Guest Johnny Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 I did some repair work on a friends car. He still owed me 40 dollars on it. I was visiting him and we were in his model room when under the bench covered with spider webs I see a R Model Mack Box (actually the Rubber Duck) Even though I hate spiders I pulled it out dusted it off and endured the creepy feeling after several spiders ran up my arm and into my shirt to check it out. One frame rail busted and a wrinkly black paint job along with other badly assembled parts. I asked and he said he wasn't sure it was all there but he wasn't going to finish it as he fely it was ruined beyond help. I then offered him the forty dollars he owed for the kit. He said great and I brought it home and stashed it for a winter project. That was two weeks ago and just a few minutes ago he called and said it was a mistake and I had taken advantage of his lack of knowledge of kit values??? he had talked to his brother and I guess he has some kind of collectors price guide on models and told him that he should have gotten 200 bucks for it!!! Well he said because it was started he felt that it was worth 100 so I owe him 60 bucks if I want to keep it!!! I was shocked to say the least! I mean we have been friends as long as I can remember! So I told him bring me the 40 he owes and I will give him the kit back. His brother gets on the phone and accuses me of now holding the model hostage!!! Said they want (note they) want to put it on ebay and sell it. I thought about either doing that my self and refunding him anything it goes over my forty and costs or telling him to list it but he would have to pay me and then he could ship it. I don't know, maybe I'll do what my wife said and just drop it by when we head to our son's for a cookout later. She says a long time friendship is worth more than 40 bucks or a model. I have mixed feelings on the mosel part of that! Thanks for listening to my rant!
Danno Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 Your wife's probably right; anything else you do will likely only add 'fuel' to the 'fire.' Not only is the "friendship" not worth $40, but you can be happy with yourself knowing it was worth more than $40 to be a better person than the friend and his entrepreneurial brother/instigator. Usually better to take the high road. Just my unsolicited two-cents worth.
Danno Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 Besides which ... it will make the wife really happier that you took her advice!! There's always inestimable value in that!!
mackinac359 Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 It isn't worth much once started with a broken frame. Mint/unbuilt is where the value is. Tim
Guest Johnny Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 I have no idea what it was or is worth. I just saw it and I don't have a Mack in my collection and thought this would help us both. He was perfectly content to see it go at the time but you would have to know his brother. he is a real piece of work and really good at stirring up trouble. I just called and told him I was dropping it off. His response, "is everything in the box?" Told him everything that was there when he gave it to me. So I now have a feeling that if there was anything missing when I got it I will now be to blame.and if his brother gets into it the outcome won't be a good one.
kingiguana Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 Keep it, he said he felt it was "beyond help " so, there You go. He put a value on it back then, just because he thinks its worth a small fortune now, he wants it back now ? its too late. Then on the other hand, depending on how good of a friend and how much you value his friendship, You may want to give it back. I gave a friend of mine a broken Dremel once, he got it running, I didnt ask for it back, its just how things happen. You should at least get Your 40 bucks or some other kits in trade if he wants it back that badly.
BigBad Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 Yep, what they all said! Friendship is not worth 40$. He wants it back? Give it back and get your 40$ back and buy yourself another kit. No problems, no questions asked and no bad feelings. I'm pretty sure Round 2 is going to re-issue the R600 sometime soon. It is popular in this forum.
a/gass Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 ditto - give him his junk and get your money
SpreadAxle Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 While Freindship is not worth $40, I would say the one throwing a dollar amount on years of memories is your friend. Money often hurts friendships, ESPECIALLY when 3rd parties butt in. It may have some value in a price guide, but, look at what you're getting. Even in mint condition, the kit is beyond inaccurate. If you were planning on replicating the truck from the movie, you'll spend more than that gathering parts. Probably best just to give the kit back, to save any grief. I don't see where you were in the wrong. I mean, did you plan on taking advantage of him and laugh yourself silly on the drive home? I don't think you're that kind of guy, so I would say the answer to my question is no. I hate to say this, but be careful in any future dealings with him regarding money or trades. Not trying to offend you or bad-mouth your friend, just hoping to save you future stress.
Ben Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 For one, the ONLY things worth anything in that kit are the front grill guard, winter front and the Rubber Duck hood ornament. The decals are not that great and you can get a set that are fifty times better and accurate from JBOT. The rest of the kit has NOTHING to do with the movie Convoy. That kit was a very POOR attempt by ERTL to make a truck resembling the Rubber Duck. Anyone that would pay over 40.00 or 50.00 for it with intentions of building that truck are going to be very disappointed! Along with the AMT Mack R685ST kit and parts made the aftermarket, a really accurate replica can be made. Second, if I had a friend who was an Indian Giver, an Accuser and wouldn't pay me what he owed me for things I had done for him, the LAST thing I would call him is a "friend"!
SpreadAxle Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 For one, the ONLY things worth anything in that kit are the front grill guard, winter front and the Rubber Duck hood ornament. The decals are not that great and you can get a set that are fifty times better and accurate from JBOT. The rest of the kit has NOTHING to do with the movie Convoy. That kit was a very POOR attempt by ERTL to make a truck resembling the Rubber Duck. Anyone that would pay over 40.00 or 50.00 for it with intentions of building that truck are going to be very disappointed! Along with the AMT Mack R685ST kit and parts made the aftermarket, a really accurate replica can be made. Second, if I had a friend who was an Indian Giver, an Accuser and wouldn't pay me what he owed me for things I had done for him, the LAST thing I would call him is a "friend"! If anything, the parts you mentioned would be great if cast by themselves by a resin caster and sold. Even better if that was done along with the correct hood which has been available in resin in recent years. It would save fans a few dollars I would think.
Aaronw Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 I wonder how old that price guide was, 10 years ago you might have seen those kits selling for $200. Model King re-issued the Mack R a few years ago. New those were $60. With the way Round 2 is bringing back the truck kits for less that $40, someone would have to be pretty desperate to pay $40 for a started, bad paint job kit that may or may not be complete. If it is represented honestly you probably already gave him a better offer than he will get with ebay. Give it back and wash your hands of the whole thing, when he gets $10 for the kit he should see you were not trying to take advantage of him.
Aaronw Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 If anything, the parts you mentioned would be great if cast by themselves by a resin caster and sold. Even better if that was done along with the correct hood which has been available in resin in recent years. It would save fans a few dollars I would think. One of the resin casters did do the Rubber Duck parts a few years ago. He was quite disappointed in the actual interest after taking the time to do it. One of those things where lots of people said they wantedthe parts but then didn't buy when they were available. I don't recall which caster it was, as this was about 5 years ago.
Guest Johnny Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 Well I dropped it off earlier. I took a two year old Snap On Torque wrench for what he owed me and let it go at that. Yes, he still is my friend and will be for the rest of my time here. Been friends too long to let something this small change that. I think he will be disappointed in the end. I didn't care about it being the Rubber Duck model. I passed on that kit back when it originally came out new. I just saw it sitting collecting dust and figured it would help him out and I could add a Mack to my lineup! (plus I like saving glue bombs ) Thought it would go good with my lowboy trailer. We had a great cookout at the kids Had three of our four kids and spouses there (our sons) and 4 of our 12 grand kids.. We got cooking and playing with the little ones in between rain drops!
Ben Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 It takes a little searching but all the parts needed can be found to build an accurate replica. Tony Westwood in England (I'm pretty sure it's England?) mastered and cast the bumper/grill guard, the Duck, mirror heads, correct air tanks and the big roof top air foil. I have all of it here. Really nice stuff but he did quit casting due to lack of interest. A couple different resin casters off the RL700 hood, several casters (myself included) have made the two hole Budd wheels and JBOT makes an awesome decal set that does the tractor and trailer.
highway Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 Johnny, all in all I think you did the right thing, but in another way I think you learned a valuable lesson from all this, and that is exactly what your "friendship" means to him. I'm sorry, but I don't think he sounds to me like anything I would particularly call a friend, because friends don't turn on each other the way he did to you. I have lifelong friends that I would never dream of being that petty to, and that would also not be that petty to me. I even have one model building friend that GAVE, yes GAVE, me an AMT Papa Truck transporter for the sole reason he was not going to do anything with it and he knew I wanted it. He didn't owe me anything, and he asked for nothing in return just because he knew that box of unbuilt plastic would bring a smile to my face. If your friend was a true friend like that, he wouldn't have worried about dollar signs, but more that he was able to not only settle his debt to you but bring a little joy to your model world with it.
BigBad Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 Good man. You value friendship the way it should be.
disabled modeler Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 Johnny....I have an unbuilt Mack R6855T? here I will probably never get to building.
scale trucker Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 i know you were trying to rescue the old dog,but i think that one should be left for dead..not worth ruining a friendship....
disabled modeler Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 There right Johnny....your the bigger man and possibly saving a friendship. It sounds like it was in pretty bad shape anyways but I don't blame you for wanting to try and save the old girl....I am the same way with the ones that need help or a good home. Like I said I have a unbuilt Mack here been opened only.
Guest Johnny Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 Johnny, all in all I think you did the right thing, but in another way I think you learned a valuable lesson from all this, and that is exactly what your "friendship" means to him. I'm sorry, but I don't think he sounds to me like anything I would particularly call a friend, because friends don't turn on each other the way he did to you. I have lifelong friends that I would never dream of being that petty to, and that would also not be that petty to me. I even have one model building friend that GAVE, yes GAVE, me an AMT Papa Truck transporter for the sole reason he was not going to do anything with it and he knew I wanted it. He didn't owe me anything, and he asked for nothing in return just because he knew that box of unbuilt plastic would bring a smile to my face. If your friend was a true friend like that, he wouldn't have worried about dollar signs, but more that he was able to not only settle his debt to you but bring a little joy to your model world with it. I understand what you are saying but it is so much more complex than you can imagine when it comes to this friendship. This guy was at the VA for me at least twice a week for the 18 months I was there. He always made sure my wife made it up there if her regular transportation couldn't make it! Before that and after we went through good and bad times and always were there for each other to lean on! Like most good friends we had our ups and downs over the years even lost contact for a good dozen years when he went out west! But we always remained the best of friends. He is one of the very few I have left and the only one I am in weekly contact with! Most of my long time friends have passed away in the last few years. I don't intend on losing another over something this petty. I told him today that when he gets up the money if he wants he can have his torque wrench back.( I have two already )
Nova-ss Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 Jonny, It show the kind of person you are.I have had friends that were not the best at times and you never know maybe some is going wrong in his life and it is affecting your friendship with him.I know sometimes I've been on the short end of the stick and sometimes they were.it all evens out in the long run.just know you did the right and proper thing.Thank you,Chris
george 53 Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 Johnny, you dun good AND right! we's all proud of ya!!!
Sixties Sam Posted September 6, 2011 Posted September 6, 2011 I think it would be funny if your friend puts the model on eBay, and the most he gets for bids is $10 or so! Sam
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