Oh yeah! I've just read the thread about the forthcoming new transkit for The Tamiya Enzo: 120 Euro (let's say it's the same as $...)! + the price of the kit itself (45-50 Euros)...
... And I open your thread! Ah! Ah! Oh yes ,it's good to see that modeling is not only for "people who can afford it".
Unfortunately (...) I don't remember the english words, but I know that can be used (in french):
-coton-tige (roll bars, etc...)
-pots de yaourts (du yaourt, quoi!) (for thin plastic pieces)
-canettes de bière ( beer cans) (can be cut to have some kind of photoetch)
-tulle fin (for the grids)
And, yes, pins are very usefull! Gunze Sangyo's Jaguar E-type kit uses them a lot!
I'd really like to see your caravan! 1:87! Requires good eyes and a heavy finger control!
Is "trash" really the right word? Paper models are quite cheap too, but one can't say it's trash...
I would use the word "creative", but I may be too much "politicaly correct"...
I hope one day I'll have the skill to model a car without having to buy a kit... but I'm not good enough yet!...