To build or not to build, that is the question...

A bike needs a rider

A Model needs a builder

Rob Gronovius wrote:

Most rare, collectable kits are not very good models any more. With this in mind, it would be better selling it to a collector and using the money to buy an up-to-date model. I sold a vintage Tamiay 1:50 scale Crusader tank for some serious money (like $200+). I used that money to buy the brand new Tamiya 1:48 scale Crusader tank kit for $25. The original Tamiya kit cost me around $5-10 way back when. Some highly collectable kits are up-to-date kits. Like Dragon's Tiger 1 initial 3 in 1 kit. If you are a Tiger fan and just have to build this variant, go ahead and build the kit. If you just like tigers and any one will do, sell it and use the money to buy a different, less valuable Tiger to build.

That's sound advice and I concur.

jwb wrote:

Aside from that one though, if I buy it, I plan to build it. Plan to..... getting around to it is another thing.....

I always have plans to build what I buy. I started out with a 5-year plan and now I'm out to something more like a 50-year plan... Maybe I need to eat better and exercise more if I want to realize this plan...

I am a builder. I don't buy a kit that I don't intend to build. Unless its a steal and I can get more back on it than what I paid. But that is very rare. Anyway I do have a couple of Classic Airframes kits that go for over a hundred dollar range on ebay. One I got for a bargin at 24 dollars at a convention and its going up to 130 dollars on ebay here lately. But I have been wanting to build one for my collection for a while now so I don't plan on selling it. I am afraid if I sell it I will only end up buying another one down the road for a higher price.  But I do have a price, if its gets up way up there before I do build it...then I could see myself letting it go. Speacially if I need the money. 

Most rare, collectable kits are not very good models any more. With this in mind, it would be better selling it to a collector and using the money to buy an up-to-date model.

I sold a vintage Tamiay 1:50 scale Crusader tank for some serious money (like $200+). I used that money to buy the brand new Tamiya 1:48 scale Crusader tank kit for $25. The original Tamiya kit cost me around $5-10 way back when.

Some highly collectable kits are up-to-date kits. Like Dragon's Tiger 1 initial 3 in 1 kit. If you are a Tiger fan and just have to build this variant, go ahead and build the kit. If you just like tigers and any one will do, sell it and use the money to buy a different, less valuable Tiger to build.

J-Hulk wrote:

tigerman wrote: Let's say you have a rare kit. Do you: A. Build it B. Let it sit on the shelf for eternity, totally afraid to violate the celophane  C. Wait until the secondary market peaks and sell it D. Be burried with it E. or something else Since I have none, this wouldn't apply to me, but I suppose I'd build it especially if it were a topic I really wanted or say a childhood model that I repurchased. Anyone else have any and what are your plans? I don't buy any kits without the intention of building them, so I guess I'm choice A. Build 'em! Actually, most of my builds lately have been older "rare" kits from the '60s; old Aurora, Revell, and Monogram stuff. Fun!

I love the old Monogram armor. I built a ton of it until Tamiya stole my wallet so many years ago. I'm still a bit aghast at the prices that they bring on ebay.

tigerman wrote:

Let's say you have a rare kit. Do you: A. Build it B. Let it sit on the shelf for eternity, totally afraid to violate the celophane  C. Wait until the secondary market peaks and sell it D. Be burried with it E. or something else Since I have none, this wouldn't apply to me, but I suppose I'd build it especially if it were a topic I really wanted or say a childhood model that I repurchased. Anyone else have any and what are your plans?

I don't buy any kits without the intention of building them, so I guess I'm choice A. Build 'em!

Actually, most of my builds lately have been older "rare" kits from the '60s; old Aurora, Revell, and Monogram stuff. Fun!

For me the answer is almost always "build it". I do have an un-opened still in the shrink wrap P-47 from Lindberg just like the first kit I ever built, which I don't ever plan on selling or opening (I do have a re-issue I built).

Well, maybe one day..... I do sort of have some nostalgic plans that maybe one day I'll have a grandson, and that might be a great first kit.... anyway....

Aside from that one though, if I buy it, I plan to build it. Plan to..... getting around to it is another thing.....  

Mostly I'd say build it.  I have stuff in my collection though that if got valuable all of a sudden it'd go out the door so fast it would make my own head spin.

A: Build it!

While I may own a few kits considered "rare", I certainly didn't pay a collector's price for them and initially bought the kits with the firm expectation to build them. If someone I know happens to see a kit and offers me a boatload of money, I'd sell in a heartbeat. However, I won't go out of my way to sell any of my kits.

I have several, and I plan to build all of them, good, bad, valuable or otherwise. Part of it is pleasant memories of times long gone. Part of it is to see how well I can make them come out. But in one case, the build will be to see whether I can replicate the horrible mess I made of the first kit I ever built. Then when someone feels discouraged by their initial efforts (especially a kid) I'll show them that. "See, kid, everyone starts like you—or worse!"

But I definitely plan to keep  the boxes in good shape. 

I'd go with A but if it were a kit that was worth, say $100 and I didn't like the kit then I would sell it. In simple terms, good kit: BUILD IT. bad kit: Sell it!

David