BOX HOGGING - Is It Selfish????

[Sticky Fingers]

Hi All,

Just beem reading another thread where a guy said he had so many models that if he were to build one a month it would last him into retirement and he's only 30!!!

It just got me thinking that it could be seen as selfish. Not in all situations, however. But I'm thinking of kits which are out of production, kits which people have wanted to build for years.

I'm probably gonna get a roasting for this but I don't see the point of people buying all these kits if they're not gonna build them.

Some people here have shown kits I can only dream about building but are they built? No. They're in a cupboard unbuilt so the owner can gloat that he has them. Why not just f**king build the models?!?!

Bring it on then........

[tonioseven]

Just because I can; that is all. Seriously, I had actual plans on building them all however, every so often I get rid of a few kits that I'm pretty sure I won't build. There are members here that can attest to that so I actually share sometimes.

[Sticky Fingers]

Yep, as I said. A boaster, a bragger, a show-off call it what you will. Who's gonna build those models when you're dead?

[tonioseven]

My 2 sons. If they don't, then they can do with them whatever they wish. I have gotten rid of a good portion of the kits and wheels pictured but I figured I'd give you the response you seem to be looking for. Oh, for the selfishness, why is is selfish to buy a kit when it's available because I have the means and foresight to know that it probably will be OOP pretty soon? I have some rare kits but hell, I worked hard for the money to buy them so I can do with them whatever I please, correct?

I detect a hint of jealousy here.

[Veyron]

You are way out of line here.

Yes, I have over 400 unbuilt kits....more than I'll ever be able to build although I bought each one to build.

I have some very rare kits, it is not selfish of me to have them at hand if and when I get ready to build them...selfish no, excessive yes.

And that is my main point, I have kits at hand when I'm ready for them, I don't have to go on a search for them, that is a luxury.

As for rare kits, you have to buy them before they get rare, right? Just because you don't build a rare kit immediately doesn't make it 'selfish' it just means you didn't build it yet.

[73superduty]

I'm going to have to agree. Outta line.
You have to buy these kits when they are available. If not you'll kick yourself later when you want to build one.
I'm like anyone else. If you have the money and you want the kit then buy it. My every intention is to build the kit, but I may not get to it.
I'm not sure I see the problem here.
Sometimes, I buy two of any certain model. Kind of like the Ferrari 550/575 that will be coming out. I plan on buying two of each.
Chris

[SupaMan89T]

i sorta agree with him and then i sorta dont.I wonder if the reason why i cant get a certain kit is because you guys already have them all,but then i think it is your money and your life,but then i get mad because i cant get these kits i want.Im so cunfused(sp?) on my thoughts right now.

And tonio your damn right im jealous of your stash

[ATMDC]

i dont think its selfish, its just a matter of they got them first, and i'm sure if you really wanted the kit that bad you could offer a trade or a fine price and it will be yours to boast over, no?

[sjelic]

I can only say: "I wish I have as many kits as Tonio has, then I would be truly happy "
I am at beggining with only 30+ on my stock

[bigfrit]

I ve got kits, many and few in every respect and compared to different builders.

And If I could I d get more models, but hey, if I were to have 1000 real cars, would that be considered selfish? no, you would be a collector, and so what if you don't drive them around, fuck it!

buy kits, keep them, build them, I don't care, actually.

Just buy and build whatever you want, and as always, -and most modelers disagreeing with your post will agree- the more the merrier !

Oli

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

I have well over 1000 kits (I've been buying and not keeping up since 1981). All bought when I found them at reasonable/current prices. All intending to get built. Only a few rare ones purchased over Ebay or achieved through trades (like a stock Marui Pantera via Ebay and a Corrado through a trade).

I laugh when I see someone cry over not having a particular model as if someone hoarded it so they couldn't get it. It's only a model. It's only a model. It's only a model.

I have enough models to last me until I'm 325 years old.

I would love to be able to get my kit stash down to a solid "top 100" or so. But I can't ! And these damned model companies keep coming up with new stuff I just have to have!

I do sell/trade models from time to time, but the stack never seems to shrink.

[Eric Cole]

It's a hobby.... part of the hobby is buying and collecting just as much as building is a part of the hobby. I have a few hundred kits in my stash and yes there are kit's I want and don't have. Yes they are hard to get becsase they've been "collected" by other collectors. But the reality of it is if you want it bad enough you can get it. You have to be willing to pay for it but if it was ever made you can buy it on ebay or will be able to eventually if you watch out for it.

But the way, I'm not really a collector per say. I have all intentions of building my models. They are all opened so I could gaze at the parts inside. Collecting happens by default when you buy faster than you build.

Does the same selfishness apply to people who collect Hotwheels, stamps, shot glasses, etc..., etc...? Collecting in itself is a hobby. The searching, finding and collecting is part of the fun!!

[willimo]

Some people collect, that's their bag.

But really, I think I can speak for anyone here at AF since we are a building community when I say: We intend to build all of them! I have about 30 kits, and it is my entire intention to build all of them; every last one of them. I, unfortunately, like many folks, have model ADD and also put so much work into construction of each model, that I find models I want faster than I can put them together. That's not my fault. There are kits that I would love to have but cannot because they are in someone's stash. All I can do about that is remain vigilant on eBay and at shows and hope I find one that is getting relinquished for whatever reason.

Just because you can't have it doesn't mean no one can have it. You are whining like me when I see some underappreciative frat guy driving an S2000 just to pick up chicks with - I feel your pain, but really, what can you do besides buck up and wait to get the prize for yourself?

[DoubleFourValve]

As I see it, no one is fighting for "bragging" rights for the kits it has in stock. I have around 350 unbuilt kits now (sorry for putting it so bluntely, but the subject requires it), don't now if some are rare (OOP, for sure), but then again, I buy what I like, when I can.

I'm not trying to make money out of this (on the contrary...) and I can't see a single good reason to stop buying what I like, when I like it. Some were cheap, some were damn expensive, and I´m glad I have any single of them.

As for building them, that's a different matter. I intend to build every one (and I´m in my 40's) but I'm not worried a bit about it. Last time I saw, this was a hobby.

Unless someone wants to propose a federal law on the built Vs unbuilt ratio of kits.

This was a few monthes ago:









If you see something interesting, I´ll be happy to share my interests with you. :-)

[SchuberT]

Originally Posted by tonioseven

Oh, for the selfishness, why is is selfish to buy a kit when it's available because I have the means and foresight to know that it probably will be OOP pretty soon?

Please share your philosophy with my dad! He doesn't know the meaning of "out of production". That's exactly the reason why I have no unbuilt kits. I'd love to have the kits I like before they are discontinued, but it's hard convincing a father who thinks that was his mistake.

Honestly, I don't see a huge inventory of kits as a selfish thing. It may be selfish to go on ebay and buy out every auction for rare kits just so you can say you have them, with no intention of building any of them. But then, that's the definition of a collector...... so even that can't really be a selfish act.

Joking/boasting about how many kits people have is really a modeling pasttime if you ask me. It's not so much a sign of status, but a sign of how involved you actually are. Just because you don't have 200+ models, though, doesn't mean that you aren't involved, it just means you don't have the sickness, if you will.