As my screen name might suggest, I am an aged modeler who’s been at it for decades. Having retired over a decade ago, I have quite the collection of aircraft models inasmuch as modeling is my main recreation in retirement. A friend remarks that I have the second largest air force in the world.
Anyway…
I have been giving thought to what happens to my collection when I Go West. I have an adult daughter (no sons) who shows little interest in my hobby and most likely would toss my decades’ worth of effort into the garbage bin. I had a friend who might have taken it for his model-related business but he’s passed on.
I was a member of the local Commemorative Air Force chapter (Airbase Arizona) but they have a professed dislike for models that might otherwise grace their aircraft collection.
There is only one hobby shop in my area but I have not scoped them out – and anyway, not knowing when I might Go West, it seems infeasible to plan on a business that might not be there when they are needed – assuming they would be interested at all.
So what’s an aged modeler to do when planning for a future after they have eternally ceased modeling?
If you build military aircraft models, I suggest checking with local VFW and American Legion halls to see if at least they might want US subjects for decor.
I’m 83 and still building since 1946. I’ve got a stash that will let me build for the next 200 years at my rate of building. But if you want to donate some, I’ll help you out. My favorites are WWI & WWII planes if that makes it easier for you to pick out which ones. [;)]
I’ve told the Man upstairs that whenever he calls me, I’m taking what is left of my stash with me to finish at the great workbench in the sky. He can’t send me to the other place ([6]) because fire and plastic and wood don’t get along with each other.
Realistically, the demand for built up models is minimal at best. Besides the other’s suggestions, you may want to see if their are any organizations nearby like a Civil Air Patrol unit or Junior ROTC in a high school that might want some. Or just find some kids, and give them away. They’ll play until they’re destroyed, but maybe one will catch the bug. I think that’s the best you can hope for.
When we moved from upstate New York to South Carolina last year we had an estate sale. The guy running it saw my collection of models and assured me they would all sell quickly and it turns out he was right. Sale prices reflected the closeout nature of the sale and were low but everything I wasn’t moving was sold the first day of the sale. My only regret was that I’d thrown out some of my worst efforts because it never crossed my mind that someone would want to buy them.
I have seen vendors at shows with boxes of built models for sale. I’m guessing that guys buy them and fix them up. I’ve spent quite a few years bringing home models from a museum and restoring them. It is a P.I.T.A. sometimes and very hard work all the rest of the times. Then they go back to the museum. Would never buy models all ready made by someone else for myself. But, that’s just my [2cnts].
