What to do with old built model kits?

[ohbejuan]

What to do with old built kits?

I don't want to assume anything about folks her, but is it true that most people keep and display their models?

I am not interested in doing that very often. I will keep a couple around. But honestly, I find it a burden to kep the whole bunch. I hate to throw them away. Anyone have other ideas? I would love to give them away. But I am not sure I know anyone who wants them. Sell them on Ebay for $1 plus shipping? I don't want to ruin the market if that is a thing. Maybe sell them on etsy?

 

[urumomo]

 

[Jim62]

If the kits are military models you might check with your local VFW and see if they are interested in displaying any of your builds. Our local VFW has several on display.

 

[ohbejuan]

View attachment 109524

I did that when I was a kid!!!

 

[scalebuilderchad]

If you don't want built kits I would try Etsy if you want to make a couple bucks. There are less fees on Etsy than there are on Ebay.

Like someone else suggested, a VFW might be interested in military models.

If you live in a large enough city with a science museum, maybe they would be interested in some of them.

And car models could possibly be displayed at local dealerships or racetracks?

I would also ask a local hobby shop. My model car club has a display in our local hobby shop. We change out the cars every other month or so.

 

[ohbejuan]

If the kits are military models you might check with your local VFW and see if they are interested in displaying any of your builds. Our local VFW has several on display.

this is a nice idea.

If you don't want built kits I would try Etsy if you want to make a couple bucks. There are less fees on Etsy than there are on Ebay.

Like someone else suggested, a VFW might be interested in military models.

If you live in a large enough city with a science museum, maybe they would be interested in some of them.

And car models could possibly be displayed at local dealerships or racetracks?

I would also ask a local hobby shop. My model car club has a display in our local hobby shop. We change out the cars every other month or so.

another good suggestion! thanks!

 

[the Baron]

It's an old and much-discussed question. Displaying my finished models is enough of an issue that it's affected my building. I just don't have the room to display all of the models in my stash, if I ever built them all. So I've slowed down significantly.
I couldn't bring myself to blow up a model I built, even when I was a kid.
But yeah, what to do with your finished models. You could also try libraries in your area, too.
Unfortunately, for many of us, and what we've built, our survivors will wind up throwing our work out.

 

[Jim62]

It's an old and much-discussed question. Displaying my finished models is enough of an issue that it's affected my building. I just don't have the room to display all of the models in my stash, if I ever built them all. So I've slowed down significantly.
I couldn't bring myself to blow up a model I built, even when I was a kid.
But yeah, what to do with your finished models. You could also try libraries in your area, too.
Unfortunately, for many of us, and what we've built, our survivors will wind up throwing our work out.

I am with you on the slow down. I've done the same thing after looking at my space and stash and it's keeping me from buying more. So far so good. I've got enough to last if I maintain a good pace.

 

[scalebuilderchad]

I should add what I do with old unwanted models.....

I haven't been building that long. Maybe 6 years. And what I do with older models and models that aren't done as well is I take them apart and strip them down. Keep parts I could reuse like wheels and tires, or engines mainly. Then sometimes I'll hold on to the bodies for test painting.

 

[ohbejuan]

I should add what I do with old unwanted models.....

I haven't been building that long. Maybe 6 years. And what I do with older models and models that aren't done as well is I take them apart and strip them down. Keep parts I could reuse like wheels and tires, or engines mainly. Then sometimes I'll hold on to the bodies for test painting.

This is a good tip. I do keep extra parts, or parts from abandoned kits for this purpose! If I am trying a new paint technique I do this.

 

[Damien83]

Honestly, I don't think my first few builds will be worth displaying. My first I'm working on is the British Infantry Tank Mk.IV Churchill Mk.VII.

 

[flyboy2610]

Honestly, I don't think my first few builds will be worth displaying. My first I'm working on is the British Infantry Tank Mk.IV Churchill Mk.VII.

They will be worth keeping, though, if for no other reason than for you to look back at them someday and see how far your skills have progressed.

 

[ohbejuan]

They will be worth keeping, though, if for no other reason than for you to look back at them someday and see how far your skills have progressed.

A good point. In the end I gave away some to friends and kept three that I still felt some connection to.

 

[scottrc78]

Get a cat or two, or a Labrador puppy and give him a tennis ball. Better yet, take care of a three year old and let him have access to models.

Those seemed to have solved my problem.

 

[C.A. Whitecloud]

I started a new tradition. Models I'm ready to part with and aren't totally embarrassing, I put on my front stoop with a post-it that says Free Fun. Then I try to capture a person's expression/interest as they walk by. I love it when they smile, pick it up and walk away.

 

[plastickjunkie]

Before EBay had the politically correct bs going like not being able to show a swastika on a plane tail and didn't have the abusive fees and 1099 paperwork I would post my older built models for sale. Not only did this generate some cash to buy supplies but it also freed up display space. They went to someone willing to pay some cash who appreciates the hobby but for some reason doesn't build them.
I'm at that point that can't build anything due to no display space available. I'm also trying to thin out my stash by selling some kits. I have some listed in the for sale section in this site.

 

[TimM63]

 

[Edbert]

Obviously not gonna make the hobby profitable, but doing like this guy will at least provide funding for a new kit.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1184805659284737


But it doesn't explain why my neighbor is painting his canopies.

 

[beefychicken]

Old thread, but i will jump in anyway. I usually give them away to young chldren I know through friends, family or coworkers. Safest bet is to keep it to family or people you are close to since models arent toys and come apart rather easily and will leave a debris field in the kids room.

 

[Col.Kilgore]

I have been thinking about this dilemma also . . . I make sure I take several photos of everything I have made. I have not tossed anything away yet but I know that day is coming.