my first (mini) stash - now what?

Good luck with your resolution. I have a little over 200 unbuilt kits in my stash. I usually build  between 15-25 kits a year, so I guess I have enough kits for about 10 years. I find now, it's more fun to acquire new releases and ones I don't have yet, than building what I have. It's far easier to get rid of the unbuilt kits than getting rid of built models.

Thanks Hans. I did find a couple and bought them...i think. There is a group of 10 kits with two (dc-3 and AC-47) that i have my one good eye on. I have to stop getting on E-bay!

 ... i am looking for dc-3 kits, 1/48 or 1/32...

Dunno of anyone who ever made a 1/32 scale kit of the DC-3, but you can still find the 1/48th Monogram kit around the 'net...

You all belong on Hoarders. :-)

I must the rare soul that only has in his possession what he is currently working on, unless I get some as gifts. I don't think I've had more than 5 kits sitting around at any one time. Now I feel all inferior and insecure in my status as a modeler <snif>

You people need to get a hobby....oh, wait! So far, just getting back into this, i only have a few in the box. I am considering a 1/32 SBD i saw on e-bay and i am looking for dc-3 kits, 1/48 or 1/32, that won't break the bank. Seems like they are becoming quite scarce. I was only able to find a relative few on the web. As with the old baseball cards we did not keep around, i had a few kits that did not make the moves we made in the last 15 years. Sure with i had those.

i'm guilty of buying more models that i have time to build and have a lot of kits that i hope to get around to building. (now that australia is out of winter, i might get more time).

I still hope I never get a stash any larger than a dozen (or so...).  However I have come across one advantage of having some sort of stash, which is giving me some lead time in buying paint.  I started another thread a while back about having airbrushed model paint for the first time.  I have just done a small amount of airbrushing on my current project, and only my second time using Tamiya acrylics.  While it is more difficult to clean up, it certainly covers much nicer than the artists acrylics I have been mixing.  This was their XF-60, Dark Yellow, and it went on like a dream.

So maybe I really do need a stash

That's not to mention the "Soft-Skin" vehicles I have in 1/35th.. I got several Duece & a halfs (CCKWs and DUKWs), jeeps, M151s, M34s, M35s (plus Deueces and Jeeps in 1/48th), and so on.. 'Course, I'm strictly a diorama builder, so multiple kits in one build are common..

Just one diorama of a crashed B-17 being worked on by a USAAF Recovery Crew requires at least two CCKW Deuces, and one or two Jeeps, right? Right? Plus a towed air-compressor made from the Monogram B-24 kit's tow-tractor engine, so  needed that B-24J kit too...    

I have to assume people buy kits because buying is fun for them, or it is some compulsion...

I buy a lot old kits... That's what I prefer to build, as y'all know, and hunting them down on Ebay is the fun... I buy some kits that have parts or accessories I want,  too... For instance, I bought two Monogram P-61s in order to have two complete P&W R-2800 engines.. Then I cast copies for other R-2800-powered aircraft..

Same goes for kits with particular figures included.. Bought an extra Monogram TBD-1 Devastator kit to get the extra pilot figure, and the shirtless figure with the P-61 has copied too...   These are just a couple examples though.. The main thing is finding those old beauties..

Of the 350-plus kits I have, 300 or so were from Ebayers...  And I can't even count the number figure sets I have on hand, lol.. Maybe 90 or so... But I don't consider them "Stash-Kits".. They're more like "After-Market parts"...

Are Six kits a stash? Nah.. I got that many (at least) on the bench at any one time..

mgh

I'm curious how you decide what you are going to build next when you have hundreds of kits in stash.  There has got to be kits you haven't seen in years right?

That's an interesting question. One advantage to the stash is that you may very well have your next project within it, such as a kit for a Group Build. I'm trying to mix my builds a little. One moment perhaps a German vehicle, the next say an Italian. This helps a little with not tiring out on camo schemes, road-wheels and so on.

As I see it Mgh your energy is horribly misdirected towards resisting building a huge stash. Accept that it is indeed inevitable. Rather than enduring the mental turmoil you will experience as you watch kit after kit, deal after deal you would love to have pass you by I suggest you invest your energy in preparing and planning for what is sure to occur. Start building extra shelves, clearing out closet space including your wife's walk in closet, empty out the spare bedroom and bathroom. Build a shed or extension on to your house. Or even do like me, buy a bus. Fifty plus kits inside, so far. Resistance is indeed futile. Enjoy!!

                                                  Joe

mgh

I'm curious how you decide what you are going to build next when you have hundreds of kits in stash.  There has got to be kits you haven't seen in years right?

For me, it all depends on the mood I'm in, with some consideration of what supplies are handy for what I'm wanting to do.

Sometimes a GB here will also nudge me into working on something that's been in the stash for a while.

My solution? Move somewhere that doesn't have a hobby store! I haven't bought a new kit here yet! On the flip side, I never had any stash before, but when I went back to the states for a few months, I loaded up on kits to bring back here, knowing there is no hobby store. It was also theraputic for me since I was missing my family. Now even with a modest 20-ish things in the stash, my wife is already complaining. (To be fair, we don't have ANY extra room in this house, so as it is my stash is crammed under the bed and has no room to grow.) Ah well. Anyway, there's my suggestion.

I'm curious how you decide what you are going to build next when you have hundreds of kits in stash.  There has got to be kits you haven't seen in years right?

TarnShip

A little true story about "stash happenings"

The Airfix A-4B recently came out,,,,,,,at around the same time, a really great decal sheet for 7 aircraft came out for it

I hurried up and bought 3 of the Airfix kits from Hannants, paying the overseas shipping, and spending the time in waiting

I decided that I wanted 4 more of the new aircraft to build,,,,,,so, Hannants was sold out,,,,,my LHS guy had 2, the rest were already gone

now, I have the new sheet, and all of the unbuilt aircraft from some of my old sheets,,,,,,,,,,and the Airfix Skyhawk is "so sold out" that a decal MAKER I know,,,,,doesn't have one yet,,,so, he can't design decals to fit the kit

Good thing I have a stack of Fujimi A-4B in the stack also,,,,,and a large stack of the old Esci Skyhawks and some IPMS A-4B conversions,,,,,,,,or I couldn't possibly build "one of each squadron"

pick an aircraft,,,,,,and I had to stash it, or not get it today, Fujimi A-6, Fujimi A-7, Fujimi A-4, Airfix A-4, and soon the supply of Academy F-8E will run out (they have already changed the decals in a different release)

plus,,,,a stash is a great way to vary the weapons loadout,,,,,,there are still some weapons in kits that have not been released in the little weapons sets

It's not just you guys who focus on historical aircraft ( which I also occasionally build ) who start stashing to cover paint schemes, loadouts, etc.

I mostly do sci-fi kits and had to get enough Starfuries from Babylon 5 for the various wing art versions I that I wanted, and several spares of the 1:1000 PL Enterprise Refit for parts to make ship variants.

Manstein's revenge

When you have a stash in more than one state you might wanna check back in...

Now THAT...is having a stash!!!

When you have a stash in more than one state you might wanna check back in...

I've got about 60 kits, just give yourself over to the stash - no need to resist.

TarnShip

A little true story about "stash happenings"

The Airfix A-4B recently came out,,,,,,,at around the same time, a really great decal sheet for 7 aircraft came out for it

I hurried up and bought 3 of the Airfix kits from Hannants, paying the overseas shipping, and spending the time in waiting

I decided that I wanted 4 more of the new aircraft to build,,,,,,so, Hannants was sold out,,,,,my LHS guy had 2, the rest were already gone

now, I have the new sheet, and all of the unbuilt aircraft from some of my old sheets,,,,,,,,,,and the Airfix Skyhawk is "so sold out" that a decal MAKER I know,,,,,doesn't have one yet,,,so, he can't design decals to fit the kit

Good thing I have a stack of Fujimi A-4B in the stack also,,,,,and a large stack of the old Esci Skyhawks and some IPMS A-4B conversions,,,,,,,,or I couldn't possibly build "one of each squadron"

pick an aircraft,,,,,,and I had to stash it, or not get it today, Fujimi A-6, Fujimi A-7, Fujimi A-4, Airfix A-4, and soon the supply of Academy F-8E will run out (they have already changed the decals in a different release)

plus,,,,a stash is a great way to vary the weapons loadout,,,,,,there are still some weapons in kits that have not been released in the little weapons sets

You have no idea as to how big your stash will become until you join the local IPMS group and start getting discounts at the LHS. Suddenly you discover mail order and Ebay. It's only when you have run out of room that you do an inventory for three days and discover that your kits have given birth. I can tell you that my most numerous kits are AT-6, P-51,FW-190,JU-88/JU-188 variants,B-17,B-24,SPITFIRE,A6M ZERO variants, followed by single or double kits of numerous other types plus some armor as yet unbuilt. I'm considering the possibility of actually learning how to use Ebay to reduce my unbuilt inventory when I figure out what I have lost the desire for. I still look but resistance is so very hard as temptation is very strong. My wife still thinks this addiction beats hanging out in bars getting drunk and/or woman chasing. This way she knows where Hubby is at night. That means that this hobby is also good for marital stability.

My "stash" is hovering around 50, I take a month and build around three kits at a time. Some of the kits in my stash are older then I am, and some may turn out to be older then I will be. Regardless, I like having what I want when I want it. Pursuing the kits is also fun. I hate to spend over 8 bucks (with shipping) on a kit. So I lay in wait and snipe. My son is 5 and has started whittling down the stash with me as well. I also like the idea that one day (hopefully) when I retire, I will have a plethora of kits waiting on me, then ILL be the old guy who takes too long as he peruses the AM decal sheets at the LHS!!

professordeath

I'm neither professor or doctor my good sir. I am a holistic healing coach intent on nurturing your inner soul with the therapeutic benefits of natures greatest resource; finely molded styrene.

I feel better already!

A little true story about "stash happenings"

The Airfix A-4B recently came out,,,,,,,at around the same time, a really great decal sheet for 7 aircraft came out for it

I hurried up and bought 3 of the Airfix kits from Hannants, paying the overseas shipping, and spending the time in waiting

I decided that I wanted 4 more of the new aircraft to build,,,,,,so, Hannants was sold out,,,,,my LHS guy had 2, the rest were already gone

now, I have the new sheet, and all of the unbuilt aircraft from some of my old sheets,,,,,,,,,,and the Airfix Skyhawk is "so sold out" that a decal MAKER I know,,,,,doesn't have one yet,,,so, he can't design decals to fit the kit

Good thing I have a stack of Fujimi A-4B in the stack also,,,,,and a large stack of the old Esci Skyhawks and some IPMS A-4B conversions,,,,,,,,or I couldn't possibly build "one of each squadron"

pick an aircraft,,,,,,and I had to stash it, or not get it today, Fujimi A-6, Fujimi A-7, Fujimi A-4, Airfix A-4, and soon the supply of Academy F-8E will run out (they have already changed the decals in a different release)

plus,,,,a stash is a great way to vary the weapons loadout,,,,,,there are still some weapons in kits that have not been released in the little weapons sets

I have this sudden urge to lay by a workbench and talk about my build issues.

professordeath

VanceCrozier

Why would you try to resist stashing? I'm confused by the question already...

(And without really realizing it, I've crossed into the triple-digit zone this past spring. )

The inner psyche tells us that stashing is a good form of therapeutic healing from the stresses and complications of everyday life. At the same time outside forces that surround us such as evil women, kids and parents tell us we are irrational. Don't resist the stash my friends; embrace it for the sake of your own mental health. 

Can I use this as a prescription? Is professordeath a Doctor as well?

Why would you try to resist stashing? I'm confused by the question already...

(And without really realizing it, I've crossed into the triple-digit zone this past spring. )

I have around 50 in mine and anything can inspire you to buy more like every time i watch something on history, H2, Military Chan., etc etc I see something that would either make a cool dio or wow I'm going to build (insert plane here) with that nose art

mgh

I think Tojo72 has it right though, keep the stash to some sort of size you can actually build.

Mine is at about 35ish. It's gone up and down like the stock market over the past 5-6 years. I realize that I'll never finish it, because I can't resist a good sale on a kit that I really want and that will always keep the stash growing.

Well, MGH, i hate to break it to you, but there really is no way to meet that resolution.

Enjoy the ride and may you have many many years of happy modelling ahead of you!