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

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.

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!    

Now that I understand ;-)

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

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.

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.

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

I can see why you liked it!

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

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.  

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

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 ?