Why do we keep buying models, when we know we'll never get to all of them!

lcb248

Michel,

You sound like me. I was off work with health issues in late 2015 and needed something to do with my hands. After a 25 yearr plus absence I got back in to the hobby. I still had about 10 or 15 kits that I'd hung on to over the years...but since I've gotten back in to the hobby I've bought over 20 kits. But, a lot of them are figure kits I plan to use on dioramas, so they don't take up too much room. LOL

And yes, if I see something in a documentary or I'm reading about a certain subject it definitely influcances my buying. Right now I'm reading about the Pacific war and I'm getting the hankering for Marine Shermans, M3's, amtracks, etc. I already have quite a few Navy planes from that era on my shelf...so they kind of go hand in hand.

 

 

MichelR666

Sometimes it's as simple as reading a military aviation magazine, seeing a plane I like, and hunting down the kit.

 

 

 

 

Famous last words. You wait until you start building the diorama's. And there arealways more figures to buy, my figure stash is nearly as big as i kit stash.

Michel,

You sound like me. I was off work with health issues in late 2015 and needed something to do with my hands. After a 25 yearr plus absence I got back in to the hobby. I still had about 10 or 15 kits that I'd hung on to over the years...but since I've gotten back in to the hobby I've bought over 20 kits. But, a lot of them are figure kits I plan to use on dioramas, so they don't take up too much room. LOL

And yes, if I see something in a documentary or I'm reading about a certain subject it definitely influcances my buying. Right now I'm reading about the Pacific war and I'm getting the hankering for Marine Shermans, M3's, amtracks, etc. I already have quite a few Navy planes from that era on my shelf...so they kind of go hand in hand.

MichelR666

Sometimes it's as simple as reading a military aviation magazine, seeing a plane I like, and hunting down the kit.

Well, I'm sure I have nowhere near the number of kits as anyone here. Maybe 15. But they were all bought in the last few months since I only got into the hobby back in July. There are a couple of kits I bought as soon as I found them either because they were limited edition or it looked like the manufacturer wasn't selling them anymore (Airfix 1/350 HMS Illustrious).

Sometimes it's as simple as reading a military aviation magazine, seeing a plane I like, and hunting down the kit.

After some annoying health news a couple of months ago, I've barely touched anything under construction (Kamov Ka-50 and the French helicopter carrier Jeanne d'Arc), so that kind of helped slow down purchasing more kits.

Many modelers have their own collections that are large or small.Its just the way it is.I collect one model of each type of aircraft .That alone is in its own way is to much.One ME-109 , one P-51,and so on.I usually pair them up in friend and foe  display by theater era.F-86 and the MIG-15 also.When guest came over it looks great and explainable.

For some reason, lately have been on a ship kick......HB's Arizona, Trumpeters Graf Zepplein, Dragon's Benson and Scharnhorst.  Last week I got a super buy on the old (70's) Heller 1/100 Victory, couldn't pass it up.  Looking that one over, I fear I have gotten in over my head by about 5 miles of altitude.  The only sailing ship I ever built was the old Revell Ironsides and that was 50 years ago as a glue bomb.

Wish there were someone here to plant a size 12 in my behind when I do something like that.

I'll get to all of mine, I only keep about a dozen in the stash.  Keeps hubby off my case.  I also build them rather quickly in the winter time when there is nothing else to do but hibernate in the house.

Tankboy51, I salute you. I wish I could achieve what you have and will.

I have been buying models since, well, forever.  I have  over 2,000.  But  model companies keep doing new kits, either new never before seen, or  new variant of a type.  So I get it as well.  I do build lots of kits.  It have over 600 or so, maybe more, over the years.  I do not regret having so many kits, I actually like it.  My wife and daughter like them as well, as do my friends.  It is a fun hobby.    

Doug

lcb248

After thinking about this for a while, I've finally decided that it's because I enjoy the "potential" and anticipation that opening a new box gives me. What about everyone else?

 

One of my favorite things is to look at hobby shops when I travel overseas and try to buy stuff that I'd never see here in the US. I've always enjoyed seeing how different companies approach portraying a particular kit. Nowadays more things are imported/exported but it's still a fun travel activity.

I'm the proceese of building my stash back up for next winter got kits coming from SpruBrothers and scale hobbyist. Give me plastic I need it bad,more plastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   ACESES5                                                                                                  

Hi,

I think that I agree with alot of what others have posted above, including that it may be partially in inborne trait of human nature (for at least some of us). 

Growing up I had 5 sisters and I also noticed that with them, and my mother, they would do similar things with fabrics and patterns, frequently going to a fabric store buying different patterns that they weren't going to use yet, because they weren't sure what fabric to use, or buying fabric without a specific pattern to use with it. 

I think that maybe deep down somewhere there may be a 'need' (for lack of a better word) in many people to 'have' stuff ready on hand for the day when you might get around to doing something with it.

On the other hand, I do know that I have bought a couple models in order to better understand how something was done on the full-scale object that the model represents.  I have several unbuilt boxes of amphibious tracked vehicles in my basement specifically because of this, as well as several aircraft carrier models.

And finally, I think that there may also be a little bit of "I always wanted something when I was younger, but couldn't afford it then, but can now' going on as well.  I know that when I saw the 1/72 scale Revell (ex-Matchbox) Flower Class Corvette at my local hobby store, that kicked in real quick eventhough I have no idea what I intend to do with it if I ever get around to building it.  That model in particular is one I'm reluctant to start yet, because I'm not sure that my abilities in building right now are up to doing as good a job on it as I wish.

Similarly, I guess that there are also a couple models that I have bought because I did have one when I was younger and I wanted to try and rebuild a new copy.

So for me I guess maybe it might be part, wanting to have something, wanting to follow up on things I didn'y have a chance to do when I was younger, curiousity about stuff, and also maybe a little "wanting to relive stuff I did when I was younger too".

Pat

Lol

Me too

Cause at night, when everyone else is asleep, I shrink myself down and get into my models and play...

I'll NEVER finish all of the models I have in my 'stash', but I never know what I'll want to build next and when kits go OOP, then it's good to have one on hand. Besides, one can always sell them off someday. 

Cheers!

Ron

Wirraway

I think its also reassuring tp know that whatever happens in the (financial) future, your hobby is covered. I know if I get laid off next week, I still have a big enough stash to see me through the next decade.

 

Because when I'm gone, I want my bud, who will be having to go through everything (no family any more) to try and figure out what to do with it all.  Maybe he will build some, but I doubt it as he used to build cars 30 years ago, mine is mostly aircraft and a few ships.

I have about 300+ in my stash. Will I get to ALL of them? Not unless I live for at least 200 years but if it interests me, if it's on sale, or at a ridiculous low price then I get them either to re sell at a later date , to build or give away.

As an example, I bought several 1/72 kits at a model show for $1 and $2. One of them being a Williams Brother C-47. I thought about building it but then I saw the selling prices on eBay. I listed it there and got something like $20 for it. 

Im not going to say that I will not add any more to the stash but I'm at a very selective stage at this time so it has to be one heck of an improved version or too cheap to pass up  for it to be an addition to the stash.

Hey wait a minute....I won't finish all these kits?!  

LOL!  My brother in law (an engineer also), figured I'd have to live to be around 116 to finish them all!  Then I threw a variable into his formula.....his hypothesis assumes I will not buy anouther kit!!!!!!!  LOL!!!!  Let's see...the addition of kits...is that a linear or exponentional age increase for completion of kits?  LOL!  Who cares...I'm still buying.  

Eagle90

lcb248

But I'm worse with the tools and the paint

I agree. I am always looking for the next shade or the next tool.

I think its a 'want' thing. I mean buying models for me (on ebay and stuff) is satisfying because I can so 'ok I have that one now and it is ready for me to build (when I get around to it). Ownership is a guarantee.

love your style  bakster LOL

Johnny1000

I guess in my nacent resurgent modeling career I've been more into buying tools than models. 

Johnny,

I've been out of the hobby for 25+ years. Kids, work, etc., etc. Now I feel like I'm catching up. Some of the kits I've ordered this year are kits that I've wanted since I left the hobby, like Tamiya's USS Missouri WW2 version. Had to get it on eBay!

But I'm worse with the tools and the paint. I'm always browsing tools and paint. I finally had to create a paint list to take with me when I'm shopping for paint because I kept buying mutiples of colors in brands I already had. Yikes!

Larry

On the bench: Hobby Boss CCKW Compostite Cargo Bay

Sort of like the expression: "Every time they make something foolproof - along comes a new fool!"  Everytime I think there aren't any new kits coming that interest me along comes a new kit of a subject that I can't resist.  I am weak but they (kit manufacturers) are strong.

Fun thread.

I have but one model (Tamiya 1/48 F4U-1a) in my 'stash.'

I guess in my nacent resurgent modeling career I've been more into buying tools than models. After first buying the cheapest tools I could find, I've been slowly replacing them with 'heirloom' quality, somehow justifying by imagining my kids inhereting them. Because I have so little bench time, so progress is so glacial that thinking more than one model out seems way over the horizon, and partly because I've been mono-focused on the project at hand.

That said, I do admire the pics of people's stashes that look about as well appointed as a typical hobby shop. That would be fun to browse. 

-J