Hi Hunter !
You know , I feel for anyone in that position . Some years back , before Ina Passed we went to a yard sale .She bought a large sealed box labeled Ships . She said the lady wouldn't even let her hubby open them !
We talked about it later in the evening over a Brandy and she said " I hope I never do that to you " Well , she had her hobbies ( she collected coins and pocket knives !). And at the time we got hitched , I had four commissions from Clean bay in California .
She would bring me a Tankard ( that's what I called that cup ! ) Of coffee and stand or sit and watch , Sometimes asking questions .
To get back to the Box she bought . I opened it the next day . It was one of the large storage boxes from that well known storage and trailer company - U - Haul ! Inside were the following . The full line of Revell Victory at Sea kits , plus a scad of the LifeLike /Pyro Boats and such , on the bottom , a whole collection of Airfix and Lindberg P.T. Boat kits all sizes ! Except the very large one !
Ina had exchanged phone numbers with the lady . She called and said there was a second box that was supposed to be sold with the one we had . Would we please come pick it up ! .
Shocked , we did ! It to was full to the brim with floaty thingys . It was a wardrobe box full to almost overflowing ! with Italeri ,Heller , Lindberg , Revell and Tamiya ships .
In a waxed envelope on the bottom was research material ( Photos ) of better than half of them with extra decals too ! I really felt sorry for this guy , believe me . I have built about a third of them and believe me , when I got a 1/200 U.S.S. Arizona from a client as a gift I was shocked at how ship prices in modeling had gone up !
The prices were high enough that I never was able to afford to add the 1/350 " Beehive Island " Enterprise to my stash . My son Fixed that ! Well , there you have it . I am donating everything to Help Disabled Veterans and the local V.A. Recreation center when that time comes .
Oh , Ina , NEVER , EVER , told me what she paid . When I would ask she would convolutedly change the subject .