New releases effect on originals

[cobraman]

I just wondered when a old kit is re-released how much if any does it effect the price of the orginal issue. Does it reduce the perceived value of the orginals or just give us the oppertunity to build a kit we might otherwise not be able to ?

[MAGNUM4342]

From what I've noticed in several years of eBaying, is that it used to not have any effect at all. As time went on, for a while it had a major impact on older kit prices but that was brief. Nowadays I see small effects on pricing. Older kits sometimes get reduced a bit, just because of the newer availability, but there are still those (and eBay sellers are beginning to notice) that still appreciate a vintage kit, no matter how many issues it's seen, or what value it may hold.

[Erik Smith]

The ones that have the most value have only been issued once or twice, obviously...

When they reissue a kit, it makes it easier to find, so builders and collectors aren't after the same models - less competition. Take the AMT 62 Buick - recently reissued in a nostalgic box. It's easy to find multiple versions of that kit, therefore, the original 1962 version sells for a lot less than say, a 1962 Tempest, which saw light of day once.

So, yes, it does make their value lower.

[1930fordpickup]

From what I have seen on ebay people still ask the 100 dollar start bid but fewer of them sell.

This holds true until a year after the new release is out.

[Mike_G]

You bet it lowers the value of the original issue kits- two recent examples spring to mind, Tamiya's 1/12 Ferrari 312B and Monogram's 1/16 Peterbilt 359. I've sold both original issue kits on eBay before and after they were reissued and they brought substantially more before.

[Lunajammer]

There will always be those who appreciate an original issue. Other than them, it's supply and demand. If 58 Pontiacs or 66 Furys were re-released, I'm guessing only collectors would be looking for pristine originals. The rest of us unwashed would be happy with repops. How much are original 70 Ford police cars going for these days? Still in the $150-plus range like 16 years ago?

[Fabrux]

I think that the price of the originals after a reissue has a lot to do with the condition of the tooling. If parts are missing or in bad condition, the original will be far more valuable. A classic example of this is the AMT 1969 Chevelle: the tail lights were altered in later issues so the originals still command higher prices.

[Casey]

There will always be those who appreciate an original issue. Other than them, it's supply and demand. If 58 Pontiacs or 66 Furys were re-released, I'm guessing only collectors would be looking for pristine originals. The rest of us unwashed would be happy with repops.

I agree, and there is some overlap between collectors and builders, too. I'd pay $10-$15 for an older or original version if I liked the box art, even though I intend to build what's inside. Sometimes they are molded a bit more crisply, too, which, for me, adds value and means I'll pay more.

Nice, unbuilt, hard-to-find original kits will always command top dollar IMHO, regardless of who buys them and whether or not they were reissued, but value is a highly personal thing, so it up to each buyer and seller to determine a fair price.

[slusher]

I like the older releases if l can afford them. The plastic is thicker and older releases sometimes have parts and misc ltems not always is in repops. It matters to me on what issue l can afford..

[disabled modeler]

I like the older releases if l can afford them. The plastic is thicker and older releases sometimes have parts and misc ltems not always is in repops. It matters to me on what issue l can afford..

Ill second that

[Tom Geiger]

I'm not an expert on this... but I'd say the original releases will hold value with kit collectors. Same thing as folks who collect first edition books. Then there are those kits that got modified later on, so the original is desirable. Think 1940 Ford pickup with the stock interior.

But when an old kit gets reissued, I see the old restorables and glue bombs are worth less, since the new release kit is good for parts etc. No longer a need to pry an old one apart or scrounge for parts.

[Art Anderson]

I like the older releases if l can afford them. The plastic is thicker and older releases sometimes have parts and misc ltems not always is in repops. It matters to me on what issue l can afford..

Of course, any reissue of an older kit is going to have the same plastic thickness (or thin-new) as the original release, simply because the reissue will come from the original tooling (the thickness of a plastic body shell is determined by the steel molds, nothing else).

Art

[Mark]

Mint condition original issue kits will always be good, though in some cases they will drop slightly in value after a reissue. The project and "rebuilder" kits take the biggest hit, while started or mildly messed with kits are also affected to a degree. In a lot of cases, I'd still rather have the earlier issue, though the improvements in the reissues (tires and decals) do sometimes make me rethink that stance...

[KingSix]

I'm of the notion it's all dictated by the buyer. What're are YOU willing to pay ? I got a lot of guff ( I say guff because I'm not allowed to say what I really think ) recently because I had " high expectations" on a kit I had up for trade. I was told, "because it's being reissued soon, it's just not worth what it was previously" long story short, I held to my guns and got pretty much exactly what I wanted for it. Look on eBay. The prices there are a good guide, but often times I can find the same kits differing in prices as much as $40. This makes no sense to me other than the seller is hoping they attract buyers that don't shop around. I myself could care less about the "collectors value" of a kit. I'm building it regardless. But there's always that tinge of regret when you open a kit that's been sealed for 30 years .. but I get over it quick ..

[Erik Smith]

It's really simple. More supply - decreases demand - lowers prices.

[iBorg]

It depends on the box art.

Annuals that clearly show the date and were issued that year, say a 1968 Camaro issued in 1969, will hold their value. Failing that and street cars loose value when the original molds are reissued such as the AMT/Ertl Plymouth Duster and their values will fall. Show cars with significantly different boxes maintain value. Race cars tend to fluxatate more depending upon the driver.

[High octane]

While it may be true that "original issues" are far more valuable than re-issues, I can take an original kit valued at say $150 and a re-issued kit valued at $27 dollars and build them both exactly the same, put them on the table and no one can tell the difference.

[disabled modeler]

Of course, any reissue of an older kit is going to have the same plastic thickness (or thin-new) as the original release, simply because the reissue will come from the original tooling (the thickness of a plastic body shell is determined by the steel molds, nothing else).

Art

I have had some that were not as thick...usually does not bother me though till the newer issue is warped and an original after all the years is not. With my lack of a real budget I take what I can get.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I bought all of my rare originals with the full intention of building them...i just don't see the point in collecting stuff...just to have it 'til i die. These things aren't serious investments either, and the best of them are really only worth chump change. It's not like anybody has ever retired to a villa in the south of France on the profits from selling his model collection.

That said, and somewhat of a contradiction i suppose...if I can get a repop of a particular favorite kit, I'll build the repop, or use it for parts...and save the original to occasionally experience opening an old, old model box, smelling that familiar smell, and slipping back to a time when everything was new.

[Harry P.]

It all depends on whether you're a builder or a collector.

If you're a builder, then obviously you're not going to pay big bucks for an original when you can get a reissue for a lot less.

If you're a collector, reissues won't affect the value of an original much. There is only one original release of a given kit, no matter how many times the kit is reissued. And serious collectors will pay the price for an original issue; reissues are basically worthless to a collector.

[zenrat]

While it may be true that "original issues" are far more valuable than re-issues, I can take an original kit valued at say $150 and a re-issued kit valued at $27 dollars and build them both exactly the same, put them on the table and no one can tell the difference.

But with the reissue you can't fill the box with old sprues, reseal it and sell it to a collector in the knowledge that you'll probably get away with it...

[cobraman]

Do people do that ? I guess you wouldn't know unless you opened the box.

[Mike_G]

Do people do that ? I guess you wouldn't know unless you opened the box.

People also put reissue parts in an original box.