Why do we keep buying models, when we know we'll never get to all of them!

One of my favorite things is to look at hobby shops when I travel overseas and try to buy stuff that I'd never see here in the US. I've always enjoyed seeing how different companies approach portraying a particular kit. Nowadays more things are imported/exported but it's still a fun travel activity.

 

lcb248

After thinking about this for a while, I've finally decided that it's because I enjoy the "potential" and anticipation that opening a new box gives me. What about everyone else?

 

i have found that like myself modelers are masochists and dearly paranoid (will there be a re-release etc) we pay large dinero take it out oogle love and rebuild to perceived perfection. oh well keeps me from being single again many thanks ron

I have been buying models since, well, forever.  I have  over 2,000.  But  model companies keep doing new kits, either new never before seen, or  new variant of a type.  So I get it as well.  I do build lots of kits.  It have over 600 or so, maybe more, over the years.  I do not regret having so many kits, I actually like it.  My wife and daughter like them as well, as do my friends.  It is a fun hobby.    

Doug

Tankboy51, I salute you. I wish I could achieve what you have and will.

I'll get to all of mine, I only keep about a dozen in the stash.  Keeps hubby off my case.  I also build them rather quickly in the winter time when there is nothing else to do but hibernate in the house.

For some reason, lately have been on a ship kick......HB's Arizona, Trumpeters Graf Zepplein, Dragon's Benson and Scharnhorst.  Last week I got a super buy on the old (70's) Heller 1/100 Victory, couldn't pass it up.  Looking that one over, I fear I have gotten in over my head by about 5 miles of altitude.  The only sailing ship I ever built was the old Revell Ironsides and that was 50 years ago as a glue bomb.

Wish there were someone here to plant a size 12 in my behind when I do something like that.

Mark 76, I agree with your logic. I buy aircraft kits I really like. Out of production kits are great,there on the shelf. I hope I can get to them. I figure grab I'm now or I might not be able to get them later. Which one next is the problem, can buy faster than I can build. Have some nice kits on the shelf. On the bench, 1/48 Minicraft V-35 Bonanza and 1/72 Italeri Swiss Air DC-3. Keep on building. Aardvark

Many modelers have their own collections that are large or small.Its just the way it is.I collect one model of each type of aircraft .That alone is in its own way is to much.One ME-109 , one P-51,and so on.I usually pair them up in friend and foe  display by theater era.F-86 and the MIG-15 also.When guest came over it looks great and explainable.

Well, I'm sure I have nowhere near the number of kits as anyone here. Maybe 15. But they were all bought in the last few months since I only got into the hobby back in July. There are a couple of kits I bought as soon as I found them either because they were limited edition or it looked like the manufacturer wasn't selling them anymore (Airfix 1/350 HMS Illustrious).

Sometimes it's as simple as reading a military aviation magazine, seeing a plane I like, and hunting down the kit.

After some annoying health news a couple of months ago, I've barely touched anything under construction (Kamov Ka-50 and the French helicopter carrier Jeanne d'Arc), so that kind of helped slow down purchasing more kits.

Michel,

You sound like me. I was off work with health issues in late 2015 and needed something to do with my hands. After a 25 yearr plus absence I got back in to the hobby. I still had about 10 or 15 kits that I'd hung on to over the years...but since I've gotten back in to the hobby I've bought over 20 kits. But, a lot of them are figure kits I plan to use on dioramas, so they don't take up too much room. LOL

And yes, if I see something in a documentary or I'm reading about a certain subject it definitely influcances my buying. Right now I'm reading about the Pacific war and I'm getting the hankering for Marine Shermans, M3's, amtracks, etc. I already have quite a few Navy planes from that era on my shelf...so they kind of go hand in hand.

MichelR666

Sometimes it's as simple as reading a military aviation magazine, seeing a plane I like, and hunting down the kit.

lcb248

Michel,

You sound like me. I was off work with health issues in late 2015 and needed something to do with my hands. After a 25 yearr plus absence I got back in to the hobby. I still had about 10 or 15 kits that I'd hung on to over the years...but since I've gotten back in to the hobby I've bought over 20 kits. But, a lot of them are figure kits I plan to use on dioramas, so they don't take up too much room. LOL

And yes, if I see something in a documentary or I'm reading about a certain subject it definitely influcances my buying. Right now I'm reading about the Pacific war and I'm getting the hankering for Marine Shermans, M3's, amtracks, etc. I already have quite a few Navy planes from that era on my shelf...so they kind of go hand in hand.

 

 

MichelR666

Sometimes it's as simple as reading a military aviation magazine, seeing a plane I like, and hunting down the kit.

 

 

 

 

Famous last words. You wait until you start building the diorama's. And there arealways more figures to buy, my figure stash is nearly as big as i kit stash.