Model Maniac Annual Report 2010

BarretDuke, you're welcome. Never mind about the lost ship, at least it was well played and used. Some of my early warplanes also didn't survive until this day. I hope to entertain you at my place some day. Good luck!

ModelManiac, Thanks for your very informative reply. You become more interesting with every reply. It sounds like you have a plan for your models. I'm very glad to hear it. It appears to be a very amazing collection, like maybe world-class awe-inspiring. Now, it's time for confession, I suppose. My neighbor entrusted his prize to a 12 year old boy who had a lot of growing up to do. It was too cool to let it sit on my dresser, so I played with it. It had cannons on the decks, and was irresistible. I had hours and hours of fun with it. But, little by little the model deteriorated. It started with the rigging and the masts, and then the railings. Between the play and a couple of moves without proper packing care, it was destroyed by the time I was in my twenties. It is now long gone. The memory of that model and its fate is actually part of what now compels me to try to preserve the models I am now bullding. It is also part of the reason for my appreciation for your efforts. Anyone who entrusts a model to you need never wonder if that part of their life will be lost. If I can ever get out to your part of the world, I hope you will let me spend a couple days admiring your collection. Best wishes to you.

Sprue-ce Goose,  Aurora kits these days may be cheaper. I just recently ordered an alien UFO for one of my builder and it didn't cost much. Other makers are now asking very high prices, such as $30+ (shipping extra) for a 1:35 jeep, $70-80 for average size armor. And shipping now costs a lot, around $15-$18 for an armor from HK or China.

It's my pleasure. If you have a chance to come to Thailand you can view it in person.

BarrerDuke,  No problem. Though my nephews and brother who live in the same house with me don't build models, they admire my collection. It was my brother who designed my showroom 8 years ago, found a contractor and oversaw the construction work. I've told him to design another, perhaps a floating one over the parking lot. As for your kind neighbor I think he's chosen the right person to give it to. It's still in good shape, right?

I've named it "Military Models Museum" many years ago, but it's a private museum, not public and open one because it's our residence. Anyway, I've welcomed a lot of modelers & collectors, local and foreign  who contacted and requested to see my collection. These include some Malaysians, a Singaporean, some Filipinos, an American, an Englishman, a Frenchman, a German, a Russian and a Vietnamese as far as I can remember.    

Model Maniac, Sorry to hear that your nephews and their father, (Your brother?) are not interested in building models. When I was a young boy, the father of one of my next door neighbors moved in with them. He was up in years. Shortly after, he gave me a very well done finished model of a wooden sailing ship. I often wondered why he did. He didn't really know me that well, but he knew I enjoyed building models. Recently, it dawned on me that he was trying to find it a home where it would be appreciated rather than leave it behind for family members to deal with, who would likely simply add it to the trash pile.

Are you going to establish a museum for your models so future generations can enjoy them? It would be quite an experience for young people and probably would inspire some to take up the art.

Model Maniac

Earl, I'm afraid model kits are easy to buy but hard to sell.

I've noticed that, as well...................as far back as the early 1990s.....................which makes me wonder why prices are so high on AURORA kits; I've never actually witnessed anyone buying them at swap meets.

Thank you for the update on your collection. A shame I can't view it in person.

Earl, I'm afraid model kits are easy to buy but hard to sell.

BarretDuke, thanks for your kind comments. I hope you'll be able to show your works at LHS some day soon.

jibber, thanks for your comments. More will be displayed today but no armor. They'll be in Aircraft, Ships, Figures and Diorama forums.

SuppressionFire, thanks for your kind comments. Good to know that your son will be able to build a kit soon and that the older kids are building too. All my teenage nephews don't build models, they and their father just play on-line games.

Hello everyone,

Been lurking the forms and reader's gallery a bit lately... its somewhat of a model 'fix' and hopefully I will have some free time to build (and complete) a model again this year? Lill' Joe is almost 3, when showed a Italeri 1/24 scale Jeep and explained its for older kids he seemed to understand. Will get a few Snap-tite kits to try first.

Our club, CNSM or Central Nova Scotia Modellers has within builders who keep lots of un-built kits on hand. All in this category have more kits than any model shop north of Halifax, N.S. One who builds commission work full time has more un-built kits than any shop in the region! I call his basement 'Moon Base Alpha' as Space 1999 studio models are his passion. smallartworks.ca

The industry benefits from people acquiring large collections of kits. Model Maniac is supporting / supplementing peoples income while they get paid to do something they enjoy. Its a win - win for all as obviously MM enjoys his collection and posting the works. Thanks for sharing MM!

The bottom line is that our models are built and hopefully displayed to enjoy. I think most of us enjoy the building and the entire process, but in the end its a finished piece of art that is meant to be enjoyed no matter who actually did the build. We take in museums and displays in the same way, but for me I love the entire process of picking a kit, doing the research and finishing it. Then I display it for others to enjoy which I guess is not unlike MM who also loves these models. I don't agree with how he does it, but hopefully these will be displayed where they can be enjoyed by all.      

MM, I had no idea a craft like yours existed. Fascinating. I have been hoping to develop the skills to approach a LHS in my area to let me display some of my WW II models there. They have a section for models but they spend most of their time, money, and attention on radio control stuff. I believe that if they would do a little promoting of model building, they would see the business value in it. Of course, my interest is to get other people to catch the bug and come to enjoy this craft as much as I have come to enjoy it.

Best wishes to you in your endeavors. I hope many people are inspired to take up this art form by viewing your models.

You could start your own hobby shop.

Earl

Your inquiry urged me to sum up annual report for 2013. I just uploaded it right now. In short, while I got 257 new kits in 2010, I got over 1,100 more during 2011-2013:

2011 - 615 kits (2011 was the year I retired and I acquired more kits than any other year)

2012 - 364 kits

2013 - 128 kits

As for this year 2014 I'll keep my purchase as low as possible. At most it'll be two digits only. Please read my 2013 report to know why:

falconbbs.com/annual-report-2013.htm

falconbbs.com/annual-report-2012.htm

falconbbs.com/annual-report-2011.htm

Yes

The dead rise again ..............

I happened across this thread during a Google Images search and can't help wonder if the stash is currently much larger than it was in 2010 / 2011

Manstein's revenge

TD4438:

Manstein's revenge:

TD4438:

TD4438:

It's nice to know there is at least one other guy out there that has cracked open a new kit while on the throne.

Thanks for posting MM.

 

Hey MM.The above statement translates to 'looking at a recent purchase for the first time while taking a dump.'The throne being the toilet.

 

What do you mean by "dump"?  You Americans have strange sayings..

 

Dump = Dropping A Deuce.

 

??? A deuce?

Deuce = Number Two

TD4438

Manstein's revenge:

TD4438:

TD4438:

It's nice to know there is at least one other guy out there that has cracked open a new kit while on the throne.

Thanks for posting MM.

 

Hey MM.The above statement translates to 'looking at a recent purchase for the first time while taking a dump.'The throne being the toilet.

 

What do you mean by "dump"?  You Americans have strange sayings..

 

Dump = Dropping A Deuce.

I hope ya got a laugh out of it MM.

Hinksy - Talking about LHSs I have some sympathy for them. The Internet and online shopping has made their business harder. Last year I visited my LHSs only twice while ordered online about 40 times.
My collection will keep growing. Welcome to Thailand someday and see it in person.

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Manstein - The unbuilt kits are there in the display case because there is nowhere else in my house
that I can keep them. I've already told and shown that "most available space has been utilised".
If I have more space I'd like to move the ones in the restroom out first because there's moisture in there
and some boxes got swollen by it.

---

spacepacker - thanks for your kind feedbacks! You're a good example of 'silent majority' here who shows up and speaks out for the first time, confirming my belief - that people love to see kits built no matter who build them.
PS. don't worry about joining controversial topic. If you run into any problem, my 'attorney general' will take good care of you. ;-)

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cb1 - thanks for your kind opinions too! More pictures of conmpleted kits are coming for sure.

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biffa - you would rather have laughed at the one in the restroom more than this one. It is 100 times more hard core there. As TD4438 had pointed out earlier - You can crack open a new kit while on the throne!

Nice to know that you've been a long time fan of my website and that Art Instructor's works have inspired you to this day. Thanks for your comments about my contribution to the hobby.

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Jeebus - Tasca's Sherman? Tasca may be one of very few brands that I don't yet have. Their Sherman may be better or more accurate than competitors, but that, for me,  still doesn't justify it cost of $50-60 a piece. I'd rather buy Italeri's M4A1 for $12.99 instead, and get 4 of them. When finished by a good modeler like Art Instructor, they won't look much different from Tasca's.

---

deafpanzer - I don't know how much the roundtrip airticket LA-BKK costs, I guess that'll be at least $1,500
on some low-cost airlines. For this amount, Art Instructor can build me 3-4 times more kits than you could.
So you know your proposal is not technically feasible. I have another plan. I posted my annual report in a local webboard too, no pictures but included costs of kits, modeling services and others. A fellow modeler turned collector who has about 1,600 built kits and 1,200 unbuilt suggested that I should reduce my spending by 10% and use that amount to get the Dora (he himself doesn't have one yet because of space problem), saying that it'll be the crown of my collection and it'll express the potential of my museum. I tend to agree with him and have asked him to seek one for me from a local source. He said 'with pleasure'. So I hope I'll get one soon!

Thanks for your comments on my collection and my posting here! What did your wife say?.

---

TD4438 - Thanks for your explanation! I learned a little earlier from the context of others' comments - about flushing small parts & carpet monster vs. toilet monster. So I figured yours out.

Manstein's revenge

TD4438:

TD4438:

It's nice to know there is at least one other guy out there that has cracked open a new kit while on the throne.

Thanks for posting MM.

 

Hey MM.The above statement translates to 'looking at a recent purchase for the first time while taking a dump.'The throne being the toilet.

 

What do you mean by "dump"?  You Americans have strange sayings..

TD4438

TD4438:

It's nice to know there is at least one other guy out there that has cracked open a new kit while on the throne.

Thanks for posting MM.

 

Hey MM.The above statement translates to 'looking at a recent purchase for the first time while taking a dump.'The throne being the toilet.

TD4438

It's nice to know there is at least one other guy out there that has cracked open a new kit while on the throne.

Thanks for posting MM.

Model Maniac,  I have a business proposal for you... you pay me to for my trip to Thailand and I will build ten of your model kits at my choice in a week or two.  That would be a perfect vacation for me...

Loved the pictures of your collection!  I showed my wife as soon as I saw your pictures so she can't complain about my stash as I only have about 40 kits right now.  And keep posting pictures done by your crew.  There is nothing wrong with this...

Model Maniac

TD4438 - Thanks for your kind comments and continuous support!

Jeebus - The unbuilt kits are not yet overcrowded in my showroom and bedroom. My sympathy for your unlucky illness. What is the one you wish for Christmas?

Bronto - Even though I have 5-6 modelers working for me and 4 of them work only for me, they cannot build all I bought as fast as I buy. I have hundreds of unbuilt kits and I don't know exactly how many. Of all the 257 kits I bought in 2010, there are just a few kits that were factory finished (1:72 armors x2, 1:144 warplanes x2) and a few that had already been painted by local artists. Maybe I should pictures of my stash and show them here in this thread.

Njal - Many of the kits that I bought in 2010 have been built and shown on my website, but many many more are still unbuilt. 90% of the kits I bought were from foreign hobby sites - hobbyterra, luckymodel, hobbyeasy, hobbylinkjapan, hobbysearchjapan - just to name a few. No site sell already built kits. After purchase I'll have to assign them to my modelers:
- Armors/Dioramas to "Art Instructor"
- Warplanes and warships to "Toom" and "Niphon"
- Figures (Vignettes) to "Joh"
- 1:72 figures to "pjareanwanit"
- Anything except figures to "Tazmanian"

Manstein's revenge

...you know you are a hard core modeler when you put kits still in their boxes in glass display cases!!!

i laughed at that one

back when i started modelling about 6 years ago i spent ages on MMs site going through art instructors work his style of painting and weathering was what helped and inspired me to develop my own style and be able finish my models in a way i was happy with and i still enjoy seeing his work today im like Kenny i dont care whos building them i just enjoy looking and learning and in all honesty MM is probably doing more than anyone of us could hope to in promoting the hobby and sharing and inspiring others to get involved, live and let live.

what a list! Personally I like to see more pictures than words. So as long as MM keeps posting pictures of the completed kits I'm happy.

I'm cool with the firearms also, When seconds count, the police are 20 minutes away!

I agree with Karl!.

MM's collection is what it is and he has always been honest in declaring that.

He gives credit to those that build them and pays them and what is more, allowing people to see them can only promote an interest in our hobby.

 I enjoy seeing all of the models that are shown in this forum and hope to continue to enjoy them no matter who builds them...cheers....Kenny.

PS this is the first time I have ever joined in on a controversial topic (what have I done)

I'm nominating Model Maniac for the show, "Hoarding" on television...now all we need are about a dozen cats to walk around in the background...

...you know you are a hard core modeler when you put kits still in their boxes in glass display cases!!!

Hi Phaisal,

Yep, my LHS is TINY! At any one time they'll have about 30 Dragon Kits and 30 Tamiya kits in 1/35 scale in stock. They also have a real mish-mash of all other makes in other scales.

The models is only part of the shop, it's more of a hobby shop than just a model shop so there's Lego, artists equipment, Hornby Trains and diorama stuff. Lot's of Tamiya paint and loads of Humbrol stuff.

They can order me in anything by Dragon or Tamiya within a few days so thats ok. Failing that I use my favourite on-line shops.

Your collection could keep my LHS stocked for a VERY long time!

Keep your collection going, if I ever find myself in Thailand I'd love to see it!

ATVB

Ben

castelnuovo

Hey MM, I enjoy seeing your models here. If I ever come to Thailand I would like to see them.

As far as thoese who have issues with you...come on people, lighten up . Every hobby/sport/interest is whatever we make of it. MMs' collection, just like this forum, is in a way like a museum. They exibit other people's work, the artist may or may not be there, it does not matter. You don't have to go in, and if you do just look at what you want but it is up to the museum owner and to the artist to exibit what they want.

Just my Canadian ...

Hello caslelnuovo, thanks for your kind comments. If you ever come to Thailand, you'll be welcome to see them. Last year there was an Englishman and at year's end  year another Englishman applied for entry.

Most museums charge, mine is free!

the doog

 

Bish:

 

 

Model Maniac:

 

Wirraway, you're plain wrong! Model lovers love to see kits built and unbuilt and it doesn't matter who build it.

 

 

well, IMHO, as a model BUILDER, i think you are wrong. I like to see people go through the process of building models, learning as they progress, showing off somthing that they enjoy doing and are willing to learn and pass on their knowledge to other.

In my opinion you do none of this. Simply showing off that you have lots of money and can afford lots of kits and have people building for you on a production line is not what this hobby is about. Other than showing pics of built kits every so often, i do not recall you taking part in any other threads. I have never seen you try to help other modelers, but then how could you as you are a collector not a modeller.

I like to see people with a passion for building models. If i wanted to see what you show i would join a site for the hobby of buying die caste models.

 

 

In defense of Phaisal, I will say that he HAS indeed commented in some threads of mine, and I find him to be a pleasant individual who has an incredible strength of character to endure some of the critique which he gets. 

I would also urge everybody to please recognize that what he is doing is promoting the hobby. His museum is actually that; as I understand it, he is quite the local attraction in his land, and if that inspires young kids to model, all the better.

In my estimation, I have more respect for a man who buys an insane number of kits and pays other people to build them and fill his shelves than a collector who buys kits off eBay or somewhere for the sole purpose of squirreling them away in order to resell them at an exorbitant profit someday, never to build them and in doing so, denying someone who MIGHT have otherwise built them the pleasure.

I have traveled to many far-off countries and seen many things which, culturally, I did not understand, and may have found somewhat odd, but which nether broke my leg nor picked my pocket. Phaisal's love of models--built or unbuilt--could be said to fall into this category for some of you here?

I'm still disturbed about the rifle in the WC.....

 

EDIT--I've just seen your post, Phaisal--thanks for the comments on my KT! I still haven't received the copy yet! I must be on the slow end of the mail?!

Many thanks for defending me, Karl! You could be my attorney general! My strength and endurance was summed up in a poetry I wrote over 10 years ago. You'll still see it in my Content-Based Menu; It reads:

"In the Sky, the Mighty Falcon
Flies across the lost horizon;
Reaching the top of hostile sky
Creating Model Maniac Empire.
With Fire Power of all Tanks' Guns
With Realisticity and Precision;
The World has Greeted with Love and Joy
The Power Exists in All these Toys!"

Your second paragraph is very insightful, as if you're here and see what happens in Thailand. There's a new modeler named "num" (num2010) who has become a promoter/organisor for modeling workshop - to coach new modelers how to build armors, figures and dioramas for free. The 1st time workshop was held at his home, the second time was a field trip to my home as the following picture shows.



And they were more than inspired! by both quality and quantity!
After this event he held many more workshops at local hobby shops, with the help of several pro-modelers, sometime 3 at a time, as tutors. Getting more and more attendants each time.
About the rifle in the WC, there's not just one but five, plus a mortar (unassembled):



I also have some more in this room. Now that you know they're BB guns, they're not disturbing now:



PS. I got the February issue since 28th December. It came by air-mail. Yours is probably a surface mail, it's slower. ;-)