Come on, own up..!

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42 replies

djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Come on, own up..!

Posted by djmodels1999 on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 9:10 AM

Just out of interest, and something that came to my mind while reading a comment made somewhere else in those forums, how many kits do you actualy own - unbuilt ones, I mean -, and what is your yearly 'production', on average..???

I'll start the ball rolling, of course and own up everything...

At the last count (when I moved house a few months ago), I recensed 151 kits (some started). Since then, I must have purchased over 20 more kits (discovered e-Bay..!)...

Because I design masters for some people, my 'production' is rather high, I would say, with an average of 47 models every year since 1999... Out of that, about 10 are display models that I build for other people, and only 3 to 4 each year are actually made for myself, to eventually grace my display cabinet in the lounge...

And when it comes to do something for myself, I even tend to go for scratchbuilding...

Yet, I keep buying kits. I'll probably never build all those kits lining my loft, but I think nothing is ever going to make me stop buying more. I'm no collector, but there's so many things interesting me and I just like having some kits around, just in case the need, the urge, to build that kit comes!

Smile [:)]

jcarlberg

Member since
December 2002
From: USA

Posted by jcarlberg on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 9:33 AM

At last count, I have 183 unbuilt, 4 on the bench, and I still drool over the new releases and workbench reviews. In a good year, I might complete fifteen or twenty kits, but I've had years when two or three are all I can accomplish. All mine are for my own satisfaction, which makes it harder sometimes, since I'm much less easily pleased with my efforts than when I was 14.

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 10:05 AM

JCarlberg writes...

At last count, I have 183 unbuilt, 4 on the bench

WoW.....I have none at the present, just getting back into the hobby after all these years. Currently reading the how to books recommended. My first will be a submarine.

Where in heavens do you keep all those kits...my wife would have a small problem with me....I get enough flack on my history book library.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 11:41 AM

Some clear cases of AMS, although I've heard of guys that have kits in the 4 digit range.

Personally, I have about 35 kits (most of which were actually gifts from family members). 2 or 3 are started, but only 2 are actually on the bench right now ('57 Bel Air and a 1/72 F4-U Corsair). I don't get alot of time at the bench so my production is limited to maybe 3 or 4 kits per year.

I'm still 'learning' and 'honing' my techniques, so I tend to build lots of variety kits for the experience. I have about 8 or 9 'special' kits at home that I'm hoping to jump into once I feel my 'skills' have been developed enough...

M.

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TANGO 1

Member since
December 2002
From: A secret workshop somewhere in England

Posted by TANGO 1 on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 2:47 PM

Okay....here goes! At present there are 57 aircraft kits , 4 amour kits and 3 models on my bench currently living in my hobby room. Problem is I've just ordered some more stuff on the internet and I'm going to a show on sunday. My wife dreads me going to shows as I always return with more kits that I won't have room to display.

As for output, I only get to finish 4-6 kits a year due to work & family. I'm trying to find a little more time for myself this year so maybe I'll get through more of those boxes on the "to do" list.
And speaking of owning up, yes it's true-my wife often wonders how so many kits end up in my hobby room. But no I don't get them from the back of my car when she's not looking !

Later,

Darren.

Regards, Darren. C.A.G. FAA/USNFAW GB

djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 4:53 PM

To answer Marc73, my boxes end up in the loft. I tell my wife it's good insulation...

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 5:00 PM

287 cars ( I haven't built one since '96 ), 400+ 1/72 aircraft, and 126 1/48 aircraft.

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upnorth

Member since
December 2002
From: Canada / Czech Republic

Posted by upnorth on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 5:11 PM

A couple of years ago I cleared out a lot of unbuilt models languishing in my basement.

At present I have 6 kits (3 aircraft, 2 metal figurines and 1 vinyl figurine) and all are on the go, some just started, some midway and some (hopefully) near completion.

I used to acumulate a fair number of kits, but it just led to burnout, something had to give.

As for what I finish in a year, that all depends on what is going on in the year outside of modeling for me, I don't have any sort of average on that.

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 6:57 PM

Am I wierd for having only 3 on bench and *gasp* only 4 unbuilt kits?? I am shunned.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 7:49 PM

Boy do I feel better. I only have 40 or 50 kits mostly 1/48 aircraft and a few cars. I used to think that was a lot until now. I can't wait to tell my wife. How in the world do you collect that many kits? And how do you average 47 kits in a year? Holy @#$&. Thats almost 1 a week.

I have a tendency to build superdetailed kits with lots of scratchbuilding. Over the last 10 years i've completed 3 kits total. I guess my average is 1/3 a model a year. That's depressing.

I'm very proud that my F4U-1D is coming together rather nicely in less than a month. This forum is encouraging me to lighten up a bit and just put it together. I hope to post pictures of the corsair soon. Thanks to everyone for helping to reignite the flame again.

Darren

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shermanfreak

Member since
January 2003

Posted by shermanfreak on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 8:52 PM

Right now I have 8 kits untouched and about 14 in various states of disrepair.
Seeing as I have just gotten back into the hobby I think it's ok that I've only completed one kit this year. Mind you I started it about 6 years ago. At one point I had over 300 1/35 armour kits but there wasn't enough years left in this body to finish all of them...so poof....gone.

H.M. & G.B.
Shermanfreak

Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert

bigfoot01

Member since
January 2003
From: Merton, Wisconsin

Posted by bigfoot01 on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 10:57 PM

For the most part I build straight from the box with little to no super detailing. All my painting I do with with tamiya paint and finish off with testors dullcoat. Depending on how much time I spend each night, I average about 1to 4 weeks per kit but haven't been doing as much in recent years. My current inventory is:
338- 1/48 scale aircraft including helicopters
37- 1/72 scale aircraft (kits not available in 1/48)
28- ships: carriers, subs and battleships
25-1/35 armor
On the shelf:
25-1/48 scale aircraft
2-1/72 scale aircraft
1-ship
2-tanks
I guess this is why they say "there's a fine line between hobby and addiction!" Big Smile [:D]

John

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 12:11 AM

I hope none of the manufacturers read this thread. They will come to find out that their market, once thought to be comprised of a lot of consumers, actually consists of 11 people - all right here in this thread. Wink [;)]

Maybe I'm having a bad math day, but without taking out a calculator, I'm estimating roughly a total of 1,750 kits?! I'm speechless at the moment. Smile [:)]

[EDIT: The 1,750 number is an estimation of the combined total number of kits that everyone has posted so far in this discussion, not the number of kits in my collection. Sorry 'bout the confusion.]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 1:35 AM

Gee, I feel impoverished. I have only 16 unbuilt kits in my closet. I don't know where they will go once they're built!

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djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 2:26 AM

To Bayonet Recon: [:0]

To Darrenbb: 47 models per year is a lot, but that's mostly masters, and conversions of those masters. Once the 'kit' is designed, my job is over, so there's no assembly so to speak, no painting, no decalling, no diorame, no weathering,... A single master can take me 3-5 days, a conversion of a master just 1 hour sometimes, but sometimes a day or two.

A normal model I build for myself, either from a kit or scratch will take me much longer... Sometimes years! Blush [:I]

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 4:52 AM

quote:
Originally posted by djmodels1999

To Bayonet Recon: [:0]

Oops, I better clarify my previous message. Blush [:I]

That 1,750 number that I posted earlier, was an estimation of the combined total of kits that everyone has posted so far.

That's not how many I personally own - my wife would have something to say if the number of unbuilt kits reached over 20 (not including miniatures). My wife is a bit understanding of my miniatures collection, although I still face scrutiny whenever I bring home more from the hobby shop. She'll say something like, "Why don't you finish painting the ones you already have before you buy some more?" Wink [;)]

Personally, in regards to unbuilt kits, right now I have 1 armor, 1 aircraft, and 2 car kits. But then I also (easily) have 300+ miniatures, a couple of larger GW kits and 3 Forge World (resin) kits to still put together. Smile [:)]

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djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 5:18 AM

I see... I was speechless for a moment too when I saw your first message! Ha!
So, what sort of miniatures are you collecting? Die-cast cars?

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 5:32 AM

The majority of miniatures are Games Workshop - Warhammer Fantasy (Empire, Brettonian and Lizardmen) and Lord of the Rings. I also have a couple boxes of US military figures (1:72) to assemble and a bunch of medieval era minis.

Now hopefully no one starts a similiar thread asking about history/reference books...

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djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 5:47 AM

I should have guessed, seeing your messages in the SF/F forum...

So you have lots of books and mags, then..??! All indexed for easy retrieval of the info??!?

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 6:03 AM

Bayonet Recon, I thought by your earlier reply that I wouldn't be the only crazy one here, but I now see you were adding up totals... I'm not sure exactly how many unbuilt kits I have but I estimate it to be between 1,800 and 2,200 models.[:0] I spent 21 years in the Air Force, and anyone who has been in the military will tell you that one can move around a lot in that line of work. So what I started doing was to buy the 1/72nd scale airplanes I wanted to collect and put them in storage. I always figured I could build them after I left the service and quit moving around. When I retired from the Air Force almost two years ago, I had a 6' x 8' room filled wall-to-wall and up to the ceiling. I recently pulled 200 kits out of there to sell on consignment and it didn't even make a dent. As far as kit production goes, I usually turn out 2 - 3 per month, longer for larger airplanes.

Pat

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weebles

Member since
December 2002
From: USA

Posted by weebles on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 6:43 AM

Wow, you all are making me feel better! I have 8 kits to work on. All 1/48 scale aircraft. But my production rate is low at the moment as I'm in the finishing stages of a 4 year project, PT-105. I think my wife would thump me over the head with a frying pan if I bought another kit! Smile [:)]

Now one thing I do a lot of is collect after market products to support a kit. Trust me, there's more money tied up there than in my kits. But they don't count as kits on their own, do they?

djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 7:03 AM

Mmmm... you're stretching it, David...!

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 8:07 AM

bubbamoosecat,

That's a lot of kits! If there was a prize being awarded for the person with the most unbuilt kits, I'm sure you would win. I think the prize would have to be any 1/72 aircraft of your choice. Tongue [:P]

I'm just curious, where would you store all of your stuff? Were you living in base housing, off-base or did you send the stuff home? I can't imagine where you would have stored it all if you lived in the barracks (or do they call them 'dormitories' in the AF? Wink [;)]

).

I bet the local hobby shops were sad to see you go when you were transferred to another base.

By the way - congrats on your retirement from the USAF!! Cool [8D]

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JChurch

Member since
January 2003

Posted by JChurch on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 12:56 PM

I hope there are no Psychologists checking in! I think they would say that all "Eleven"
of us have a serious problem with finishing things, I'm sure there must be some
kind of phobia for it.

As for myself I have about thirty kits on the shelf with 5 or 6 under construction
and two needing repair, and tho' nothing is said I do get the evil eye when I come
home with another kit. "But Honey I needed to buy some paint, and it was on sale".
But my progress is slow as well, unfortunatly I've done very little in the past couple years
but I am definatly getting that itch again. You guys have saved me from the dark and are
helping to put me back onto the right road of holy model righteousnos (all put our hands over
our hearts and look up to the god of all that is styrene and resin) and returned me to
the light.... I am saved Wink [;)]

Maybe we do need help? LOL
Madd Dawg

Your not going to leave it like that are you?

jcarlberg

Member since
December 2002
From: USA

Posted by jcarlberg on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 1:03 PM

I keep the massive accumulation in plastic bins (waterproof) in my basement hobby/computer room. I also have 20 or so under the workbench.

Richard_Craig

Member since
February 2003

Posted by Richard_Craig on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 1:56 PM

Okay I see I'm not the only one !! I just got through counting my kits...I have 171 plastic Armor kits ...50 sets of figurines (mostly dragon) 4 complete risin armor kits ...Lots of conversions ....and at least 25 resin figures ...So not including accessory kits ..I'm up over the 250 range here .....but ..there are two modellers I know right here in town that beat me hands down...one has over 800 kits and the other stopped counting at 1000....so I don't feel so bad ...hehehe!! Just remember ...He who dies with the most kits wins!!!
Richard

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 2:37 PM

gotta show this to my girlfriend, maybe she'll stop hasseling me for buying more stuff. Not counting wargaming miniatures I have 1 half-built 1:72 scale Airfix Bren Gun Carrier, 1 Half-built Gundam Wing, 1 unbuilt Gundam and 1 half-built Ghost Rider kit.

Of course, I have a whole wack of wargames miniatures waiting for a paintjob.

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djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 3:05 PM

Coyote, we all started that way, trust me...

reluctant_wanderer

Member since
January 2003
From: USA

Posted by reluctant_wanderer on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 3:12 PM

Yeah,
We all started like that. I only have around 20 kits, with about 15 of those started. my problem is that I get into a kick (sci-fi, figures, some sort of aircraft time period, or armor, or worse yet, I see a beautifully done model in FSM, new release or aritcle, and I say "I want!"), eventually soemthing else catches my fancy, and off I go again. I am beginning to think that it is an unwritten rule in modeling that for every kit you complete there are ten or more waiting to be completed.

Life is a Trainer , and God is the back seat instructor. He's their to let your spirit soar, and keep you flying straight. After you've passed, you earn earn your wings.

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 6:47 PM

Bayonet Recon wrote:
I'm just curious, where would you store all of your stuff? Were you living in base housing, off-base or did you send the stuff home? I can't imagine where you would have stored it all if you lived in the barracks (or do they call them 'dormitories' in the AF? ).

I was forced to live in dormitories when I was a young pup. Most kits were sent home to familly and I put them in storage whenever I came home on leave. I built up many and displayed them in my room. At one base I got known by the first sgt. and squadron commander who got to know my handiwork during room inspections. I eventually got a room of my own which allowed me to build/display more models. At Ramstein my room was a "show room" and when visiting dignitaries toured the base and a dorm room was included, they usually saw mine. One memorable visit was some Bulgarian generals. While I lost some privacy, it also had its perks. I was given access to an unused store room which I filled with unbuilt kits. The base newspaper at Ramstein also did a full page article on my collection.

I bet the local hobby shops were sad to see you go when you were transferred to another base.

They were either real sad, or thought privately to themselves, "This guy needs professional help!" LOL!

Pat

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Come on, own up..!