Have you ever bought an excellent built moddel at the LHS or online?

I never have myself,but I have no problem with anyone who wants too.I wouldn't buy a built model ,but I do have replicas of my teams stadiums and a few MacFarlane sports figures which I display,so if someone wants to display someone else's build,then why not ?

I will never enter it in a contest or misrepresent it as my own work but it is a great looking model!

I have seen some built models selling on ebay where the seller is actually loosing money.  I have sold some of my older builds and the worst have been breaking even. I don't buy built models cause I enjoy building them. My satisfaction in the hobby comes in during and after building, painting and detailing a model.  

Yes my thoughts but this is an unusual case and I made an exception this time.I do not regret it!

I can see why you liked it!

Philo, I came close once…..a Tamiya USS Missouri all detailed out with PE and rigging.  The cost was about what one of those kits goes for today.  I passed and just bought the kit, at the time about $23.99.  I still have not built it and sometimes wish I had bought the built one.  Even then, the builder was not covering his time, paint and aftermarket parts at his asking price.  I cringe to think what it would cost at todays prices to buy the kit, add all the aftermarket details and then spend the time to do it.  Live and learn.

Yes!I saw it Friday and it kept bugging my mind so i had to go buy it!

Not my cup of tea to buy a completed model. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but I like doing the work, even if somebody could or did do it better. I dont mind buying a started kit, if it is workable to my liking. I have a partially started Tamiya 1/350 USS Missouri that I picked up from an estate sale online after the builder died. And for a very good price, and all sorts of extras from at least two more kits that I can throw in teh spares bin. He did some great work that I hope to match whenever I do get around to finishing the kit. I plan to convert it to USS Iowa.

Likewise, I get my enjoyment out of building the kit. I am glad there are guys out there who can sell their work and that there's a market for them. It's just not my cup of tea.

As far as losing money; I bet the modeler got his enjoyment out of building the kit and anything he gets from the completed work is a bonus.

Could be!i put my ICM TB-3 Zveno in the hobby shop case where the B-24 resided!

Now that I understand ;-)

Yes it is an ugly beast of a kit that has illogical multi piece fuselage and wing assemblies that are totally different than typical kit construction.You know how most normal kits have a 2 piece fuselage>Well this kit has a 30 piece fuselage!It had to have cost more to tool this kit and I almost did not finish it!    

I like to build models, that is the hobby for me, working with my hands, solving problems, painting, researching etc. etc. Buying a finished model just would not give me that satisfaction.