Completed models....get rid of 'em?

 I dont have any of my childhood kits left. They were mostly ships that ended life being bombed and repaired and bombed again and so on until they were unfit for salvage.
 Now, the kits I started in my early twenties when I "thought" I was getting back into modeling are a different story. I bought an M48A5, M60A3, M1 and an M113A1. I have all of these to this day and I am glad I do. The M113 was completed. The M60A3 I hand painted MERDC and 85% finished. In the last year, I have put that old 60 to about 98/99% completed. The M1 I have worked alot on as it had many missing pieces. With the purchase of another M60 kit and two M1 kits, I have brought the old 60 and M1 back into decent kits, as well as adding the other built kits. The M48 is basically a completed hull and bottom turret with gun, nothing else. The rest I scratchbuilt into something I'll just call a Gun Motor Carriage. But it at least looks somewhat realistic and most civilians don't know it isn't a real representation anyway. And quite a few military people as well.
 So, like I tell my two friends who model also, "Don't EVER throw anything away!! If you don't want it, I bet I can make something with it or fix it or part it out or something!!" And I have the builds sitting on my shelves to prove it. No, I won't throw anything out.

                                                                                   -60

Heck, I'd cut out the middleman and just torch them with lighterfluid and a match. Oh, didn't think much of them toxic fumes. 

LemonJello wrote:

Used to be, most of my kits wound up as BB gun and fireworks displays, resulting in molten, shattered models, but then the wife took the BB gun and fireworks away and gave them to the kids...said it'd be safer for all involved.

I've been wrestling with this very issue in my office/workshop at home.  I moved the wife into there with all her scrapbooking supplies so we can hobby together.  It was my idea and I enjoy having some company.  A majority of my shelf space went to the 20" flat panel tv and so now I have more models (dusty, too) than shelf space to show them off.  I think some of the builds are not that great, so I think I can scavange parts off of them and toss the rest without too much heartache, but it's taking that first step and actually doing it that I can't seem to just go ahead and do. 

Used to be, most of my kits wound up as BB gun and fireworks displays, resulting in molten, shattered models, but then the wife took the BB gun and fireworks away and gave them to the kids...said it'd be safer for all involved. 

zokissima wrote:

So far I've kept all of them, but slowly I will phase them out. Display shelf real estate is at a premium, and I like to display my newest, and best builds.

Same here, but I would like to keep a few put back for comparison a few years down the road.

-dave

Since I'm back to modeling, I have built only a few so room is not a problem so far but I remember when I was younger, after a while, I got bored of these models and I used them as targets for my air riffle.  It was pretty funny to see an F4 Phantom being destroyed.  We were pretending being at war.  I've also destroyed quite a few cars with "black cats".  That was pretty cool.  Diesel and fire works good too.

Models are a pleasure to build, wonderfull to look at and way too cool to destroy!

So far I've kept all of them, but slowly I will phase them out. Display shelf real estate is at a premium, and I like to display my newest, and best builds.

I cant get rid of them. I just cant. I still have kits on my shelf from before I was 10. Glue everywhere. Some arent painted. some go to testing new techniques. But i just cant part with my work. Not even the most horrible looking ones. Just something about seeing where my skills once were, and seeing where they are now. In all honestly my builds dont improve that much with every model,  although they are getting slightly better. However, everytime i start a new kit i find myself having more and more fun with the entire process. Which is what its all about anyway.

Steve

If you get tired of looking at your competed models, then why not sell it on ebay?  Friend of mine just sold half of his built models and he did get good money for them as well. 

I keep all of 'em. No matter how badly constructed or painted, they stay. Mostly because I have a small budget, and cannot stand to throw away an expensive kit. After a few years, I might use a beat up and nasty kit to build a destroyed or burned out diorama. In any case, every model stays.

Interesting concept Jeff. Almost did that for a proposed GB.

I've been back in the hobby for just over a year now after about a fifteen year break. I have about 12 models or so I have completed in this time so getting rid of them is not an issue at this point. Something some of you may wish to consider though is recycling your old kits. No I don't mean dumping them in the recycling bin, I mean cutting them up and creating something new and unusual out of them.

Old kits are a great source for creating Sci-Fi and What-If  builds. If you start getting burnt out on the same old thing give it a try, look at an old kit from a different angle and see what you can do with it, you may be surprised :)   I have found a great fondness in What-if builds - mixing and matching kits to come up with something completely new is great fun. Here is a pic od one of my What-If projects. I added a V-tail to a Banshee and I think it's rather believable :)

http://doomisland.com/images/models/banshee_v/smoke_banshee.jpg

Take another look at those kits, there maybe something more to them :)

Jeff G.

 

 

 

 

 

Hey, if you don't want 'em, you can send 'em to me! Just kidding, I've got enough to deal with as it is...and there's something that won't let me have it unless I built it, I guess I just like being able to say "I did that"...

By the way, Anthony, the pic/video in your signature is pretty cool...

Most have been tossed, others have gone to my son. There are only 5-10  left on the shelf. 3 are trash. Got plenty of room at the moment.

All of my built models are either A) on display or B) being used as test-beds for techniques (only one at the moment). There are only two instances where I would even begin to consider getting "rid" of a built model. If someone offers me enough money, I might sell models or if there is someone special who I know is interested in the subject, I may consider a built model as a gift. Other than these cases, I can't imagine disposing of a build. I suppose that once a build gets very old (10+ years) and/or no longer lives up to "display quality", I'll consider trying to improve the model (repaint, upgrade, etc.), modify the model for use in a diorama (damaged, rusted, etc.), or possibly cannibalize the build for use on other projects.

I display mine for a while then box em up.

I like to display them. I pick my built models up at least once a week, just to look them over, remember painting this part, the trouble I had with that part, how well this part fitted. I've only got a few now, but years ago when I was a kid, I had models on my shelves, hanging from the ceiling, sitting on top of my dresser, desk.

And I still play with my models. Nothing like a sneak strafing attack on the wife or an unsuspecting cat!

I save a few boxes so that I could store the old when I have something new.  Out with the old in with the new.  The old builds are used for spare parts.  The really nice builds stay in the display cases.

I'm keeping the first model I made on my recent return to modeling.  I'm going to apply the decals etc using new tips and advice before doing it on my Do335.  Then I'm going to keep the model (which I'm most displeased with) and attach a small sign saying "Take Your Time."  and leave it on my modelling desk. 

Patience, as I am once again finding out, is a virtue.

crockett, I'm with you on this. After their completed,  maybe pull contest duty, I move on.  My joy to is building etc. I've given them away, but mostly I throw them in a big box out in the store room. I have really been glad to have my own model "junk  yard". Aluminum barrels etc.are used over and over. And I or someone else needs something especially out of production parts, it really comes in handy.

Of coarse there are exceptions, and they are sitting on a shelve.

I'm still rather new to the hobby. So all my builds are new. But I can't see throwing any out no matter how long I have them. I think it will be cool to see how my skills will improve over time. If they improve.

Give em away ? Are you kidding ! I have 51 completed and over 200 kits left to build. MY hardest part is trying to figure out how many more display cases I am going to need. When its my time I told the wife to stuff  a few in the coffin. I sure dont want to give up this hobby. I enjoy it too much.

Yes, as my skill increases I don't care for the older builds, I have deep down, memories of me and my dad with some, so I can't through them out, plus my mom won't let me lol, so I guess I'll just have to try and find a place for them.

I used have most of the models I built over the years.  Then when I moved, I disposed of most of my dios and the older stuff I built when I was a little boy.  As time passed in my little place, I got rid of some more models.  After awhile, it got easy.  By the time I procured a wife and redecorated (my idea), I had no problem getting rid of them.  They do represent alot of effort, but they are just things.

I can see how it would be with space running out, but I have not built enough models yet. I think I should be right for a while.

Will

Yeah, I get bored with them.  You have so many that they would fill up your living space.  Everytime I catch something I don't like about one, it burns me up.  Everytime I see it, it sits there, mocking me.  They get harder and harder to keep clean.  I don't have any totally completed kits here anymore.  I can always build the model again, probably better.  One of the many reasons why I have so many kits underway is so I can have models to display again. 

I haven't taken pictures either, I just never had interest in it.  Once I start finishing things, I'll take pics and post them.  Showing you guys pictures makes sense, you can appreciate what the picture is all about.

WHAT   NO. Just my opinion. All that hard work gone, wheres the proof its yours?

Will