Building Older Kits ?

Good on you guys for collecting the older classic kits in the unbuilt, mint condition. They're a part of the history of the hobby that we love (and hate) so much, and as such, should be preserved and remembered.
But I personally prefer to purchase kits that I have every intention of making, and therefore I tend to purchase much higher quality kits than some of the old classics (some of which were absolute dogs - c'mon, admit it), where the tooling and detail is top notch. I've absolutely nothing against the old classics - in a way it's best to view them as a collector's item, but to put an automotive spin on things, would you buy a full sized Shelby Cobra or a Ferrari 288 GTO and keep it under plastic and never use it? I don't think I could.

Some of my empty classic kit boxs are definately wearing a frown ! ....but i'm still smilin !!!! ( i do have an unmade Airfix 00 railway collection under my bed tho)
Collect, or build, or both, no one needs permisson,especially it makes ya happy !

Hey, we buy the old ones on ebay or in old out of the way model shops or yard sales, whatever...I think most of us if not all buy with the intention of building....I have more than I can build right now, but I also figure that I'm gonna live until I build all the ones I want to, whetther I have tham yet or not....It;s my long term survival plan

Cars were made for drivin', guns were made for shootin', and kit were made for buildin'. f I buy a kit I'm gonna build it otherwise I could have spent the money elswhere(like another gun).

[:0]Another gun! Oh my![:0] What would you get? If Missouri's right to carry passes, I'll have to buy one of Ed Brown's custom Bobtail Commanders Of course I'll still buy a mess of kits to sack back

Its all the vintage Aurora Monsters for me. Keep them ALIVE!

I begun to make models in late 60s, and (as I've already mentioned somewhere on one of forums) in early 70s I've got about 20 "Western" (means Airfix) models from my uncle living in London. They are still standing on my shelf, but few of them were made by my father (and they are unpainted) - so my dream is to make them again - but it is very difficut to find 1/72 Heinkel He-111 H-20 (with nice two big bombs) or Dornier Do-217 E-2 ! Aleksander

Aleksander, I'll keep an eye out for those two kits for you. Let you know what I find. - Ed

Good to see replies to an older topic !
Aleksander,
Those two kits are still fairly easy to track down here in UK in their early boxes and are still in the 2003 Airfix range albeit in various re-issue variants, i have some spares for both early HE111 & Do217E2 from abandoned projects ( ), all the canopys, undercarriage, bombs, ect - whenever i attempt German A/C all goes pear shape - ( not literaly ! ) if any use i'd be happy to send them ?

I buy old kits that I had and built as a teenager many moons ago. My mother threw them all out when I went to college. Having built them before, I know what kits were sweet and which were duds, so I buy only the ones that were important to me at that time. I often buy two samples. One that is mint in the box, and which I intend to keep that way, since I have already experienced the "build", and another identical kit that is opened, or sometimes started (you can always strip the paint off) for really cheap which will become a new "builder". Other models that I know are OOP I will still build if it adds to the theme of my collection, even if I know that it has a great value MIB.
Which leads me to wonder: Anyone can shrink wrap a box. How do I really know if that $100 IMC Ford GT 40 MISB on my shelf doesn't really contain a bunch of old stripped trees? Am I stupid? Maybe. Can I afford that? Yes. Does it matter? You have to believe in some things. The only blessing is that I have two others in opened boxes that I got for less than $15.00 total, so at least I will have a built (by my hands) example that will be worth more than money to my children and grandchildren. So, I guess the bottom line on the value of kits, in any condition, is all in the mind. Build 'em if you like 'em, but build them with your heart. If it shows that it can be an investment (My old Renwal Visible Wasp Engine goes for around $500, another of Mom's throw-outs) then invest. Sometimes the twain doth meet.

Hi Keyworth and migs - thank you very much for your help. Well - it would be a very nice moment in my life to do these models again ! (specially if they are still available) - please let me know what should I do to buy them (or how to organize it ?). Please contact me via my e-mail address (I hope it's in my profile - if not - here it is my new one: goria@mediclub.pl). Regards and thanks ! Aleksander

Hi Aleksander for those kits your after you could try www.kingkit.co.uk ...good luck in finding them...Greg

Thank you gregers - I think I will try - hope they accept Visa Card ! Aleksander

I would like to get an old Monogram Dauntless. The one with folding wings, retractable landing gear, and dropping bomb. From the standpoint of it being a good kit, I know there is no comparison to the newer versions of the Dauntless like from Accurate Miniatures, but I would like to get on of these and build it because it was the first kit I ever built.