What to do with old built model kits?

[Marauder1981]

I donated a lot of ship models to the local lighthouse/museum when I left college and home (Point Gratiot, Lake Erie). Airport authorities are also a possibility for donations.

One of the things I'm doing now are subject based builds. For example, have a friend who's uncle was a Medal of Honor recipient. I built his exact aircraft for her as a remembrance. I have a buddy who was a tanker in the first Gulf War. I intend to build his exact Abrams. The research for unit markings, tail numbers, insignia, etc. is tedious but almost as gratifying as the builds themselves. It is kind of an unsolicited consignment of sorts. Take lots of pictures to memorialize the projects and enjoy having added to someone else's family or life history.

 

[RKKoenn53]

I build mostly geeky subjects and after I returned to the hobby seriously around 2008 I built up a 400+ stash as well as building some 200+ models. A couple of years ago just shy of 70 I realized I could not build all these kits as well as fearing for my very good builds that I know our two sons wouldn't want. I started selling both and have reduced the kit stash to under 100, maybe a bit less. I also started selling models first off eBay, which I would rather not but can't find a marketplace otherwise. I've sold probably 70% of my builds and in almost all cases the buyers have been very happy. They are geeky subjects which my actually be easier than the three A models. I've also made some sales of fancy and much more costly subjects like a Bandai PG Millennium Falcon to an eye doctor in Hawaii recently for $1200. There were 4 or 5 others for $500+ but the models were costly as well and the level of effort was very high. Mostly my things like Aurora monsters, Weird-Ohs, spaceships, etc. get around $100. If you can't find buyers just a good home would make me happy. But I'm still building and doing a bit of contract work too and enjoying it. Here's some of my shelves 7+ years back.

 

[Eagle-1]

Alphabetically.

Of course.

Rob.

 

[RKKoenn53]

View attachment 109524

I have no pics or videos but back in the '60s when I first started the hobby some ended up like that. Plastic burns quite efficiently.

 

[Edbert]

View attachment 131771

Okay, the nausea has faded

Personally I'm having a hard time turning something into a paint-mule. I have four kits from the 1990s which I'm not particularly fond of and are definitely not works of art, I just kept them because they were intact. But I find it hard to ruin them. I did throw away maybe 8 to 10 really old kits that were crappy or had broken/missing bits or were falling apart. That was before I understood the need for a mule. The "Accurate Miniatures" B-25 has such bad fitment issues with the engine nacelles I might use it as a mule if I cannot get it to fit, or if I end up needing as much putty as I think it will take.

 

[Jakko]

In over 40 years of building kits, I've never thrown one away. Almost all of the really old ones are packed up (not very neatly) in boxes in the attic, others are stashed deep in various cupboards and things, but I still have all of them.

 

[Steve Ski]

Wow, that trash bag full of kits is painful, YIKES! I've never ditched a kit unless it was brutally beyond repair and I was not happy with it at all, which is basically once or twice. Heck, I just build another curio cabinet and call it good. At any rate, the Gents have given a few good possibilities, Ruck On!

 

[GaryG64]

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.

Great idea. I might take a few to the VFW, too.

 

[MJY65]

In reality, no one wants our finished kits. The notion of donating them sounds appealing, but it just places a few months of time between them and the trash. We appreciate the work that went into the build, but to the recipient it could just as well be a 10 year old's glue bomb.

 

[Jim62]

In reality, no one wants our finished kits. The notion of donating them sounds appealing, but it just places a few months of time between them and the trash. We appreciate the work that went into the build, but to the recipient it could just as well be a 10 year old's glue bomb.

Our local VFW has models on display. Some may get pitched but not all.

 

[OldManModeller]

Back in the late 70's I gave a bunch of my built kits to the LHS, (local hobby shop). It was a small time business man. I was getting married and everything had to go as our new small apartment didn't have the room. A marriage, working and going to college, and at the time priorities rule. Built kits aren't priorities. Anyway, The LHS took maybe 20 built models from me. He displayed a few in his cases in the hobby shop and the rest I don't know. They probably went into the trash. That hobby shop closed business a few years later.

The bottom line is; If you are Really Really Darn Good at this plastic static scale model gig, you could build on consignment for real money.

But for most of us, the fun is in building it and making yourself happy. Finding Joy in it all. That's what I do it for. For personal happiness and the art, the history, the love of the game. To try and do my best. And the slight fantasy of it all being a kid again and not worrying about bills or the farm or the wife. Just letting go and concentrating on a piece of plastic, glue and paint that looks like a real article.

Do it for fun and Joy.

My kits usually end up on my target range after a few years and my friends and family blow them to pieces with a 22 or 9mm. I had gotten my joy out of building it and admiring it by then and it is not important to me anymore. But it is a cool target on the gun range.

Be well. Model on. Keep the Joy. Do it for the Love of it all.

Eric

 

[Col.Kilgore]

Eric sums it up well . . ..the joy is in the build.

"They all end up in the trash one day. The Joy is in the build, the challenge, and a beautiful completion for Yourself. Then years later it fades to yesterday."

 

[OldManModeller]

Eric sums it up well . . ..the joy is in the build.

"They all end up in the trash one day. The Joy is in the build, the challenge, and a beautiful completion for Yourself. Then years later it fades to yesterday."

Thank you Sir!

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning. Smells like... Victory".

 

[BarleyBop]

... the elephant in the room: we all will end up in that bag one day. This is as much an existential question as you are going to find on any board, anywhere.

So build it, post it, and it will live on in the memories of us all!

Cheers!