Am I the only one, or are there others that just can’t comprehend the prices that are put on discontinued kits, and the amount some people will pay for them. I’d really like to have a 1/48 scale PBY. The one I was watching on ebay #2601387678567 a Monogram PBY-5 Catalina just went for $62. Another one that I want to get is the 1/48 scale B-58 Hustler. They go for stupid money also. I just got back to building plastic models after being idle for about 15 years. I don’t mind shelling out for a well designed kit with good detail. But now I’m looking for kits that I remember from long ago and it’s like a Barrett Jackson auction. I’m just venting because I’m frustrated. Just wondering if others feel the same, or do they just shell it out as I see some of them do. Am I just a cheap skate?
Hey kenny welcome back to the hobby. Unfortunatly it is basic economics supply and demand. These older Monogram kits in most cases are still the only offerings from anybody in 1/48. Secondly they are still in great demand and very popular subjects. If you are willing to wait Revell still posses all of these molds and could do another production run whenever they please. The problem is they usally only do a couple every year. It drives people nuts. The molds are there and so is the demand I guess they just do not have the production capabilities to do more than a couple of moulds at a time. So even though these models are out of production Revell has the abilities to produce them. If you want one now then you have to pay. I doubt you will ever see a 1/48 Cat going for less than $50.00 ever on eBay.
This doesn’t work all of the time but, it has paid off for me.
Do a search everyday. I ALWAYS check under the “buy it now” section first. If it’s not there then I will check out the auctions. I have been lucky on a couple of occasions and found one that, apparently, nobody else had noticed because they were too intent on not letting someone beat them out of another that they were bidding on. Wait until the last possible second and bid what you’ll pay. Like I said. It doesn’t work all the time but it has.
The latest one is one I’ve been wanting for a long time. The Monogram T-28 Trojan in 1/48. I had 6 different auctions in my favorite places. They all are over now and not a one of them went for less than $20.00 plus shipping. I logged in yesterday to check on the last two that were going. While waiting, just for kicks, I did a search and BAMM!!! There it was!!! “Buy It Now”, $11.95 plus $5.60 shipping!!! Guess who is mailing a money order out today? Not a great deal, I guess. But better than any of the auctions I was watching.
Sorry to be so long winded. But, it’s worth a try.
As others have stated, it’s supply and demand. Discounting bidding wars, there are many kits that will sell for low dollars even though they’re out of production just because there isn’t a high demand.
The PBY-5A isn’t one of them, though. I think I paid high $50s or low 60s for mine several years ago. The C-47 is another one that will go high. I’ve seen people win C-47’s for $100+.
Yes, the old AMT/ERTL 1/72 XB-70 Valkyrie routinely sells on Ebay for $100-$120. Back when they were on the hobby shelves, you could pick 'em up for around $20. Supply and demand…
Add the Revell-Monogram 1/48 A-6E to the list of discontinued models auctioned off that sell at rediculously high bids. I have yet to find one in any ebay store.
Add to the list the Visible B-17. That one always goes for big $. I can understand those highly sought-after kits like the Visible B-17, C-47 or B-58 going for big $ since they are fairly rare. But if you just get other kits and wait for these, eventually Monogram will run another production run. (Although I’ve yet to see a Visible B-17 be re-released).
What really amuses me is when I see something, say a Tamiya Bf109E that one can currently get, go for well more than one would pay if they just bought it from a place like Lucky Model or even Squadron. That’s when I really shake my head.
As Aggieman said, the visible kits are quite pricey, although if you look long enough, you can do all right - I recently got an unopened Visible P-51 for $20. While the B-58 is hard to find in 1:48 they turn up with some frequency and if the stars are right, you can get one for around $20-$25. I buy a lot on eBay, and I have automatic searches set up to email me when an item is listed. As was said earlier, always check the Buy It Now first, you may be pleasantly surprised! I just got an Eduard Strip Down Piper L-4 in 1:72 scale for $4.99!
Maybe you’re just looking in the wrong place for discontinued kits.
I joined the local IPMS chapter a few years ago and have been able to obtain TONS of out-of-production kits for a fraction of their original retail price (let alone the auction prices).
How, you ask? Well, here are a couple of ways.
Model sales at IPMS meetings - At each of our monthly meetings, there are always a people who bring kits that they are no longer interested in to sell to the other members, usually for a fraction of the retail price. At last month’s meeting, I bought a pristine Revell 1/48 Cobra II (P-39) racing plane for $15. This hasn’t been in production since the late '60s. On eBay, this would have easily cost 4 times this amount.
Garage sales - Occasionally, members will hold garage sales to liquidate some of their stash. For example, I once picked up a Hasegawa 1/48 “Showtime 100” F-4J for $8. On another occasion, a former IPMS member had passed and his family asked our club if we would “sponsor” a garage sale for his very large stash (well over 1,000) of old kits. Most of the kits were going for less than $10. I bought more than my fair share which included a 1/24 Nichimo Hughes 500 helicopter for $12. Last year, another old-time modeler was in ill health and his family asked one of our IPMS members if we would hold a garage sale to help raise money for his medical expenses. Again this was a large collection of out-of-production kits for a fraction of the auction value and in most cases, far less than the original retail value.
Kit auctions - Every spring, our club holds its annual model kit auction with the proceeds going to the club treasury. People bring in kits they no longer want to donate to the auction. The prices can be ridiculously low for some kits. Other clubs in local area also hold kit auctions.
Conventions & Shows - I’ve only been to one IPMS Regional but I can see why they are so popular. There were dozens of vendors selling new and out-of-production kits and aftermarket supplies. I couldn’t believe how low some of the prices were. One guy was selling new Airfix and Heller kits for $1 (probably not a big deal to most folks but I’m an Airfix collector). I also picked up an Airfix 1/24 Hurricane kit for $5. Granted, the instructions were missing (which the vendor informed me of prior to the sale), but I already had the instructions.
The Grapevine - The advantage of belonging to a club is that there are many more sets of eyes & ears to do the legwork of model shopping for you. Frequently, club members will find out about flea markets, swap meets, garage sales, and non-member collectors who will be selling kits and announce this at meetings.
Connections - Since many of the club members know of my interest in old, crappy kits (e.g. Airfix, Heller, FROG), many have stepped forward when culling their collections and asked me “Hey, I found a bunch of old Airfix stuff that I don’t want. Are you interested?”. and usually, I end up buying a big box of kits that have been out-of-production for decades for $1 to $5 per kit.
Since I’ve joined the local IPMS chapter, my monthly modeling spending has increased some, about 10%, but my access to inexpensive, out-of-production kits has exploded! I must add that it really helps to be interested in something that few other people are (i.e. “old, crappy kits”). But I’m glad that we’re all interested in different things and that’s what makes one man’s trash, another man’s treasure. And old models are not the only thing available! Books, magazines, decals, and aftermarket products are also available through the same channels. For example, I bought a complete set of “Scale Modeler” magazines from the first issue through 1978 from a fellow club member for $50. That would have cost me much more on eBay.
So my advice to you is to get connected to people than can hook you up with cheap discontinued model kits!