Do you want to see kit contents before buying it?

I use 1999 all the time to preview kits.  It can help answer burning questions for a new kit, or tip you off that it's a reissue.

I like to hear reviews and see what people think,but for me pictures of the sprues aren't helpful to me.Some reviewers will show pics,Dragon used to have pics on the bottom if the box,all nice to see but not my determining factor 

Tojo72

I like to hear reviews and see what people think,but for me pictures of the sprues aren't helpful to me.Somec eviers will show pics,Dragon used to have pics on the bottom if the box,all nice to see but not my determining factor 

 

I agree to a point, but when I see a 1/72 Dragon or Trumpeter kit selling for $30 and then see that it has two sprues and about 8 building steps, I feel like that's a rip off. So from that perspective, I like to know if I'm getting my money's worth. Also, I have found some Trumpeter kits on sites like Mercari and OfferUp for like $40-50 and find out they're these 1000+ part kits that are selling for $150 so I know that if I like the subject, that's one to pull the trigger on!!

When I have questions about a particular kit, I usually go to Scalemates and look at the instructions for the kit I am interested in. Seeing the instructions laid out usually answers any questions I have. Part of the instructions is an illustation of the sprue layout.

DanR1967

"Do you want to see kit contents before buying it?"

I see that your post wasn't so much a poll of that question, as it was a tip for those who do want to see the contents first.  But we're treating it as a poll, and so will I.

For new kits, no, not really.  I do appreciate kit reviews here and at places like HyperScale and other online forums.  But I don't need to see the contents of the box before buying a new kit.

For second-hand kits, absolutely, I want to see photos of what's included, and then match that against a seller's description.

Thank you, for your suggestions of two more places to look for such info!

I'll hunt down any info I can on a kit before buying it - reviews, other folks builds etc.  And I do like to see the sprue if available and like someone said previously going to scalemates and review the instructions if present is also helpful.  I consider researching the kit as part of the hobby.

keavdog

I'll hunt down any info I can on a kit before buying it - reviews, other folks builds etc.  And I do like to see the sprue if available and like someone said previously going to scalemates and review the instructions if present is also helpful.  I consider researching the kit as part of the hobby.

 

I also like Scalemate's kit reviews.  Most show a pretty good image of the sprues.

With new kits ( sold in a store, or "reputable" online seller ) I usually go by pictures on the box.

BUT:  If I'm at a swap meet I get pretty demanding that the seller remove any and all shrink wrap before I purchase.

I have had a few " shady caracters" who have tried to sell me box's of broken glass, box's full of nothing but the empty sprue trees,  box's of nuts/ bolts/washers and even just empty box's!!!

I had one seller( who had a Jo-Han hauling hearse ) tell me that " opening  the box will decrease the value". I told him I was more than happy with the price and wanted to buy it... but I wanted to see inside the box first ( it rattled like broken glass) . He freaked out on me ( because I busted him ) and I just walked away.... waiving my money in the air as I walked away.

At one time it never really bothered me or even ocurred tome to see the parts first.  Since my first time at Okinawa I got used to the idea and even liked the ability to see the parts first.  

I have never tried scalemates to get an idea of what the parts looked like.  I always thought it would be a good idea to see what I was considering buting and ended up taking a risk in buying a kit.

I just took a chance on a company I never tried before, Pitroad, and bought a 1/35th I.J.N. tripple A.A. gun.  As it turns out I think I got lucky after I finallyh saw the parts intheir bags.

I live in shenzhen and you would be amazed how well priced the Dragon and trumpeter kits are here - especially when they are all pretty new molds . but tbh the price difference between 1/72 and 1/32 or 1/35 is not as great as you would think. I can buy the recently tooled 1/35king tigers for about 15 USD. 10 USD for trumpeters 1/72 king tiger tho. 

I have recently been using scalemates for the opposite reason .... My boy seems to want planes with pilot figures( when I was a kid in england it was all Airfix and Matchbox kits that always had figures with them or pilots) so I actually try and look for the older , lower part count kits that have pilots , gaps and inaccuracies dont matter to a 7 year old !