Hi Ya'll;
I replied on What it's Worth? and got to thinking. Had to change two bulbs it got so serious! LOl.LOL! Now really it boils down to this in my opinion. Are you building a stash Hopefully so someone will appreciate it and continue. DON"T, it's not in the realm of reality. I have my Grandfather's guns and Yes there's a Henry in there. Then there's Mine which may have value. They get gifted to a person who shall remain nameless. He values them because of their workmanship.
When I started doing the stash thing I was truly dis-abled. I Could only use my arms with limits and my legs wouldn't support me at all. Don't fall off the roof of a two story house! Well, with time I got better, therapy helped too. I smashed a lot of models because I couldn't control my grip too! Well, guess what, the stash was about maybe 250 kits. I started building for friends along with my builds and the stash got bigger.
They would exchange two or more for the one I built them. Their offer, not my requirement. Well 1982 came along and everything including my shop and stash and Son were gone. So, at that time I really didn't care. I could buy more models. Could I by another 12 year old son? NO. Three years went by and I got fed up with the inane stuff on the T.V. and the boxes of books I was having to donate to the library to keep hpousehold clutter down.
So I bought a model at the Hobby Shop.Then two at the show and so on, Stash number Two: All the tools were replaced easily as my wife had salvaged many in 82 and kept them hidden. My Wife and friends had refurbished the usable ones and bought more for me until that day. The wife waited three years to tell me I didn't need to buy tools. Her and the neighbors had used metal detectors and such and found and cleaned many. So Few new ones.
Now this is NOT POLITICS -Moderators! Remember Rodney King?
Well, we had pulled up stakes after Wifey became a full fledged Doctor. Headed to the " Golden State" She didn't get past Kansas City and a Truck out of control nearly killed her. Paid the bills and continued the trip with a traveling Nurse with us. Arrived in San Fransisco the day the world went crazy . I had gotten them settled in our new digs. Went to go to the Pharmacy. Woke up in San Fransisco General Hospital, with a concussion. Rental truck and the Stash Gone!
Rental truck was found in a bad neighborhood. Stripped and empty ! But, because of the company I rented from they didn't find the security box! Stashed in the driver's side Fuel Tank! Well, settled in and got to building again.Nothing more to do. Care for my Missus and build models and go to Golden Gate park and run my R.C. boat models.
Doctor said he thought she would do better around water. Waterfront Apts. in Town ? NO WAY! ! Found a real neat, kinda scraggly pontoon House-Boat in Bethel Island Ca. She came around like someone flipped a switch! We were a couple again, Her oil painting and me building models for myself, Just Trains in Concord Ca. and Teaching a class at the Martinez,Ca.-V.A. Facility.( Worked wonders for my emotional condition ) for sure!
Went to work on an outside job and after about three years owned the whole Kit and Kiboodle!. Did I stop Modeling? Nope! Stash, number Three. Went on about eight years. Had to go to a business conference in the city. Would be back before midnight. Got home, She had gone to the angels in her sleep. Kept working to handle everything and built models like there was no tomorrow!
Waited two years, Met a wonderful lady and she said Yes. I told her about The First one and she insisted I keep my photos of her. Some jewel of a woman. Well, to make this short. Lost her to sickness nine years later, after traveling and R.V.ing and enjoying this great land. Lost the stash to buy gas for the car. Moved in with some very nice ladies I worked with in the town where we settled. That's right New Braunfels, Tx. They pushed me to do what I like
Stash number-Four and probably the last one. See, what I have been trying to say in all this, Life goes on and Stashes keep coming back if you love the creativity modeling lets flow in your mind. I don't buy a model, I buy hours of enjoyment far cheaper than a dinner and a movie nowadays plus the gas burned to get there and back. Hours of enjoyment just sitting and building or when Scratch-Building, Creating. Darned sight cheaper than even a day at Schlitterbahn!! Waterpark.$35.00 to get in and then about $ 60.00 for food and rides. In one day! Most of my models take about a year. See, a whole lot cheaper.
In Closing I won't guesstimate what those stashes cost. What they did for my sanity and well being cannot be appraised! Model On! !