SPARES

[GCB]

After completing a model, there are always some parts left (not used, or extras), and we keep them for use on other models.
At this time, I have all in a big box but messy to find something... I am curious to know how you organize those?

 

[Jakko]

In a whole range of boxes and some sets of those little chests-of-drawers intended for storing screws, bolts, nuts, nails, etc. I sort things by subject, so I have a spares box with M113 parts, one with M26/M46/M47M48/M60-series parts, one with 1:72 scale vehicle parts, one with aircraft parts (I don]t build many aircraft ), one with Second World War German parts, one with Sherman suspension parts, one with all other Sherman parts, two with wheels and tracks for everything but the above, one with miscellaneous parts, and more …

As if that's not enough, for the Sherman parts I ended up sorting most of them into plastic bags and boxes inside the spares boxes themselves

 

[Jim62]

I put them in a zip lock bag and file them in a filing cabinet with the instructions from the model they came with.

 

[GCB]

Jakko, Jim, thanks for sharing.
I also started by keeping them in separate bags with the name of the model, but at the end, I am never using them for same model, so ended up mixing them... I even used some left airplane parts for a military truck... Maybe by size?

 

[Jakko]

That's why I sort them by generic subject: most German tank parts are only useful for German tank models, for example

 

[mark2]

My organisational skills are about the same as yours by the sounds of it lol

 

[BarleyBop]

This is like that 'talk' the kids gonna have with you. "Have you made arrangements?" "Will mom know where to find everything?" "Doesn't hurt to be organized..."

So far, my strategy includes a little of all the above! After 40 years of organized, maybe I don't wanna anymore!

... now where did I put those extra blackout headlights?

 

[Edbert]

I was saved by a fellow modeler recently who mailed a spare decal to me at zero cost despite my offer to pay.

I'd love to see this site have that ability, someone breaks something and needs a spare part...we all have extra bits, pay it forward and help a brother out!

 

[Edbert]

My organisational skills are about the same as yours by the sounds of it lol

Some say "organized", some say an*lretentive, YMMV

 

[BarleyBop]

this site have that ability,

Thought about that too... I keep buying reference books, but after the build is done, it just takes room on the shelf.

I might refer again one day, but realistically, probably not to the same extent as the first time.

My favorite LHS used to have used books, boxes of decals and sometimes parts, but not since they had to downsize to offset the exorbitant money grabbing rent increases of late.

So you might look for some 'modeler's pay nothing Facebook group', if that even exists!
New mothers are all over that sort of thing!

 

[Jakko]

I was saved by a fellow modeler recently who mailed a spare decal to me at zero cost despite my offer to pay.

I've done that, and been helped by other people doing the same for me — or just for postage, no actual charge for the thing being sent/received. If I have parts I'm never going to use and somebody else needs them, they can usually have them.

I'd love to see this site have that ability

https://www.scalemodeladdict.com/forums/buy-sell-trade.26/

 

[GCB]

It would be a good idea to share, but unfortunately, does not help me, as I leave in Europe

 

[Edbert]

It would be a good idea to share, but unfortunately, does not help me, as I leave in Europe

Some items (small parts/decals) could easily be sent in an envelope, would not cost much more to send to London than to New Jersey, would just take a while.

Besides, there's a lot of regulars here that are not in the USA.

 

[Jakko]

Sending anything across the Atlantic (either way) is not cheap, but within Europe is certainly doable. I sent some parts to someone in Italy a few years ago and to the UK last year, for example, from the Netherlands. However, I must say that the UK one especially was rather more expensive than I had expected. I wonder why …

 

[GCB]

Something to try anyhow..

 

[Jim62]

Jakko, Jim, thanks for sharing.
I also started by keeping them in separate bags with the name of the model, but at the end, I am never using them for same model, so ended up mixing them... I even used some left airplane parts for a military truck... Maybe by size?

I've yet to even use any of the spare parts but the saved Tamiya instructions have come in handy for paint mixing colors.

 

[GCB]

I was keeping the instructions too, however not any more since you can find most on "Scalemates".

 

[OldManModeler]

I did like @Jim62 mentioned. Zip lock baggies.

 

[TimM63]

I have spare parts and decals organized by type (air, sea, land) and by scale (1/25, 1/35, 1/48, etc)

 

[GCB]

You keep them on the sprues or cut them?