I’m really young still, so I haven’t thought about it too much. If I’m lucky, I hope to have a son or daughter who can appreciate model-making or just the subjects in general (like my dad and I). To be honest though, I will probably cut down a lot of model-making when I have a family because I really want to invest in my kids. Though I wouldn’t be opposed if my kids inherit some of my interests hehehe
Honestly, I don’t really have a preference of what happens to my built kits. I don’t have too many, and if selling it to someone would make their day (or even give them away for free), I would totally love that! At that point, my collection is not about me, but it’s more about who I inspire to be creative.
Donate all of my unbuilt kits and supplies to my Model Club. The club is getting quite a few younger modelers involved in the hobby. The younger builders don’t have the money to buy kits and supplies. I’ve spoken with my wife about this, and she knows my wishes. As for my built ones, I don’t have many built models. I wish my son would have gotten interested in the hobby. His love is working on cars and fixing things.
Even as a lifelong modeler, the idea of owning other peoples’ models doesn’t much interest me. And I’m under no illusions - my ‘masterpieces’ are, I’m sure, headed for the trash when I depart this wacky life. Probably the unbuilt kits as well, since I don’t really expect disinterested family members to sort through and try to ‘auction site’ (or whatever) remains of the collection.
Which brings to mind a real question: is polystyrene recyclable in the way that plastic bottles are? I mean, I know it is physically possible to recycle it as a material - but will it work in the refuse/recycling schemes most of us have grown familiar with?
The more I keep hearing about and reading how people are concerned about what to do with their model stuff when their gone, the more I can’t help but think maybe there could be a museum dedicated to the history of model collecting and building?
I know, it might sound like a stupid idea. But there’s museums all over the US and the world dedicated to all sorts of subjects.
My area can’t be the only area with a hobby store that buys unbuilt models to resell.
I’m still fairly young (mid 50s) and don’t expect a short life (both my parents are approaching 80) but when I go, the WIPs and built kits can go in the bin and the stash can go to the hobby store for resale.
I guess I am really blessed. I have several local hobby stores in the Dayton, OH area. They are all less than 45 minutes from me. I frequent 2. One is near my office and I buy most of my paints there. They have an entire aisle dedicated to paints. The other sells a large selection of second hand models that they check to make sure are complete and buildable before putting them on their shelves. I have heard about other stores on the local IPMS Facebook page but have not visited them yet.
There are about 2,000 hobby stores in the U.S. When I started with Model Retailer in 2006, there were about 4,000. Obviously, that’s a big downturn, but the 2Kish number has remained fairly consistent for a number of years. Could it be better? Of course. But there are stores out there to be found, and many of them will sell online. In fact, I urge folks to by from their local (or as local as it gets) hobby shops, even if it costs a few bucks more. I don’t want to derail the thread, so I’ll end this here, but I have an idea about this, that I need to make note of and explore a bit. Keep your eyes open for a new thread.
Thanks to everyong participating in this thread. I’m going to use some of your responses here in the print version of the magazine, so don’t be surprised if you receive a DM from me asking for name, city, state/province, and country. This is an ongoing conversation, and I want to share it with the readership who isn’t on the forum.
I live near Asheville,we had a really good Hobby Town that carried a lot of kits and supplies,it got destroyed in Helene,then we have great Hobby Town In Hickory NC run by a model guy,but its 90 min away.
In NJ I had a locsl shop 5 min away,so i guess it depends.
I’m afraid of mission creep here, so let’s bring the thread back to the main topic.
That said, Comrade, I encourage you to start a new thread and kick it off with your post here. I think it would get some traction. I know I’d have some thoughts to share.
I apologize to everyone for taking us further off course than I intended.
