Builder or Collector

I would say both.  I have 110 kits and I know I won't finish them in my life time so the non-started kits will go to my only child as part of the estate.  

I build!

err but the stash grows faster than I can build, 

I understand what you mean about expensive 'fraid-to-start' kits.

I have several kits in the the se sections:

'going to improve my skills first'  

'900+ parts (& 1100 parts PE add-on)' 

& the 'v. expensive, but now superceded by better plastic kits' doh  

I think that the availability of the new ship kits coming out in plastic is beginning to stretch my wallet. I just bought the USS New York (a nice kit regardless of the critics of it, at least it is not one of those Viking kits...had one..SOLD it quick) I don't do 1/700...my eye cannot take the strain...I already have to wear that magnifying head thingy. My kits are 1/350 or larger. But you are spot on the skills thing...I have been building the Vargay and just cannot figure out how to paint the darn thing without messing up that pretty new wood deck.

Hi, I'm Jeff and I'm collector.  It's been one day since my last purchase.  It was only a decal sheet but still it was a purchase.

Although I only have two ship models in my stash, I have about 130 kits total plus photoetch, barrels, and other related aftermarket items.  I better start building some of these soon.

Strictly a builder,I only have 25-30 kits on hand,which i'm pretty sure I will build.I can't see myself buying hundreds upon hundreds of kits that I will never build.

But no matter what intentions may be ,there comes a point where they just aren't going to get built.

I am not intentionally a collector.  When I buy kits it is because I intend to build them.  However, I find when I look at my stash I certainly have some kits that have been in there for years!

Seems I buy kits where I have an interest, and gradually the stash grew as I can collect faster than I build. I only have about 25 kits, mostly aircraft carriers but a few wood ships and boats too. These things take me a year to build and at my age I'll only get what I already have in the stash done if I live to be 100 years old. Sooo, I try the best I can to control my buying of new kits. That said, aftermarket stuff and tools and such for the kits I already own, that's fair game. Extra kits I can always give to or work on with my grandson.

EJ

You MUST have the eyes of an eagle! I tried a 1/700 scale model ship and even with my magnifier headgear, I could not see well enough to do it justice. So I will stick to the 1/350. I did the same thing as you and bought what tweeked my interest, but of late have focused to just my ships. I have given away some of the aircraft I collected and sold most of the science fiction kits. But my ships, I will keep. Some of the finished ones end up as wedding gifts, especially the wooden ones. The other join my growing fleet. I estimate a fleet of 6 carriers, 12 battleships, 6 cruisers, 5 destroyers, 3 subs, 1 LSM.....and numerous Civil War models assuming I do not buy any more. I DO have one kit I am eying....the IJN KAGA - 1/350 scale. I guess I will have to consider myself more of a collector than a builder......but there is nothing like opening that box and imagining the end result!! :)

Ahh yes, that ONE kit. I'm waiting for a 1/350 kit of the USS ESSEX, as she's the baby I served on in the 60's. I've done all the WWII versions of her in both 1/700 and 1/350, did the original 1/540 Revell kit of the Essex in her angle deck configuration when I was about 16 or 17 years old. I have the same 1/540 Revell (now vintage) kit, along with mucho aftermarket stuff for her, waiting in the wings.

But oh geeze, if there was just a 1/350 of her---------------

EJ

Hey...BTW....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE to our GREAT COUNTRY. I never get tired of telling our VETS that. We owe you guys and gals a lot. Thanks.

Thank you.

Here's my baby --

Have you seen the Gallery Models 1/350 USS Intrepid? It's a nice kit.

My own experience is that I have over 500 kits that I intended to build and still intend to build.  Many of these are 1/700 scale, but given the limitations of my older eyesight, had to neglect until recently.  My wife bought me the Tamiya workstation with its positionable light and magnifying class that allows me to see smaller parts. So, I started work on the Hasegawa High-grade Japanese battleship Kirishima and am nearing completion as I type.  God bless a wife who understands our passion for our hobby.

Bill

Yup, nice kit, but the forward flight deck and round down/bow is all wrong for ESSEX. Would take much more sculpting and scratch work than I want to take on.

EJ

Sweet

I used to be a semi collector...sold all that.  I now own about 3 large scale sailing ship models that I will build.  My real problem Is, I keep building scratch models of non existent kits to fill in my fleet of Clippers.

I have spent so much time over the last 3 years scratch building..I don't know when I'll ever get back to the kits.  I will....the question is when?  I have 4 1/96 scale ships on the ways as it is.

Rob

Have you considered beginning with the ISW 1/350 USS Essex (CVA 9) SCB-27A kit? It is currently out of stock, but contact them for availability. The price is also competitive when compared with the Gallery Models kit.

Bill

warshipguy

Have you considered beginning with the ISW 1/350 USS Essex (CVA 9) SCB-27A kit? It is currently out of stock, but contact them for availability. The price is also competitive when compared with the Gallery Models kit.

Bill

Interesting. Looking at the kit, It appears it does not include the SCB 125 angled deck/hurricane bow conversion ESSEX got in 1955/56. There is a kit conversion for the 27A and the hull widening, neither of which is available. I'm not sure if the "hull widening" set refers to the blisters added during the 27A, or just a modification of the Trumpeter hull for accuracy. Essex never received steam cats, and retained her hydraulic cats until de-commissioning.

Interesting kit conversions though. Thanks for the info.

EJ

My pleasure!  The kits are not unavailable, just out of stock.  Give them a call; they are very friendly and will be happy to answer any questions.

Bill

Spirit of a builder, actions of a collector.  I have several ships in the stash that align with two themes: 

1) Each vessel that carried the title Texas, all in 1/700. I will be buying the 1/350 kit when it is available  2) One of each class of vessels that I spent time aboard while in the Marine Corps, also all in 1/700.

Of all the ship kits in the stash all but three are resin, which I have very limited experience with and even that is limited to upgrades/conversions for armor and aircraft kits.  So that is one reason I am a bit hesitant to begin on most of my ships.  The bigger hurdle is the fact that in all my years of modeling I have not assembled a ship yet.  I need a practice kit before committing to my real projects.

...and the stash grows.

Definitely a builder. Just really slow. i buy maybe a kit a year.

I have everything on Excel listing it purchase price and any PE or extras purchased for that kit.  

I use "My Hobby Info" site. track kits and aftermarket, built kits, cost, keeps up to date on pricing, new kits, legacy kits. Nice site. Lists are convertible to excel and printable too.

EJ

I Say old Chap :

Would that be the Mightiest if Mice for your avatar ? Hmmmm. Now as to the thought of collecting versus building . I collect to build  . I cannot buy any more , so I have plenty to build .That said , the only  one I am missing is the U.S.S. Missouri in 1/350 in 1945 fit .    T.B.

I remember seeing a quote one time from a celeb that said we buy more books than we can read in our lifetime as a subconscious way of saying we will live forever. The same is true for modelers, which means that with the stashes most of us have, we should be damn near immortal!