Got wind recently of a story of a widow from a neighboring town disposing the late husband’s collection of 80 plus 1/48 aircraft models.
We all very well know that when our time’s up and our names are called on the roll call from up there or down below, our connection with this modeling world will cease to exist.
I remember from previous topics in this forum, others see their collection as their kids inheritance or as some sort of insurance policy that their heirs can turn to cash (maybe like the widow above). The great models I’ve seen here I think should go to museums for posterity.
My wish would be that my son gets all my models and related modeling stuff. If he doesn’t want them then my wife can sell them on ebay, if it helps her out. If I have went to heaven then I’d already have my new hobby bench set up and tons of first rate kits would be there waiting for me to start. [;)]
Wow, well I’m faaaaaar away (God willing) to think about that, but I don’t think that any model collection would be a viable source of income, unless you leave behind at least a hundred kits. Built ones don’t tend to really sell THAT well (I"m sure there are enough on e-bay). If I want to leave something monetarily significant to my loved ones, it wouldn’t be my model collection, well, at least as it stands now
I will be the first person to have a U-Haul hooked up behind the hearse. I’m taking everything with me. A friend of mine said he would write me a check for my cash to take in the casket so there wouldn’t be so much bulk, what a true friend. [:)][:)]
really though, I would have some friends from the model club take care of my modeling stuff that wasn’t wanted by family. They have a better idea of what the stuff is worth and then they could give the money back to the family or wherever I decided it should go.
I have seriously considered thought of starting a model placement service (or even my own museum) for homeless model collections. You know that a lot of heirs-in-law are going to say, “What are we going to do with all this junk? Let’s pitch it - he’ll never know the difference.” Maybe you can’t blame them.
A lot of models representing dozens if not hundreds of hours of patient work will end up either in the dumpster or sold at a garage sale for $2. Most people wouldn’t know the difference between a superdetailed piece of art and a diecast toy, nor would they care.
I would guess that a lot of museums, airports, etc would find room for a display concerning their subjects. Maybe if there were more displays, there would be more people interested in the hobby.
My will states that my collection is to be donated to the local orphanage - or something to that effect. I know my wife and daughter are less than interested.
From someone returning to modeling after a long long layoff, I can tell you that not a single model from 25 years ago made it past my parents garbage can.
You see TV shows where someone moves out and the parents leaves the room just as it was with models hanging from the ceiling, concert posters on the wall. Nope, not my mom. New paint, wall paper … zip bam a new sewing room [banghead] she didn’t even give me a chance to get the models. [censored]
Ooh well, [sigh] I guess when I move out again (I pray upward) I hope the wife will see all the pleasure the hobby gave me and treat the resulting model collection with more respect but since she probably won’t, I will take as much pleasure from them while I am here and know that they were appreciated even for a short time.
hadnt given it much thought. once that event happens my interests and hobbies will only be memories. (other peoples) i wont turn this into a religious discussion ( i dont talk politics or religion) but once life leaves this body of mine modeling wont matter. however until that time i will enjoy it to the full extent of my abilities and beyond.
I love what I build but do you guys really think there is a market for this stuff? My guess is when I check out, my stuff is going in the trash or my youngest sons toy box where it will last a day.
I maintain a detailed computer inventory of what I have, built/unbuilt and accessories including what I actually paid for each item. I’ve shown my wife and my kids the inventory and what various grades of built models sell for. My unbuilt collection is currently valued around 7G and my family is aware of that. If they want to throw it away after I am gone they will at least be aware of what they are throwing away. I would hope that they would sell the stuff (none of them care to model) and use the money for something useful or fun. I have a designated caretaker for my website who will be provided with all access codes upon my death and my site will either continue as a seperate entity or be incorporated into his web site (which is also pretty good). I know that it is hard to plan for this stuff but after nearly buying the farm a few years ago I realized that it is best to have a plan (or will) and have a few relatives aware of it’s existance and how to find it when needed.
Hey Folks:
well I have this covered, when I go my wife will donate the built kits to the local AF Museum, and for the ones that need to be finished, I have a friend who’ll finish them off and hand them over to the same Museum, but for the unbuilt kits in their boxes they will go to a local recreation center for the kids to build as a project build and to get them addicted to modeling just like I was
Yeah Cuda, I can see you standing at the corner by the schoolyard “Hey kid…wanna model? Give ya a free sample.” You open up the trench coat and its lined with 1/144 heller kits.
LOL good one or maybe the collection of unbuilt kits could go to the USO and be sent to soldiers overseas on deployment to give them something to enjoy
Ever heard of Emperor Qin, the first emperor in China. He buried with him thousands of live size soldiers figures and chariots models(made by clay, in fact each soldiers were made in unique appearence) in his tomb[:O]. Well, I think we can bury ourselves with dozens of P-51s, P-47s, F-15s, F-16s together with Spits and Mossie. With such a strong fleet, it can certainly escort us to the other side.[:D]
Swanny - It is so comfortable to hear I’m not the only one tracking his “plastic” assets. I forget the value of my stash and I’m screwing off at work now so I don’t have access to the numbers, but it’s not as impressive as yours.
nkm1416@info.com.ph - You should volunteer to auction off her husbands models for 30 -40% of the gross on eBay. I’m sure I’d bid on a few of them. Got some holes in my fleet that could be filled with a pre-fab or two.
