Models: Build 'Em Up Or Keep 'Em Boxed?

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Build them! Build them all!!!!!!

I got a huge stash of unbuilt ones too, but it's 'cos the stuff I like only comes around so often, so I gotta stock up. Last month a friend dropped off a pile of Macross and Dougram kits, that I've been restoring.

Don C.

[SUP-Ronin]

Build them. Kind of like a puzzle. They're meant to be put together, and really aren't much fun to look at in the box.

[mike69]

I would definately build them.. Unless I was lucky enough to get two of the same one. Then I would leave on boxed up.

[ddgaff1132]

If your a builder. Check in at the thrift store. I picked up several and I'm gonna keep on going. Seems alot of people buy 'em. Then panic about putting them together. "Oh!!! I just mess it up. It'll be a waist of money. I should'nt have opened it!" And it ends up at Goodwill. People who try to turn unopened models into high end collectables are barking up the wrong tree. I know people who have taken poor models and by art of assembly. Turned them into professional museum quality display items.

[AAAAA]

This issue tells how to break down and rebuilded old models kits.
Amazing Figure Modeler #38

[ThatBatmanGuy]

I have big stash of kits. Both styrene and resin. I love the old auroras. I have a bunch of the monsters and superheroes. Very few will not be built and painted. I buy for myself and not to resell. IF I sell an old kit, it's because I have lost interest in it.

I sell aftermarket vinly decal sets for model kits. At the present I have a vinly decal set of stars for the Moebius Wonder Woman kit. No painting of the stars, just peel and stick.

I know some collectors who only buy kits to NEVER build them. Nothing wrong with that either. It's their money and their hobby.
Bob

[david_b]

I have big stash of kits. Both styrene and resin. I love the old auroras. I have a bunch of the monsters and superheroes. Very few will not be built and painted. I buy for myself and not to resell. IF I sell an old kit, it's because I have lost interest in it.

I sell aftermarket vinly decal sets for model kits. At the present I have a vinly decal set of stars for the Moebius Wonder Woman kit. No painting of the stars, just peel and stick.

I know some collectors who only buy kits to NEVER build them. Nothing wrong with that either. It's their money and their hobby.
Bob

Totally Agreed.

Besides.., reality check here..: How many folks keep action figures MOC..??

What's the difference? Granted you can see the figure, not the model inside, but the purpose of action figures are... 'action'.

If you don't play with them as toys, which is the intent of the item (being a 'toy', despite whatever the buyer's/collector's intent is), then what's the difference..?

[Gorn Captain]

I'm a strong believer in letting something achieve its full and intended potential.
Most of my figures are taken off the card, unless the artwork is exceptionally beautiful, or the figure has so little "action potential" that you can just leave it on the card. I kept some ST Playmates figures carded, because they can hardly move anyway, for example.

Same with kits, they are meant to be built, and only become attractive once they are. If the box is nice, I'll use it as a backdrop, which is the best of both worlds for me.
I have bought and built Aurora kits, thereby fulfilling their intended potential. They look great, instead of remaining just some parts in a box.

But everyone can collect the way he likes it best.
I know of a guy who bought two Aurora kits (sealed in their cellophane wrappers), started having doubts a year later, opened the cello..and found a couple of $2 toys inside. The seller apparently knew how to reseal those babies as an expert.
He had paid over $1,000 each.

[david_b]

I know of a guy who bought two Aurora kits (sealed in their cellophane wrappers), started having doubts a year later, opened the cello..and found a couple of $2 toys inside. The seller apparently knew how to reseal those babies as an expert.
He had paid over $1,000 each.

"..wow..." Yep, that's always the risk. It's the perceived value.

When some rock stars actually tried to 'play their gold records' they found out it was some cheap blues record, just painted and labeled as theirs. It's the classic argument on whether to buy without ever opening the contents..

Thanks for sharing..!

[Marvelmania]

I've got a few of the Aurora Comic Scenes and a '66 Aurora Cap that I'm keeping sealed and not building but some monster, superhero and other models I'm building up. It's been a lot of fun.

[mazinz]

I have a few plastic and resin kits. Most of them are still in the box, but on occasion I do assemble some. The biggest problem for me is in painting them, which I am not the best at. I think it might be that very reason which really discourages me from assembling more of them

[pepi]

Most of the really cool models are available in reissue (SciFi stuff at least). I usually hold onto the boxed original models and buy the polar lights or Moebius model kits and build those up... I think most of the reissues are actually "better" than the originals, details added that you wished had been there when you purchased the original. That's my take.

[david_b]

This issue tells how to break down and rebuilded old models kits.
Amazing Figure Modeler #38

I know one of these issues had a SUPER-COOL article, step-by-step tutorial on rebuilding a junked 2001 Moon Shuttle Bus..

Unassembled, repainted, new parts added, it looked FANTASTIC..

It's definitely an art and 'exercise in patience', but it's an awesome way to collect those rare, vintage models at cheap prices.., assuming all the parts are included (or can be customized..).

david_b

[Joe90]

I've bought numerous repops of vintage models with the intent of building them. So far they've all stayed in the box.





One day. Soon...

[PNGwynne]

I bought my dad a model one year for christmas because he used to build them when he was young but has since forgotten how to be young. very sad. i thought we could build it together or he could do it with leisure time (he was 57, i was 30) - never happened

sooo

i saw a 49 merc coupe on sale at target a few years later (his first car that he talks about incessantly)
i talked to his brother, sister and mother about specifics of HIS car. I built the model to match his car -that he has no pictures of.

he opened it and had that look of "i didn't build the last one. why did you give me this?"
i said - open the box.
he did and it was a 49 coup with identical paint job, shaved chrome, hub caps, missing gril, engine, 3 tone shag carpet, seat covers color (to match the ones he made by hand). everyhing i could think of to remake HIS car

he was in awe. that was over ten years ago -to this day it stands prominently placed in his office.

this was the finest model i have ever built.

Wonderful, touching story, Brue---thanks for sharing!

I say build--but I save the boxes if they are cool. I love reissues!