Edit: the c word that rhymes with "rap" is blocked out, LOL!

Edited December 4, 2010 by ian ashton

[sjordan2]

I'm about your age and have collected several kits along the way, many of them multiples of the same kit. I've realized I'm never going to attempt them all, and while I have no problems now, there's no telling how well my eyes and hands will function in the years ahead. The clock's ticking. Having downsized my living quarters from a large house to a mid-size apartment, over half of them are in expensive storage since I don't have room for them all. I may even have to downsize further in the future.

I've decided that I need to unload quite a few of them, just down to the ones I'm really interested in. I can always get more as time goes on.

So I've already bought all the kits that appeal to me now. Next stop: sell off the excess on eBay. (This is a legacy my family shouldn't have to deal with down the road.)

Edited December 4, 2010 by sjordan2

[Dr. Cranky]

Donald, it sounds like you have a solid plan. I am 48 and I've been buying up models for exactly that reason and now I have a garage full of kits, but they are only the kits that I truly care to build . . . yes, you guess it, they are mostly Revell kits with a few Tamiya thrown in.

My only concern is that politicians keep talking about raising the retirement age. There's talk of raising it to 70, and that just will not do.

[Ghost1]

I'm around the same age. Have been building and buying kits for around 30 years. Alot were destroyed in a flood so I had to start over.

Lately I have been picking up more of the larger scale kits. Due to my eyes starting to get weaker. I already use a magnifier.

But you do have a good plan.

[Aaronw]

Great idea, models are only getting more expensive and if you buy in bulk you save on shipping with many online dealers offering free shipping at $200-250.

I kind of do the same thing, I work a lot of overtime in the summer time and stock up, then I build from the stash in the winter time. I didn't start out with retirement in mind, I just got tired of having to go hunting for a kit I thought would always be on the shelves, but as I get closer to that age I appreciate the stockpile I'll have to work from. I am eligable for retirement at 50 and based on family history expect to be healthy and active into my 80s so I have some time to fill.

If you shop around you can often find good deals, people selling off their kits because they "have too many", or they decide to get out of the hobby, overstock shops just want to clear out (I got several Ford C-600 kits 2 for $25 a few years ago) and just good sales now and then.

I probably spend an average of $1000-1500 a year on the hobby (or what some spend buying fancy coffee & a pastry on the way to work every morning) and over 10 years built up a stock pile of around 200-250 cars / trucks and 400-500 aircraft kits, as well as tools and supplies. I've slowed down on kits as I have a good chunk of what I like and now mainly focus on the occasional great deal, re-issues I missed the first time around, references and higher end tools that will make my life easier.

Edited December 4, 2010 by Aaronw

[crazyjim]

Howdy Don. I've been retired for ten years and lovin' every minute of it. I have all the kits (about 45) I need/want right now and all the paint, tools, and supplies anybody could want. If you try to buy everything now and stash it away, what will you do when new releases come out? Retirement is great! Don't feel like doing something today? Get to it tomorrow or the next day.

[Agent G]

I retired three and a half years ago at the ripe old age of 52. Did a lot of travelling by motorcycle, and built a bunch of kits.

I got bored and decided to move across the country, which I did. I sold some of the stash, built a bunch. and brought a lot with me. I kept ALL my tools although I lost a good number of reference books in divorce #2.

Got bored again and sent out some resumes, whereupon the great state of Nevada made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

Been back in the workforce for a bit now, having vowed to never again be a supervisor. I was a boss for 13 years and it wore me out. I said to my self I only want to be responsible for me.

I can stay where I'm at for ten years, then retire again. I'm slowly building the stash and building as much as I can.

The other day I was told they want to promote me.

Darnit I F'd up again.

G

[ra7c7er]

I'm only 27 so retirement is far away for me. Also I only have a part time job right now that barely covers my bills and leaves me with a little extra. The way I see the model kit industry going is not good. Kits are becoming way more than they are worth. So I get my kits at flea markets, garage sales, craigslist, Freecycle, and antique malls (you would be suprised how many model kits you can find at large antique malls). I usually pay anywhere from 2-10 dollars a single kit or even get them free when buying bunches of kits. So far I have only bought one kit retail and it was 40% off at Hobby Lobby. I have right now 36 kits and I have only paid $94.82 for them. Averaging that out I have only paid $2.64 a kit. It's not easy to find super cheap kits but they are out there you just have to look a little. I might not get exactly what I want but I can always trade for for what I want.

As for the cost of models they are getting crazy. I hate to think what kits are going to cost when I am getting ready to retire. Revell of Germany kits hitting over $100 is crazy. Revell's "Black Widow" 57 chevy is an awesome kit but to me it isn't worth retail price tag (I bought it at 40% off). Import kits are crazy to, $65-80 dollars for a kit with only 40 parts and no engine is absurd even if it does come from Japan.

[Aaronw]

As for the cost of models they are getting crazy. I hate to think what kits are going to cost when I am getting ready to retire. Revell of Germany kits hitting over $100 is crazy. Revell's "Black Widow" 57 chevy is an awesome kit but to me it isn't worth retail price tag (I bought it at 40% off). Import kits are crazy to, $65-80 dollars for a kit with only 40 parts and no engine is absurd even if it does come from Japan.

Personally I think prices now include a discount factor. Raise the prices then offer frequent sales so people feel like they are getting a bargain when in fact they are paying what they used to pay retail.

[davyou5]

I plan to retire a Millionare! and then as I have always done, I would still buy kits one at a time, this ensures that I do finish them .

[Dave Ambrose]

Wow. a lot of good advice here, no matter what your age.

Given the state of the economy, I won't be retiring soon, but saving money is always in style. I'll second the suggestion to buy kits at a swapmeet or model car show. At the lower left coast NNL, I found a handful of kits that I wanted, and paid about $10/ea. That's a good price compared to new.

Buying tools you'll use makes a lot of sense. When you do buy tools, buy good ones. There are few things more frustrating than a poor quality tool. Also, look at the used market. I still use tools I inherited from my grandfather, and I can tell you that their quality is often miles ahead of modern examples.

I've taken to planning my purchases around projects rather than "oh, that's a cool kit" impulse buying. I keep a notebook (in my case, it's stored in Evernote) of projects that I want to build. When I get to the end of my current project, I go look in my notebook. I've managed not to accumulate a monster stash of kits, and I want to build almost everything I have. That leaves me more inspired than depressed when looking at my backlog.

There's no point in accumulating kits. Let's face it. Most of the kits bought today will never get built by their original owners. As time goes on, there will be a healthy secondary market. Actually, a first glance indicates the secondary market is already pretty good. So, why saddle yourself with a pile of depreciating assets? There will be exceptions. But these principles seem to be working for me.

[Aaronw]

I plan to retire a Millionare! and then as I have always done, I would still buy kits one at a time, this ensures that I do finish them .

I plan on finishing every last kit in my stash, so if I keep buying I'll live forever!

[crazyjim]

Now that sounds like a plan, Aaron. Good luck.

[Rob Hall]

Sounds like a good plan. I need to get started on my stash...I have at least 1500 unbuilts, 250 or so restorable 'used' builtups... and at least 20-25 years until I plan to retire. But I seem to buy 5 or so kits a month (new or old), but don't finish more than 1-2 a year lately...I'm falling behind..

Edited December 5, 2010 by Rob Hall