Do you buy two same kits at once?

Typically I don't, but I can see the rationalization.  I just like diversity of subjects, but appreciate folks that build every squadron and variant of spitfires as well - just not my gig.

Typically, I don't buy two of the same kit.  The few times that I did were either because they were rare kits and wouldn't be available in the future or if they had a sentimental reason.  I did buy a double of an AMT Autocar semi-tractor kit once.  It was the last kit that I remember my Dad working on when I was a kid so I wanted to build it like he did and I wanted to make the second kit with my spin on it.

tjs

I have done that on occasion when I have screwed something up beyond being able to fix it, or if something is broken/missing from a kit made by a manufacturer that is either out of business or just difficult to get support from.  Sure somebody can jump through all of the hoops to figure out how to get a replacement part, but like you said, sometimes its almost as costly as just getting another kit...not to mention that time is extremely valuable too.  Buying 2 is something I actually do pretty regularly with aftermarket decals and some aftermarket items like Quinta cockpit sets...sometimes it takes a really long time to get replacements, and sometimes things like decals go out of print really quickly.  I guess it depends on the circumstances, but I have definitely done this.

As for imperfections, I tend to feel the same way you do...something may not even be visible to other people, but I'll always know its there and it bugs me.  Whether I fix it or not depends on the amount of effort its going to take.  I have gotten pretty good at fixing paint damage lately.  Also, there's always a bath in isopropyl alcohol and a scrub with a cheap electric toothbrush in those frequent (for me anyway) cases where you try a masking/painting technique that doesn't work the way you thought it would...done that one a lot.

If it's something I know I'll want to build again -- either a planned project, or one for which I have many decal sets waiting --- then I'll happily buy one or more extra kits.

You have to figure they'll never get any cheaper...and it doesn't bother me greatly to imagine that a newer, better kit might (almost invariably) come out. I've never been of the mindset to need the newest, shiniest kit out there, as long as what I've already got is buildable. 

Aha!

    The only time I buy Two of the same vehicle is if I am going to create a LIMO, or a Casper Milquetoast Family four door. I have done and sold a few of the Chevrolet conversions for folks, Four Door, Chevrolet "El Morocco conversions from a Dealer in Indiana. For folks with a high end Chevy Budget and no way to buy a Caddy! Then theres the 60s era Lincolns that make great limos! The dealer in indiana was, I believe Nate Altman(Or Mann)

I never intentionally buy two of the same kit. I have over 300 kits and maybe 2 duplicates. If I mess up that bad I will search around for whatever I may need, but I am not going to buy another kit just to finish one. I can most always find odds and ends to fix an issue, except maybe rare kit, to get back on track. Too many kits to build to build the same kit twice.

BK

I've done that when I am planning to do a lot of cutting or modifying and I want some backup parts. In the case of decals I scan or take photos of the decal sheet to have a backup, especially of complex designs. You can print them out on decal paper if something goes wrong.

When I was still buying kits, sure.No wonder I now have a bigger stash than I could ever build.

Bill

I normally don't but the reasoning sounds like it justifies it.  A fancy paint scheme with extensive decals sounds like a good reason for a backup kit.

I'm working on a F1 kit right now that I used two kits, but that was to allow the chassis to be separate from the bodywork.

My normal aircraft, armor and sci-fi are generally more forgiving than a fancy car, so no back up kits for them.

Hi,

One occassion I have bought two of one kit, mostly for kits that I like as-is but for which I also have an idea to try and do a kitbash on.  

Specifically, over the past couple years I think I have two (or more) kits of the Nissan Micra (for cars), the Lindberg 1/300 Destroyer Escort (for ships), the Airfix Hawk Mk 1 (for planes) as well as asome sci-fi VTOL craft.

Pat

I usually buy between 3-4 unless the car is only offered in a couple colors,it sounds dumb but when i shop Ebay nowadays and see kits selling for 5-6 times or more for what i paid 15-25 years ago i'm glad i think that way.I also have lots of resin kits that require donor kits as well.

I don't buy more than one kit at a time due to the expense and the fact that I can buy another set of decals from most kit shops for a third to half price of the kit if I have to. I have in the past taken photo's of all the contents of a kit including the decals. I have been known to photograph the decals near perfect, size up on Windows and print them onto decal paper, white or clear backed as needed, if I blunder.

I dont very often, only for dioramas.  I bought two of those Revell Midget Race Cars for a diorama of part of a track with the cars wheel-to-wheel in a turn.

Recently I bought a Russian Bear and to F4 phantoms for a diorama of the Phantoms escorting the Bear over the Bereing Straits.

I'll buy a second kit (or more) if I have a really great time assembling the first one, or if I really like the subject.  Still have a bunch of Dragon M1 Abrams kits.  I have gotten into the habit of buying two whenever Tamiya puts out another spectacular 1/12 motorcycle kit, just because they're so much fun to build.

Depends on the price. It's nice to have a builder and a spare...

I've bought several of the same kit over time but can't recall buying two at once. Although I do have two Minicraft 1/16 Model A roadsters bought only weeks apart which is another story all it's own. One is now almost complete, all the paint work is done and some assembly, the other still sealed in the box.

Can't tell you how many AMT 1940 Ford kits I've built over the years, both coupe and sedans. Nor the 49 Ford for that matter. Many became circle track racers. But many other iterations too, including bone stock.

Not often. But recently I bought 2 of the amt reissue of the 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XL. I have been waiting a few years and they finally reissued it so actually I bought 3 of them. At Walmart , believe it or not.

I buy one kit from one manufacturer and move on. There are too many other kits I want to spend money on the same kit twice. I have bought a kit again to replace several missing parts but that's very rare.....maybe twice that I can think of over the last 50 years.

Sometimes if I am doing a kit that I have never done before I will build one box stock to "learn" the kit before building a more detailed version.

I do that with almost every build I have except ones that I'll be building OOB only and those.......are rare. I used to build and be okay with a screw up here and there but enough of those in a build adds up. Sometimes I like second tries and any given area of a build if it turned out to be less than what I wanted and then, having a spare kit, I get that second or third chance depending on how many kits I buy. For my most recent completed kit, the AMT 67 Mustang GT Fastback, I bought three.....and I used stuff from both additional kits because the build was very sentimental to me and I wanted it as near perfect as I could get it. I used one for a 80% mock up build so I'd have a heads up on difficult areas. I did the same exact thing with my 70-1/2 Camaro that I'm building now. As much research as I put into build reviews and potential problems with any kit, I've found that I can head off alot of frustration by just building an unpainted kit up.