Don't know what will happen to my builds when I finally depart the planet. I'm not too concerned though, I'll be gone. I only have two siblings left out of a cast of six and neither of them would be interested in something they would consider clutter. My stash is only 30/35 kits and I've told a good friend who is an internet seller - reseller that he can have them when and if I'm gone. In the meantime I enjoy seeing my builds on the shelf, I enjoy going to shows and seeing the builds submitted for judging and the companionship and camaraderie the hobby affords.

Locally.  I just mention I want to get rid of one and a number of friends or relatives speak up. Mention I want to get rid of a battleship or plane, and no responses.  

My ships are easy to ship. You just need to keep the base from shifting. I then put the box into another box cushioned with bubble wrap or constuct the exterior box out of wood. Expensive to ship either way.

The longer I spend at this hobby the better I get at it, so looking at some of my earlier builds I realize they need to be replaced.  So I buy another kit, build it and chuck the old one.  I've only ever donated one of my builds.  Mini Whiskey 7.  I'm currently working on #2 as it will be displayed on my stand along with Mini Movie Memphis Belle, and Mini L-16.  All of which are aircraft my daughter flew in that are owned by the museum I volunteer at.  So I hope once I'm dead and gone my daughter at least keeps those three.  Everything else she can pitch them or keep them.

Good Point:

    Shipping a ship is not for the weak of heart. I usually create a cradle out of foam. Then Cteate a Forward and Aft block to protect the ends and side blocks that connect to a block at the top for stability. 

 I have NEVER shipped a sailing ship. I deliver them in person in the car. I have even shipped Brass and Plastic parts in a box and they arrived with the brass destroyed and the plastic intact and whole. Go Figure!

Don Stauffer

 

 

scottrc

My sailing ships are easy to get rid of, seems there is always someone willing to snag one for a decoration, but my planes and other weapons of war usually have a shlef life of less than five years thanks to my love of having cats and lab retrievers around the house.  

 

 

 

 

I am afraid to package and ship any of my ship models.  I have had bad experiences with shipping even cars and planes.  How do you pack up and ship a ship?  Or do you get rid of them only in local area?

 

I would be afraid to ship one too, too many small parts and rigging to get damaged.

Planes and armor are very easy to pack. I make a cardbord tray to rest the plane upside down into a recessed slot cut to let the fuselage rest in between the cardboard. I then use plastic shopping bags cut into strips and used as tiedowns to secure the plane to the tray. The plastic strips are stapled to the cardboard. I use a box that will allow 3-4 inches clearance all the way around the model and use poly fiberfill to suspend the plane in this sandwhich. This is the best method by far for shipping planes or armor. The cardboard tray prevents the model from shifting and the fiberfill suspends and cushions it. 

scottrc

My sailing ships are easy to get rid of, seems there is always someone willing to snag one for a decoration, but my planes and other weapons of war usually have a shlef life of less than five years thanks to my love of having cats and lab retrievers around the house.  

 

I am afraid to package and ship any of my ship models.  I have had bad experiences with shipping even cars and planes.  How do you pack up and ship a ship?  Or do you get rid of them only in local area?

My sailing ships are easy to get rid of, seems there is always someone willing to snag one for a decoration, but my planes and other weapons of war usually have a shlef life of less than five years thanks to my love of having cats and lab retrievers around the house.  

When I'm ready to let them go I put them on EBay, built and unbuilt ones. This way I get money in return and someone else enjoys the models. I have sold 20-30 year old builds for decent cash which helps fund othe projects. 

This is a really good question, and thank you all for your honest and frank replies. 

Recently we (my family) performed a house purging to clean out our basement. During the cleanout I was challenged to just throw away many built and unbuilt kits. I stood my ground as I am not ready to do that just yet. 

That episode motivated me to figure out what I may do with several hundred unbuilt kits. I know that many of the older ones are not up to the current mold / detail / fit quality of current kits; but I also know that many of them are sought after by vintage builders and are not produced anymore. 

There was a thread in FSM about donating them to various sources. There have also been discussions on trying to sell them. I can tell you that if you want to sell them, you will make more selling individually (built or unbuilt). If you have any local or nearby modeling shows, I think that would be the easiest. When selling them in bulk, most buyers want photos and a spreadsheet. Selling in bulk will usually result in getting around 35% of thier worth if your lucky. 

As for me, I have already connected with the Columbus Eddie Rickenbacker IMPS chapter to get my unbuilt models once I pass. They can do what they want with them. I am also going through the process of donating around 75 kits to a group in South Carolina who coordinates with may active duty and veterans affiliations to get them to those who want them.

Many of my builds have gone to local hobby shops (some shops are still here and others are now gone). At one time I got free models of my choice to build with the understanding that they must be displayed in the hobby shop for 6 months before I take them home or give them away. I have also donated numerous kits to several central Ohio museums where they currently reside. On occasion I have given them to people I have met or thier children (built and unbuilt) simply because they really liked it or wanted one. 

Out of those I built and still have, my two sons and my daughter want several of them; the rest will most likely either go to the Columbus IMPS for thier annual silent auction or into the trash after I pass on.

Then there is the associated stuff like paint booths, air compressors, air brushes, hand tools, paint, work benches, paint racks, on and on.... but that is a whole other thread.

Ben

I plan on living forever. So y'all can send me all the unbuilt kits and I'll do them. And I won't even charge y'all. So it's a win win for everyone 

I imagine that my kids will sell off the unbuilt kits and trash the built ones. Once I'm gone, it really doesn't matter.

All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.

My kids will auction my stash and wargame collection on Ebay.

I care not what happens to my builds.  I build them for my pleasure and think I do fairly well skill-wise, but I have no illusions they are museum quality.  If my legacy in life is a collection of built models, I'm not doing it right.

Hey everyone,

I'm working with a few individuals in Utah (that's where I live when I'm not working) building a small aviation museum. This museum will have a handful of airworthy, WWI reproductions as well as a large 1/48 model aircraft display. We hope to have one of the world's largest model aircraft displays. We are making an app to go with this display to give credit to the builder, and give a brief history on the aircraft and the pilot. All pieces will be in 1/48 scale to maintain subject continuity thereby illustrating both the evolution of aviation since its nascency, as well as its history.  

If anyone has any 1/48 aircraft that they would like to part with (both presently or eventually), PM me, and I might be able to help you have your work displayed forever rather than having it suffer the eventual fate of going to a landfill. We presently have almost 300 pieces, but are hoping to ascertain hundreds more. I can send anyone interested a list of the aircraft models we do have to show you our progress. In order for your work to be displayed, we would like to screen it to ensure it meets appropriate display standards (e.g. seams filled, decals clear coated, etc.). 

And last thing. This isn't really my first post at FSM. I formerly went by the username raptordriver (that's the plane I thought I would end up flying as a child). I joined when I was a teenager, back in 2006. I just started with a new profile since I couldn't login. I've returned to building about two years ago. Anyway, I look forward to seeing some old friends, and making new ones. 

Andrew

If my memory serves me right, the airports at Albuquerque and Austin both have an extensive model display in the terminals. ABQ was really amazing with many glass display cases filled with well done models. AUS was a bit less so, but still good. It’s been many, many years since I passed through those places, but the memory stuck with me.

That’s the way a good model should end up imho. Admittedly, a vast majority of people would walk past too much in a hurry to pay attention, but there would be some travelers who’d stop and admire them.

Too bad for all of you.  My wife and kids will put all my work into the Ted Tedtedderson Museum.  Priceless works of art!

Just kidding.  Trash. Hopefully the unbuilt kits get donated. 

My dad scratch built several wooden ships.  If my brothers don't take any when the time comes, I will keep them all. 

T e d

Mine  usually get purchased  shortly after I finish them. ( mostly the model Train stuff.)

Watever is left of the "built-ups" will be sent to my Nephew's, Nieces, and any grandchildren I have in the future....... they will most likely do the same thing I did when I was young...... BLOW THEM UP WITH CHERRY BOMB'S !!!!!!

The un-built kits will probably be "garage sale fodder", or donated to Goodwill.

I do have a few ( 17) German sub's that I believe will be tossed in the box with me.......

Do you think there's a Hobby store near St Peter's Gate?   .....( I may need some glue...)

Hmmmm;

     Boy: Talk about a heavy opening for 2020!

     Well, to tell the truth.They wil probably go to Veterans( Unbuilt Kits). The rest? Well! Except those Corporate owned or in Museums, the Landfill.

     I truly wish it could be different, but I am to be cremated. If I was to take them with, they would have to get a Hydrocarbon burning Permit from the E.P.A.!

     I could only wish they would find eager hands , But, Like all things, as we pass into history these things will be forgotten.

     It is indeed sad, But, remember,these were made to be built for enjoyment by an individual for a pastime. Not as a piece of Historical Value!

      If it does last until it has Historical Value, then it will indeed be precious! As an example of what petroleum made possible for the generations that built them.

       Remember, only Modelers build parts of history they like, Because they don't have to build what they don't like. So there it is . T.B.

I have several large scratchbuilt ships that I am confident will stay in the family.

For the rest of my models, I expect the clubs I belong to will help my family, as they  buyers  the unbuilt kits.  The clubs have auctioned off kits from other deceased members.

I was just thinking about this topic yesterday, as I intend to donate my Revell ISS model to the local middle school or high school science department. But that could be considered educational.  My other 200 plus builds are not.  

I always keep a growing list of WWII museums/societies in my state, along with vets clubs etc.  

My great-grandfather had many ship models displayed at the local VFW, ITAM Vets clubs around my area.  He was a fisherman from Sicily that came to Gloucester to fish, and was a locally famous ship modeler, all scratch built.

I understand it's a different era now but hopefully someone will enjoy some of these models.

I've  had individuals that have seen my models say if you ever have to move call me and I will take some of them.  I have  a list of  names.

As you all know models are extremely fragile so this does not lend itself to handling etc. unless by another modeler who understands this.  Another point to think about  here.

Cadet Chuck

There are no side pockets in coffins.  I suspect that my son may want to keep a few that he likes best, the others will go to the dumpster.  

 

There's a thought.....build your own box, and outfit it with shelves to take your favorites with you to enjoy in whatever comes after.

Whatever I don't build will either get tosssed or go to the local club.  What is built that the cats don't destroy will probably get tossed.

Two words: 

VIKING FUNERAL

Throw my carcass and all my models in there and light 'er up!!! 

All joking aside they get handed over to our local IPMS club. The unfinished ones will go into the raffle. The finished ones will go to club members and be offered to the local transportion museum and the D-Day Memorial- aka they'll probably end up in the landfill. My nephews really just don't have any interest, one does build cars once in awhile but it's all garbage to toss out to them. 

PS: PatW, that's some really nice shelving there. Very neat way to display your work. 

Only one of my built models has survived since childhood, a '59 Corvette, I have six current WIP and plan on displaying them when finished in my shop.  I will try to hold on to them as long as space allows.

The example I have set for my three sons is one of knowedge of history, warfare and machines. I don't think they will follow in my footsteps of love for everything miniature, but to each their own.  However, what worries me about the future of this hobby is the new generation might build models of their favorite cell phone!

There are no side pockets in coffins.  I suspect that my son may want to keep a few that he likes best, the others will go to the dumpster.  

Hello!

Dang, this thread is so sad! And I'm still worrying about finding time to build those unbuilt kits... But what you're writing here is mostly right - nothing lasts forever and our little babies won't last without somebody caring for them.

Have a nice day, anyway

Paweł

I assume the unbuilt kits will go to other modelers and the built kits will end up in the landfill