How often do you buy a second kit?

I've ordered parts from Revell's website, they charge a service fee now, but its reasonable (a few dollars for up to 5 parts per kit, and up to 4 kits I believe) Don't know what they'll charge to ship to Australia though

I know that you can go to the revell(us) website and order missing parts. I needed 2 props and the bombsite of my B-17 and they sent it to me for free.

Really depends on the kit, it's availability and if the manufacturer will easily sell sprues/parts.

Said that for some competition entries I have bought multiple kits, one to learn where the difficult areas are, experiment on and one to enter the competition.

It depends on what I'm building, I guess.

If I'm building a fairly inexpensive kit (such as a Revell car kit) I'll pick up a couple of them before I start a project. If I bodge the paint or break something, I'll dip into the second kit instead of attempting repairs. I always have extra parts for my spares box, too...

Matt @ FSM

Katz go to Wal Mart or a Local Automotive store and see if you can get Castrol Super clean its in a Purple container but this will take that paint off for you why i say this is because Lacquer thinner will melt plastic when the paint is off of it. So take the parts out and wash them with soap and water and put them in this and it will be a lot better for the parts and will save a lot of time on stripping. This stuff takes Urethane Lacquer right off in 2 days flat.

QUOTE: Originally posted by stinger I've done it twice within the last year. As to how manufacturers handle those things now, I couldn't tell you, but I'm sure that someone here will add their experience with that situation. My guess is that it will depend on the particular mftr. Some will be more understanding than most. I have heard of people getting an entire new kit just to replace a missing part. BTW, Which part do you need? stinger

Hi:

I came straight from wooden ship modeling. I got a bit sick of that wood stuff and discovered my interest for plastic kits.

However, my first plastic kit (a couple of weeks ago) was from Heller; actually it was the "Pinta" Columbus ship. As I wrote in the ship-forum I have been dissolving the handrails in thinner; I thought I can get rid of a poor paint job by means of soaking it in enamel-thinner.

I wrote to Heller for that matter; I have to admit that making new handrails from wood would be feasible. The kit was not that expensive around $15,. and I will consider a new buying if it needs to.

But there's my Revell kit of the Junkers Ju/3m civil flight version. It is an amazing model and will make for a good ornament. However, I started off with the right wing because the pitch-elevator needs -- in my opinion -- some additional stability. I think mounting/gluing the eleavtor as described in the manual is a design flaw. But my additional rivets and kind like that wreaked havoc..

I wrote to Revell whether it is possible that they will send me some spare parts. I offerd them to send them 5,- EUR (around $5) for that matter.

I am not sure how Heller and Revell will react. I would be happy if Revell is going to consign the parts because the Junkers kit was a bit pricy (around $35,.).

Just for the unlikely case: I am in Austria (neighbouring country to Germany). If there are any readers from Austria or around with a spare-to-share-Revell-Junkers-kit please contact me.

Regards,
Katzennahrung

I have not acquired a duplicate kit for need of parts but, I have a number of duplicate kits for the simple fact that I like that particular plane.
As far as what to do about needing parts? I have contacted the manufacturer on different occasions with good results. Some have sent the parts requested, one a complete new kit!!!
As far as what Stinger said about somebody on the forum possibly having the part? I have sent parts to a couple of people on here. If I have an extra, I don't mind helping a fellow modeller out.

I've done it twice within the last year.

The first time was when I lost a wheel for an old OOP Monogram Do17z. Since they are (were) cheap on Ebay, I bought a second kit for about $5 (I now have about seven of them, go figure).

The second time was when I lost an engine part for an Airfix Bv141. I just went ahead and paid full price ($10 ??) for another kit. This turned out well though, as a fellow forum member needed the spinner for his Bv194, which (we hope) will be an exact duplicate.

Many, many years ago (about 45 yrs. ago!), my older brother tried to literally "melt" (yes, we were experimental )the wings together on an old Revell Martin Mariner. He wrote to Revell (don't know what his excuse was) and they sent him a replacement part. Of all the things that I have kept from those younger days, I still have that old melted wing. Someday I'll have to bust on him about that.

As to how manufacturers handle those things now, I couldn't tell you, but I'm sure that someone here will add their experience with that situation. My guess is that it will depend on the particular mftr. Some will be more understanding than most. I have heard of people getting an entire new kit just to replace a missing part.

This goes pretty much hand in hand with defective or missing parts. Different mf's will handle things in their own way.

BTW, Which part do you need? Many of us have kits from which we will happily send parts to a fellow modeler.


stinger

I've personally never had this happen. If it were to happen, I think I would probably buy a new kit rather than try to get a part (or part sprue) from a manufacturer.