1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

I got back into modeling around 2000, and I have a stash of about 200 kits or so, so it averages to around 16-17 or a year.  However, I've gone on binges where I bought a number of kits at once, and in 2009, I went 7 months on a New Years resolution, before I broke down and bought a kit.  I'm back on a kit-buying moratorium again.

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

I'm a nostalgia builder, primarily, so I don't tend to look at new kits as they come out.  I guess a good illustration is the 2 new aircraft kits from Great Wall, the P-61 and the TBD, and  Revell's PV-1.  I bought the PV-1 as soon as it came out, because I figured I couldn't beat the quality for the price.  For the Great Wall kits, I am more than happy to wait to buy them at much-reduced prices on the secondary market, especially since I am happy with the existing Monogram kits of those subjects.

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

A combination of online and live.  I like to buy at shows, and flea markets, where I can find the older kits that I like, and where I can haggle.  I do like to throw the local shops my business, but if they don't have or can't get what I want, I'll go online.

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

Does eBay count?  That's where I've bought most of my kits.  I also buy from Squadron, occasionally, when they have sales.  I've also bought direct from CMK and Eduard, via the Web.

VanceCrozier

 

dupes:

 

 

... Have 1443 kits of all types (armor/ac/sci-fi/figs) in the stash room ...

 

 

 

 

And THAT's why he rides that bike so much, no room in the garage for a car!!!

Garage? Shoot, man...I don't have a garage. Spent too much money on kits and bicycles!

Hi Guys,

An interesting thread Bill, I'll give it a shot:

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

I currently have 4 in my stash and will probably buy another 3-4 during 2012. The kits in my stash are all ones that I'm itching to build so I know they'll get done so what's the point in spending money now on a kit that I probably won't start until 2013! Two are big Dragon kits that will take a lot of time - I can only build on weekends which doesn't help! If I see something I really want and I have the funds I'll buy it but at present my stash has me well covered. Also, as I live with my parents stash space is limited.

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

I usually wait, safe in the knowledge that it will be there to buy when I'm ready to think about building it. Like I say, space is limited!

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

My LHS as they can get me any kit I need very quickly and they give me a 10% discount. I dread thinking od a model kit going through the UK postal service! It would never make it! 

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

Remember these are UK stores:

• Creative Models (personal favourite) for my Weathering stuff (AK, Mig and brushes).
• I use my LHS for all of my Tamiya paints and I use Creative Models for my Vallejo paints.
• MDC (Model Design Construction) supply my Mr Surfacer and Gunze paints.
• I use Armour Models for my Friuls, Aluminium barrels and resin parts/upgrade sets.

Thanks guys,

Ben

1) 3-5, but I've been trying to cut back, as I have a stash of 20+, the majority of which I'm VERY MUCH looking forward to building. I have begun buying little more than accessories (PE and tracks mostly) for the kits I already have.

2) If its a really cool or limited-release kit I will buy it right away (I instantly bought the first Dragon Neubaufahrzeug, the trumpeter B-4 and Voroshilovets, and the AMG NKL-26 aerosan, for example), but usually I wait until I see a great sale price or a nice price on eBay to pick up a kit. I am not picky about my kits, though. If its 1/35 WWII and it looks like a fun kit, and I can get it for a good price, I will buy it, regardless of whether I am particularly fond of the vehicle. I'm not methodical about what vehicles I build.

3/4) I buy from a fantastic hobby store in the Denver, CO area (about an hour from my house), but more often I just buy on eBay for something specific, or from greatmodels or spruebrothers if they have a nice sale.

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

I got back to this hobby after a long break in last December and now I have 31 kits!

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

I'd buy ASAP. I had to hunt down discontinued kits.

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

Online because (1) prices at LHS are way too high and (2) local inventory is laughable.

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

Mostly, scalehobbyist.

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year? 4 - 6

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting? I wait for reviews about the kit.

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination? 90% online. I would support buying at my LHS but the Internet is a Brick and Mortar killer when it comes to getting the best price.

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites) Amazon, Sprue, Ebay, GOOGLE the item for competitive pricing ,

wbill76

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

Fluctuates wildly, but I average buying about 4-6 kits per year.  Last year i bought around 4, but received another 4 or so for birthday/Christmas presents.  The year before I only bought 2.  Overall, my stash is sitting at just under 30, which i would to try and dwindle (via building), so am trying not to buy too many more.

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

Normally I wait.  The only kit I bought as soon as it was released was Dragon's 1/35 Huey  UH-1D.  Why?  Because I'd just gotten back into the hobby and had always wanted a Huey kit as a kid, but never got one.

Otherwise, i wait.  At the moment, i'm saving for Trumpeter's 1/32 F-14A.  Given it's price tag, i think it'll be my only kit purchase this year, so i'm prepared to wait.

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

Both.  I'd say, in the past year, 40% LHS, 60% online.  When i first got back into the hobby, online was far cheaper, however, (probably because of our dollar strength), i'm finding there is only about a $5 - $15 saving online.  For that amount, i prefer to support my LHS.

All supplies are LHS sourced.

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

Used to be www.hlj.com, but i'm finding them too expensive now, so i've switched to www.luckymodel.com - they take a little longer if not in stock, but seem much better priced.

 

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year? 6 to 10 kits a year.

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting? I typically wait a while..depends on the subject.

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination? Combination

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

a. Sprue Brothers

b. Ebay

c. Great Models

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

Last year just got back to the hobby so that's a bad comparable, stash grew WAY too fast so being more patient this year.

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

Again new at this but would probably never buy new release. 

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

I have the best LHS you could ask for, sells new kits a great discounts and has several big collectors in the area who "dump" their stashes at the store for resale, it's great! 

4) If you buy online, from who?

Sprue Bros, Ebay. 

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

Usually 10 to 15 kits per year, sometimes more sometimes less.

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

There's very few kits that I would ever consider buying when first released,  now the Trumpeter 1/32 A-6 Intruder would be one if they ever get around to releasing it but  I would wait for discounted sales when I can get them for 40%-50% off retail. 

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

When I have lived near a LHS I would always go there for my purchases but now that I am living out in the boonies, I rely on buying kits and paints online. 

4) If you buy online, from who?

Primarily from Squadron, and E2046 which is based in Hong Kong, but I have used Great Models, Brookhurst Hobbies, several shops in Japan. And I have never had any issues with my orders with any of those companies. I have never bought kits through e-bay and from what I have read from some modelers reviews about their experiences with e-bay, I never will. 

1) Ten or twelve a year, but I'm going to meetings now.....

2) I wait 'til the price comes down. I'm cheap.

3) On-line, LHS and show vendors. I really, really like shows, and always come away with more than I need, but that's the fun of it. On-line for lots of accessories that I don't expect to find at shows, or need NOW. And, at the LHS just because I used to be a small business owner and still feel some "loyalty".

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year? 
     ---- I buy about 15 - 20 a year. I have about 80 in my stash right now. A mixture of 1/72, 1/48, 1/32 planes. Several Me-109's, P-47's, FW 190's, etc.. A few 1/350 ships, and various armor. Running out of room!

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting? 
      ----  Sometimes I wait a while. Mostly to wait for AM, eduard masks and zoom, true details wheels, decals, etc. to hit the market. So, I can get them all together and save on shipping charges. There's also that "wow" factor when a new kit comes out, and I'll get it quickly (Tamiya 1/32 P-51). Or, if it's a "limited edition" Hasegawa.

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?
      ---- Historically, Almost exclusively online. I used to use Tower Hobbies a lot, then I discovered Sprue Brothers. Got tired of splitting my orders (Tower does not have much AM). I go to a few LHS for supplies when I can, to try and support them. Sometimes I come across a hidden Gem. For example, A LHS (railroad)  had a steal on a dusty pro-modeller 1/48 Me 410. That's always a nice surprise! Got to know the owner there who told me he can get me pretty much anything (alclad, eduard, etc. etc.) a bit more cheaply than I can get online. No shipping! So, I'll be using him more. If you have a LHS that is mostly R/C, R/R, etc. don't discount them!

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites) - See above.

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

Probably around 20-30. I build maybe 10 a year so it's a bit of a problem. Current stash I'd guess is around maybe 200-300 kits.

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

Rarely do I buy anything new. Mostly what I buy is on sale or good deals at shows. I did pre-order the Ka-Mi with the pontoons too though.

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

About half from dealers at shows and half on-line. I rarely buy any model at the LHS. The two local shops are mostly railroad and mostly RC with limited selection. Plus the prices are much higher. Still I believe I keep them in business by buying piles of paint and other supplies. I don't remember the last time I left the LHS with less than thirty bucks dropped on paint.

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

Squadron, Sprue Brothers, Great Model, Dragon USA, and Hobby Link Japan (can't believe no one has listed HLJ yet- or did I miss it?)

Paul - borrowed your edit - hope you don't mind

Cliff

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

Less than 10, probably around 5.  My "stash" is a modest 35.

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

I've never seen a kit I wanted and waited to buy it just to see if the price would drop.  On the other hand, I don't scan new release lists looking for things.

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

All three.  In store mostly from Michaels.  At a LHS, when I can get to one, I've picked up a few.  I know they are outrageous in prices, but an impulse but now and then (with my meager annual purchases) to help the LHS stay open is okay for me.

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

Squadron. And a couple off Amazon sellers.  Round2.

Paul

Very interesting to see the commonality among many...it would appear that the common favorite sources for kit purchases (unscientific results!) online are Sprue Brothers, DragonUSA, Squadron, and ebay/Amazon. Scale Hobbyist is a a new one that I've heard a little about recently and will have to check out and add to my list of potential suppliers.

dupes

 

... Have 1443 kits of all types (armor/ac/sci-fi/figs) in the stash room ...

 

 

And THAT's why he rides that bike so much, no room in the garage for a car!!!

Kits bought in a year: varies wildly (I happened upon a 2nd hand stash that I just had to buy from, great deals!), but a "normal" year, probably 4-5.

The only kit I bought as soon as it was released - Tamiya's 1/48 Storch, and that was more because I spotted it in my LHS the day it arrived & had mad-money in my hands. The reason for waiting… is more that I have no need to buy right away I suppose, not planned.

Up until 2 years ago I only bought from LHS, or other retail shops that happen to have kits. Last year (as mentioned above) I stumbled on an unexpected stash at a 2nd hand shop. And I've only made online purchases in the past two years, kits etc from Sprue Bros (very happy with the service & prices) and some decals directly from Illiad Productions in Ontario, Canada.

wbill76

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

Somewhere between 20-30. 

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

Sometimes.  It depends on the subject.   

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

All of our LHS's have bit the dust, so I get most of my kits either from online vendors or Ebay.  We still have a local train shop where I can get paint and other supplies.

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

I purchased stuff from Squadron for years, going back to the pre-Internet days when you either mailed in an order form or called your order in.  Lately I've also been using Sprue Bros.  For wooden ship stuff I use Model Expo.

Mark

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

Have cut back considerably. Getting more AM stuff to better detail current stock. Will probably pick up  2 or 3 kits this year.

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

As soon as its released.

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

Combination of all.

4) If you buy online from Who?

Scale Hobbyist, Squadron, Sprue Bros.

Ooooh yeah, Tojo reminded me of Lucky Model. Although their prices used to be much better before they got much more popular (and the dollar tanked).

wbill76

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

No idea, really, so I'll have to use the kits/years method from above. Been back into modeling just about 6 years now. Have 1443 kits of all types (armor/ac/sci-fi/figs) in the stash room, plus I've built about 25 kits/year. So 1593/6 = approximately 265 a year. That being said, I've slowed down quite a bit lately...have gotten more into trading for what I want, and have tried to sell one kit for every one I buy.

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

Absolutely wait. With a couple of kits still to build in the stash (hah!), there's absolutely no reason for me to pay retail for something. In fact, because of my collection I'm able to hold off on just about anything until I can find it for the right price. According to my stash spreadsheet (yep, I've got one too - a big one that I love tinkering with) I'm currently operating at 28.74% of retail. As in 71.26% off. The power of patience!

As far as kits going "out of production", they almost always get re-released...and if they don't, someone will eventually make a new tooled kit. If that fails, I've still got my stash to fall back on.

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

Majority is online sales split pretty evenly between webstores and private purchases. Next biggest would be show vendors (go to 4 a year), with last place being my LHS. I use the term pretty loosely, as their stock hasn't changed much in the past 6 years...and I'm not going to pay retail+ for stuff.

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

Based on order frequency (I think) - Squadron, DragonUSA, Spruebros, Great Models, Hannants, Ebay.

stash of about 25-30

1.about 7-10 a year

2.usually asap

3.online vendors+ebay,    show vendors,     LHS

4.Greatmodels-Spruebrothers-Scalehobbyist-Freetimehobbies-Luckymodels

1) At a rough guess, and it is very rough, i would say 10-15 a year. This year so far i am on 5ish. But lately that has been mainly aircraft. I can't remember the last armour kit i bought.

2) I have a shopping list with items split down into categories. I try and stick to that and don't add anything new to the lsit unit that category has run down a bit. New kits i figure will be around for a while so they can wait. Unless it is something i have really been after or its a limited run kit or an expensive one i just happen to be able to offered there and then.

3) About 99% online, with the odd one from my LHS or anywhere else i may see kits.

4) Hannants & E-Bay are my top two. Followed by Sprue Brothers then a few other site i might buy the od kit from.

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

I cut way back on my kit buying about 10 yrs ago and was down to about 1 model a yr . However i have bought 8 models so far in the last 5 months . Just couldnt resist the new kits and the better quality of them .

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

I wait . The reason i wait is so that i can study the reviews .

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

I do both now . My LHS is where i used to buy 99 % of my stash over a 20 yr. period , up till 10 yrs.ago  , but they cut back on their armor kits .Besides my stash got really huge .

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

 I used to order from Squadron via snail mail many yrs. ago . Now that i have internet i use Sprue Bros. 

1. I'm really limiting myself to a very few kits per year. My stash is around 32. It's down slightly from a year ago.

2. No, I never buy a kit when it's first released. However I did get the Dragon Panzerjager IV Smart kit last year for around $30 shipped during a holiday sale. I refuse to pay full retail and my rule of  thumb is paying at least 40% off including shipping.

3. I only purchase paints and supplies at the LHS. Their prices are out of this world. I did strike gold at a 75% sale at my local Hobbytown 2 years ago. The vast majority of my purchases over the years have been online.

4. My favorite place to buy kits has been ebay for the past 8 years. Second, used to be Greatmodels, but I have since ordered from Spruebrothers and Dragononline. They run some killer sales.

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

Well, I got back into modeling in July 2010 - so 20 months ago. And my stash currently stands around 110 or so (plus the 20 or so I've either built or have in progress). 130/20 = 6.5 kits per month, or, gulp, 78 per year! I've slowed that down a lot since October, but still buy kits here and there.

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

Yes.

It depends on the subject and the kit. My main reasons for waiting are a subject that doesn't sufficiently blow my skirt up, but that still interests me, or uncertainty with how the manufacturer did (Roden Staggerwing, Great Wall P-61 are two kits I still haven't bought that  are excellent examples).

For existing kits, I keep a list of ones I want and a general knowledge of what they usually cost. Then, when I run across a kit selling for substantially less, I might jump on it (depends how bad I want the kit). If it's limited production or OOP and hard to find, I may be more willing to just snag it. But having that list is great when the sites run deals, or when you stumble upon something at a show. Heck, I just snagged Revell's 1/144 Fletcher class for a hair over $70 last week when Great Models kicked off their 40% sale.

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

Yes. I do like to buy from the LHS, but usually confine purchases to kits that you don't really see discounted anywhere - Tasca tanks for example. With their 20% coupons, I can more or less come out ahead sometimes, and if it's break even, well, I like supporting the shop. Sometimes they'll have deals, too, like the Christmas to New Years 30% off everything sale. Snagged a few PCM kits and a Hobby Boss M26 Pershing that way.

Also hit show vendors pretty hard. Usually with a list of "really wants" and then just an open eye for opportunity. 

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

Yep. Great Models, Sprue Brothers, Scale Hobbyist, Dragon USA Online, Hannants, and of course eBay

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

Probably 2-3, mind you I've only been getting back into the hobby within the last year or so.

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

I'm not in the know enough to know when a kit is first released.

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

I will try my LHS first, then go to ebay.  I did get 2 from my first show last month.

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

eBay

I buy somewhere in the neighborhood of ten or so kits per year.  I am sitting at about 100 kits and try to keep it below that by either building, selling or giving kits away to buddies for their kids to build.  Couple years back my stash reached 300 and looked at it all and considered it ridiculous so I sold off the majority of the stash as I have no desire to be a collector.  I knew there was no way I was going to get around to building all those kits.  Additionally as the cost of kits has risen, along with my need to pick up the AM parts my acquisition has slowed.

For most kits I wait on a bargain but, there are occasions I will jump on new releases if I can get them as presales for slightly less.  Most the time though I wait for sales or steals when and where they surface.

Almost 100% of my purchases are on line, it is exceptionally rare if I pick one up at the store.  Great Models Webstore was my preferred choice trailed by Squadron then E Bay.  There are purchases from various other stores but those are sporadic as deals and steals arise.  With the demise of Great Models I guess I will be giving Sprue Brothers a shot.

wbill76

 

Anyhow, I thought who better to ask about this than the forum gang here? So without further ado, a few simple questions to my forum buddies if you don't mind...

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

Quick and painless...unfortunately I can't offer you any random drawings for gift cards or free cruises or similar...although I hear Manny has connections for some nice winter accomodations if you ask real nice.

1) How many kits (rough estimate) would you say you buy in a year?

Roughly seven
2) Do you buy a kit as soon as it is released or do you wait a while? If you wait, what's the main reason for waiting?

I used to wait. However, like Manny, I've noticed kits no longer remain in production very long so I now buy as soon as I learn of a release.

If I wait, it is due to either cost or lack of storage

3) Do you buy online or from a physical LHS or show vendors or combination?

I still prefer to buy at the LHS as I'm able to inspect kit condition immediately (LHS in Chicago area usually open the box to allow inspection).
Unfortunately, the LHS doesn't have a large enough customer base to warrant a large and diverse stock of kits.

4) If you buy online, from who? (feel free to list more than one if you have multiple favorites)

So far, only Squadron Shop (since the 1980s), Great Models and Sprue Brothers.

wbill76

 " I hear Manny has connections for some nice winter accomodations if you ask real nice."

I've heard that one option is traveling by submarine to a winter Lair as a guest of a very friendly Giant Radioactive Lizard.

1). My buying habits are feast or famine, depending upon my family's financial situation. The last year or so has been pretty lean with less than a dozen or so kits purchased. Probably closer to 6 or 8 max. But other years when things were better and kits I wanted were more plentiful it could be 20 or more.

2). I usually do not buy a new release unless it is something I am really looking for or it is at a significant markdown. I need the most bang from my buck.

3). Most of my purchases are from the LHS, second most numerous is Ebay. But over the past couple years I have been picking up more and more kits at IPMS and AMPS chapter meetings when guys are thinning out their own stashes, usually for a great price. No gouging there like when you go to a kit collector show. Both club chapters to which I belong also have auctions twice a year of kits donated by members to raise funds.

4). My online shops of choice are Squadron, Great Models and Roll Models. And of course Ebay, both from private parties and a few online stores that I like.

No Costa Cruise line cruises here for the prize?