Most unbuilt-kits record?

qtaylor

Member since
March 2005
From: Nova Scotia, Canada

Most unbuilt-kits record?

Posted by qtaylor on Monday, October 17, 2005 9:31 AM

There seems to be a natural tendancy to collect unbuilt kits. I assume that most of us actually intend to build them someday, but fall behind.

However, there seems to be a sub-hobby of collecting the kits for the collection of it. I've only met one fellow who does this. He is a skilled builder as well, with a few hundred displayed models (his basement is a testament to aviation modelling!) and approximately 3500 unbuilt models. These take up pretty much every wall in his basement, from floor to ceiling, and every closet is over-flowing.

He is a very nice fellow, and a fantastic wealth of knowledge on older and new, for that matter, kits.

I was wondering a few things. Is this common? And, is the number of kits extraordinarily high for a collector?

QT

"Neither a purist nor a perfectionist be."

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Rob Gronovius

Member since
December 2002
From: Fort Knox

Posted by Rob Gronovius on Monday, October 17, 2005 10:29 AM

I've got several hundred unbuilt kits still in boxes. If I was to guess, probably close to a thousand. I've got a good amount of built kits (they do not survive frequent moves that well) and while I do not consider myself to be an exceptionally skilled modeler, I have won a dozen or so modeling awards.

Some kits I solely have as collectables, but most of my kits are in the collection to be built some day.

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chopperfan

Member since
November 2003
From: Oklahoma

Posted by chopperfan on Monday, October 17, 2005 10:52 AM

I don't know the exact number of unbuilt kits this gentleman has (I don't think even HE knows how many he has) but, check out this site.
http://www.ipmsphilippines.com/features/frankching/frankching.htm

Randie [C):-)]Agape Models

Without them? The men on the ground would have to work a lot harder. You can help. Please keep 'em flying! http://www.airtanker.com/

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qtaylor

Member since
March 2005
From: Nova Scotia, Canada

Posted by qtaylor on Monday, October 17, 2005 10:56 AM

that is crazy!

Ok, the guy I know doesn't have that many!

QT

"Neither a purist nor a perfectionist be."

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 17, 2005 3:41 PM

That’s crazy! But you know what? If I had that many kits I would not build, just sit there and stare at them, smelling new plastic! lol

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 17, 2005 4:39 PM

Mine topped out at around 700 before I started thinning out the collection down to about 200.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 17, 2005 4:46 PM

I probably have about a 150 unbuilt kits-but I do enjoy just looking at the pieces and planning out the best way to build the kit. I don't consider them investments but things I hope to build some day.

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Monday, October 17, 2005 5:21 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by qtaylor

There seems to be a natural tendancy to collect unbuilt kits. I assume that most of us actually intend to build them someday, but fall behind.

However, there seems to be a sub-hobby of collecting the kits for the collection of it. I've only met one fellow who does this. He is a skilled builder as well, with a few hundred displayed models (his basement is a testament to aviation modelling!) and approximately 3500 unbuilt models. These take up pretty much every wall in his basement, from floor to ceiling, and every closet is over-flowing.

He is a very nice fellow, and a fantastic wealth of knowledge on older and new, for that matter, kits.

I was wondering a few things. Is this common? And, is the number of kits extraordinarily high for a collector?

QT

I'm assuming the man has money to burn. At a safe estimate of $20 per kit, that is $70,000 sitting there gaining little money at best, where if it were invested in the Market or real estate he'd be able to mutiply it many times over. Not smart investment if you ask me. Not to mention it would be time consuming to liquidate.