Tickmagnet

Anyone else have this issue?

I can understand what you mean, I had a different experience to pass along.

Christmas of '12 my step-son and daughter gave me an Accurate Miniatures 1/48 TBM. I really have no idea why, as they had never known me have any interest in model building, nor had a thought about it in a few decades.

I was momentarily estatic, soon to be followed by a feeling of "oh boy, now I have to build this thing!", just like you said.

But in my case, it led to a rekindling of interest, joining up here, learning new stuff, (uh....spending a small fortune on replacing long-lost modeling tools/supplies), etc. So for me, it turned out pretty well.

How the kids managed to choose one of the best 1/48 aircraft models ever built baffles me to this day.

Although that worked out really well, I could have never chosen such a perfect 'first kit back' as they chose, and I'm forever grateful to have been reintroduced to the hobby, I tend to agree that from now on I think I'd prefer to choose kits myself.

I might add that in the past I've participated in a couple Christmas gift exchanges here, and those were fun. I think that might be a different thing than you brought up, which I interpret as recieving models as gifts from non-modelers.

When I was a kid, every Christmas my aunt and uncle would get me a model... always a car of some kind or another.  Planes were my thing, cars, not so much.  But I would always build it, trying to do my best for my skill level at the time. Once it was done, I couldn't wait to get back to something with wings!

I agree with you 100% people have asked my wife what would i would,like,she steers them towards Spruebrothers gift certificates,which I have also recommended for my fellow modeler friends.

Hehe, one of my nephews got me a Starfix kit years ago. Thankfully, I think he's forgotten about it since it's been sitting there in my stash since then. Look it up- Starfix frankly has a reputation for being simply gawdawful. 

Greg: Give the Accurate Miniatures Avenger a chance. It's a finicky kit, you have to build it exactly as the instruction manual spells out. But other than that the one I built years ago fit like a glove. 

I think it's entirely reasonable to feel this way. The time we take to build a model is something personal.

There are quite a few subjects I'm so so about, a a few, Germany 1939-1945 that I simply won't (my own reasons, not a value statement to others). I'll jus tend up regifting them.

My wife figured this out quite a while ago, so she sticks to tools after I suggest a few.

Bill

I am the same. A few years back my other half bought me a ship model. I had no interest in it, but as you say i felt obliged to build it. On another occasion i took part in our model clubs secret santer. The model i picked was ok as far as the subject goes but just not my scale. On both occasions as i was building them i kept thinking what else i could be doing. So no, i don't like getting models as gifts. The Mrs does get me a bust now again, but those i don't mind.

Thats also why i have been selling off a few kits, i have realised that if i have little interest in the subject, i just can't get into it.

I often work a little better with a little stress, whether it is a gift kit or a club challenge.  It is easy to work for perfection on a kit you love, but sometimes a challenge brings out the best of my modeling skills.

I have such a challenge now- my Grandson gave me the Revell 426th Arizona for Christmas.  I have a nice Hobby Boss Arizona kit and some photo etch in my stash that I had intended to build.  Is there any aftermarket for the Revell kit?

Gamera

Greg: Give the Accurate Miniatures Avenger a chance. It's a finicky kit, you have to build it exactly as the instruction manual spells out. But other than that the one I built years ago fit like a glove.

Cliff, I think my talking too much backfired again or you misread. I loved that kit and it remains, 6 yrs later, my favorite build since I 'came back' in '13.

Sorry, Greg. My mistake, I'm running around here at work and just skimming over posts, guess I misread. Not the first time for me, I've got to slow down a little. 

Great job there, she looks fantastic! 

Gamera

Sorry, Greg. My mistake, I'm running around here at work and just skimming over posts, guess I misread. Not the first time for me, I've got to slow down a little.

Heh! Not everyone gets to be a lazy, retired bum like me, Ciff. No worries!

And thanks for your kind comments.

Hey Greg glad to hear that a gift got you back into modelling that's turned out to be a great thing. Yes I was talking about from non modellers.

Tojo72

I agree with you 100% people have asked my wife what would i would,like,she steers them towards Spruebrothers gift certificates,which I have also recommended for my fellow modeler friends.

 

Now there's an idea Spruebrother gift certificates.

RickS

When I was a kid, every Christmas my aunt and uncle would get me a model... always a car of some kind or another.  Planes were my thing, cars, not so much.  But I would always build it, trying to do my best for my skill level at the time. Once it was done, I couldn't wait to get back to something with wings!

 

When I was a kid I enjoyed model gifts because it was about the only way I'd get one and the eyes and dexterity were still good enough to tackle any scale. I built anything back then and at one point my Mom signed me up for a monthly model club. I was happy to build whatever came along then. Now that I think about it I think that is when I was really into the old Monster Models. Wish I still had those.

GMorrison

I think it's entirely reasonable to feel this way. The time we take to build a model is something personal.

There are quite a few subjects I'm so so about, a a few, Germany 1939-1945 that I simply won't (my own reasons, not a value statement to others). I'll jus tend up regifting them.

My wife figured this out quite a while ago, so she sticks to tools after I suggest a few.

 

Bill

 

Thanks Bill that first sentence says it all. Yes it's a personal thing building what you really enjoy, that's why I do it.

Tickmagnet

Many may not agree with me and I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I have come to find that I do not care for people giving me models as gifts. Why? Because it causes me undue stress to recieve a model I don't have any desire to build, yet because it was a gift I feel obligated to build it. Nevermind the fact the scale is not the scale I build, the subject is not the subject I am interested in building, and the brand is one I've sworn off of because their instructions are shoddy, or their fit is always bad, etc. etc.

I did accept it graciously and I built the model but it was not an enjoyable experience, it was more of a grind just to get it out of the way so I could get back on track with what I really desire to build.

Anyone else have this issue? How do you let family or friends know they don't need to do that, or do you just graciously accept it and say I'll put it in the stash, after which time it never gets touched again? Or do you build it no matter what because it was a gift?

 

I think the last time I got a model as a gift was a NASCAR kit from my mother-in-law. I think it was a clearance kit, like $2 and she got it on a whim. I did build it and it was my first NASCAR kit I built since I was a college kid. I built one for a guy who had bought a bunch of my built kits from my mom's yard sale. He dropped it off and I built it when I got home during a college break.

It was a yellow kit (the one dropped off), man that is a tough color to work with. The gifted one was a pleasant build, no references, straight out of the box. It motivated me to buy another NASCAR, along with a set of Alan Kulwicki Desert Storm markings. Never got around to that one.

I'll aways accept a free kit, even if it is something I don't normally prefer. If I feel like I "have" to build it, I'll knock it out quickly and do a decent enough job on it.

I never gotten a gift model that I didn't like.  My parents paid attention to my wish lists back in the '60's and my kiddo and wife goes to LHS for other holidays. They know what things I want.  

    Not a fan of surprises so giving me a gift is tough. As a rule I try to be as specific as possible with the kit I want. If the price doesn't scare them the search truly slows them down.

    I don't mind freebies, but I almost never feel obligated to build it. It stays in my stash until I hear of someone how is looking for that subject then I just let them enjoy it.

Ya, my daughter gave me the dreaded P-61 Black Widow kit last xmas :0

I'm always grateful for a gift, but having said that, I make sure everyone knows where to find my wishlists.

Don,

Don Stauffer

Is there any aftermarket for the Revell kit?

Yes there is. Gold Medal Models makes PE for it and Model Monkey makes some 3D stuff for it on Shapeways

How about when someone asks you what kit to get you for Christmas or your birthday? I find the kit I wanted at the time usually gets stashed since I've already turned my eye to a kit I could start immediately.

keavdog

the dreaded P-61 Black Widow kit

Was that the Airfix P-61?  I remember that one from the 70s - horrible to build & moulded in black plastic that showed every bit of glue used on it!  Don't recall what happened to it, but I won't have been sorry to see it go!

A gift kit got me back into the hobby, in a very roundabout way.  My parents bought me the 1/24 Bf 109 from Airfix when I was 12 - that was about as good as it got in those days, and a luxury they surely couldn't really afford, so it meant even more to me.  However, this kit had problems - well known now, but not to an excited young lad at the time.  I eventually hit the problems & realised they were beyond my capability, so I put the part-built model away.  I never got rid of it - it moved house every time I did and, about 18 months back, I found it & opened the box.  A little fire - never quite extinguished - was rekindled.

I've had a couple given as presents since, but they've been ones I've hinted at*, so no problem.

     Stay safe & happy modelling,

                                                Hutch.

*Like leaving a large note on Mrs 6390's dressing table with the subject, scale, manufacturer & supplier info all provided for her - considerate, or what?

Most of what I get nowadays are gifts; I rarely buy my own so I keep the stash down. I appreciate the thought, and it's neat what someone thinks I like, or, more often, something that they thought was neat. My wife buys most of them, she hates guessing and I give her a wish list now, but she's picked some stuff I would have never gotten myself. Tamiya F4F, Monogram Spirit of St Louis, 64 Pontiac GTO, and Dale Earnhardt Silver Monte Carlo. I haven't felt obligated to build what others gift, but I commonly do, and I'm reminded of their friendship when I look at the kits. 

keavdog

Ya, my daughter gave me the dreaded P-61 Black Widow kit last xmas :0

 

That's a white elephant if I've ever seen one!

I have been given a handful of kits over the years.  They are still in the closet awaiting their turn at the modeling table.

Robotism

How about when someone asks you what kit to get you for Christmas or your birthday? I find the kit I wanted at the time usually gets stashed since I've already turned my eye to a kit I could start immediately.

 

I put a few model kits on my Amazon wish list, just in case someone who might care to get me something takes a look at my wish list.

I don’t have that problem with my family. First they know I have way too many kits and secondly they know I’m very fussy when it comes to plastics so they stay away from it. I do have one particular friend who knows my modeling interests and has given me several kits that he knows I like.