bbowser Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Just wondering if anyone has developed some sort of spreadsheet for tracking their "collection". I've been meaning to do this for some time as I've been known to impulse buy something only to get it home and discover I already had one What should be listed? Obviously make, model, year, kit manufacturer. Do you go so far as kit #, year it was issued (if known), date purchased, etc.? Looking for ideas, maybe something I'm overlooking. Please chime in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Winter Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 my redneck way, once a month I take a photo of my whole Stash of kits. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbowser Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 my redneck way, once a month I take a photo of my whole Stash of kits. Nick I like redneck, the KISS principle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ra7c7er Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 my redneck way, once a month I take a photo of my whole Stash of kits. Nick Honestly that is the best way to do it for insurance purposes. Granted it doesn't make it easy to quickly look through everything if it was on paper but an insurance company will just laugh at you when you had them a big printed out spreadsheet of kits you supposedly own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Hall Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Excel spreadsheets... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scale-Master Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 When we had our house re-roofed a few years ago, I had to move all my kits out of the (climate controlled) attic. At that time I created a list in Excel. As I add or remove kits I make notes on a pad of paper I keep up there. Someday I will actually update that Excel list with those hand written notes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boreham Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 never keep an inventory... if the wife finds out it's all over. I suggest multiple locations for hoard... and if an inventory is neccesar.... then Black light is the way to go.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyjim Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I maintain an inventory in MS Word. It's easy and if/when I'm doing a trade, most people are able to open a Word file. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novadose71 Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Mine are inventoried in a big pile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drago Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 (edited) I use a MS-Access database as inventory tool… it´s because besides model kits, I also register all others related items such as aftermarket, books, tools, inks, etc. So, there is in my database 4 main tables (and its fields): KITS Year / Manufacturer / Model / Model # / Model Manufacturer / Scale / Project / Raw Material / Type / Price / Location / Level / Curbside / PE / Comments / Acquisition date / Image link For example: 1932 / Ford / Sedan Street Rod 2n1 / 85-2062 / Revell / 1:25 / Hot Rod / Plastic / Car / 18.00 / box 2 / 2 / N / N / Box sealed / May 01 / 1932HB.jpg Being more specific about a few fields: -Project field I use to input which kind of subject I´m intended to build this model. Could be Hot Rod, F1 / TV Show / LeMans / Muscle / Classics whatever you want it… -Raw material, as the label says, what kind of material the kit is manufactured. Plastic, Resin, Resin + Metal. -Type is to specify if the kit is a car, a truck, a bike, a F1, and so on… -Location: I have a space problem… not enough to keep all models together in a locker…so I made some huge packages, big cardboard boxes, stamped numbers and keep them in an attic. If I decide to trade or sell one of them, it is easier and quicker to find out…. AFTERMARKET Description / Manufacturer / Scale / Type / Aftermarket # / Price / Level / Acquisition date / Image link. For example: Pinstripe Black Decal Sheet / Bandit Resin / 1:25 / Decal / n/d / 10.00 / 1 / May 01 / decA.jpg Where Type means: Decal / Decal+Resin / Wire / PE / PE+Aluminum / PE+Resin / PE+Metal / Resin / Wheel / Tire / Transkit / Spare Parts CONTENT Description / Manufacturer / Type / Content # / Price / Acquisition date / Image link. For example: Joe Honda Racing Pictorial Series by Hiro: Lotus 97T/ Model Factory Hiro / Book / 01 / 35.00 / May 01 / 97T.jpg Type = Book / DVD / Magazine / CD / PDF File TOOLS Description / Manufacturer / Type / Tool # / Price / Level / Acquisition date / Image link. For example: High Precision Scissor (Photo-Etch Cutter) / MicroMark/ Cutter / XUR440 / 16.00 / May 01 / Cut.jpg Type = any subject you want, like inks, cutter, hand tools, electric tools, materials, etc. Once MS-Access can provide me a kind of “system” (with MS-Windows standard and all functionalities), it´s turnout a friendly way to manage and follow my inventory! I know, it´s sounds a little crazy, but that was the way I felt more comfortable to deal with it Edited June 8, 2011 by Drago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAone Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 so far for me, it's in my memory. i don't have a stash big enough to forget what i have. the one thing i do is, i'll seperate the makes, IE toyota, nissan, ect ect, if i have more than one make/model ill put them in the same pile. for my older kits that have no boxes, i use large zip lock bags, tag them and put them in file boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Tes Bruce, I keep a "running" inventory of all my kits and they are listed under the manufacturer. I then list the year, make & model, and also the kit #. I hope this helps as it works for me and it is easy to add or delete kits form this list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drago Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 BTW, only after done with this inventory system that I could realized I MUST STOP BUYING those THINGS!!!! A lot of money ran out of my pocket in these last years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregg Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 My first attempt was to scan the bar codes (I know, the old kits don't have them), and then use the UPC's to create the database. But, I couldn't get hold of the UPC database for the bar codes. I tried everywhere, even asked hobby shops if they would let me "borrow" their data. So, I went to plan two: Excel with link to the photo of the kit. That worked well, until the computer location of the picture file changed. Now, I'm trying Bento, which is FileMaker Pro on a diet. I will try to send screen shots of that. FileMaker Pro would be the best, but it's expensive, and I think Bento would be an easier one to get for those on a budget. There is also Google Docs, which is free. I would like to see screen shots of our computer guru's and their FMP (File Maker Pro) or Excel databases/spreadsheets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58 Impala Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I just use a simple spreadsheet and divide it into general categories. (Street Rods,Muscle Cars,Exotics,Classics,F1,Drag Racing,Nascar, etc) I list them with manufacturer,scale,Qty of each. I then total each category,and then grand total at the bottom. I also highlight built and in progress kits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbash1 Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Excel spreadsheets... Like the man said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ Boy Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Excel spreadsheet here too. I list the model and the corresponding decal sheet so I can keep track of what I want to build, and what aftermarket stuff I'll need for it. I usually revisit it each time we have an upcoming swap meet on the horizon. Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRG Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Now here is something I had not thought about. At the rate I'm buying kits perhaps I need to look into this a little further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I replied to this post earlier and it seems to have disappeared. I keep my inventory in my mind. Going through it occasionally helps me remember where things are. Occasionally you come across a pleasant surprise, Oh, look what I found,I forgot I had that. Did I offend someone with my inclusion of the You-Tube video of the Amboy Dukes "Journey to the center of Your Mind" ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Hall Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I keep my inventory in my mind. Going through it occasionally helps me remember where things are. Occasionally you come across a pleasant surprise, Oh, look what I found,I forgot I had that. I've done that some, the problem I've had w/ relying on memory alone is it can be faulty...I've ended up buying dupes of some items over the years because I forgot I already had one (like Johan '65 Cadillac Coupe de Villes or AMT '68 T-birds..) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Without an inventory of my model kits, I wouldn't want to have to dig through a large numbe of kits to see if I have a certain kit or not. I just pull up the list on the computer and the kit I'm looking for is either there or not. Simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doughnut Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I use an Excel spreadsheet and classify them the way 58 Impala mentioned, by catagory. I can then take the spreadsheet with my (via my pocket PC) to events and know if I have the kit before buying another. It has also helped for insurance purposes. I have recently added a column to tell me where the kit is (which box) as I organize them in my crawl space. Many of the modelers in my club think I'm anal, but I prefer to be organized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I've done that some, the problem I've had w/ relying on memory alone is it can be faulty...I've ended up buying dupes of some items over the years because I forgot I already had one (like Johan '65 Cadillac Coupe de Villes or AMT '68 T-birds..) I do have the kits stored in certain areas, Fords here, MOPARS over there, BIG kits under her.and remember, you can't have too many Cadillac Coupe de Villes or AMT '68 T-birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ra7c7er Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 (edited) I forgot to mention how I do mine. I have a spread sheet and photos to back it up. About 5 years ago I lost an entire 2000+ MTG card collection that the insurance company only gave me 10 cents a card for. The collection was actually worth close to 7 grand but I couldn't prove I had the cards I said I did. Since then I have taken photos of EVERYTHING that comes in my house that isn't food or disposable. When my girlfriend and I moved in together she hated it but when a pipe leaked in our house and ruined some of here yarn she realized the difference it makes when dealing with insurance people. Instead of 2 dollars a skeen (ball of yarn) they wound up giving here full value of what she had because she could prove what she had and could prove it's actually value not just assumed value. Keeping a inventory for yourself and to make trades easier is great on a spreadsheet but when dealing with insurance companies you need photos to back up what you say you have. Believe me it sucks to know they will only give you 10 bucks for something that is work 100 or more because you can't actually prove you owned what is on your list. Edited June 9, 2011 by ra7c7er Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Hall Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I use an Excel spreadsheet and classify them the way 58 Impala mentioned, by catagory. I can then take the spreadsheet with my (via my pocket PC) to events and know if I have the kit before buying another. It has also helped for insurance purposes. I have recently added a column to tell me where the kit is (which box) as I organize them in my crawl space. Many of the modelers in my club think I'm anal, but I prefer to be organized. Yeah, in my spreadsheet I have columns to track where they are--home or in storage, which box they are in (I number my 12x12x16 storage boxes), which storage unit, which state (AZ, CO, OH). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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