What happens to our collections after we pass on

General Discussion General Modeling Discussion
1

I know this is a topic not a lot of people like to talk about let alone think about (including me). But its something to think about. I lost my father to cancer about three and a half weeks ago. He had a very large built model collection. Just finished cleaning out two closets full of half built, built models, shelfs and boxes of built models in the garage. After I cataloged everything its somewhere around 600+ and I think there’s a few more hiding. He built a good chunk of Tamiya’s 1/35 armor till 2009 when he was digisnosed with cancer. Lots of aircraft, cars and some ships. The bad thing is he never made any plans for what to do with his models after he passed.

So for the past two weeks I’ve been looking for a way clean out a large portion of the models. While I would love to keep all of them frankly I don’t have the room or the interest in them. I’ve already considered evilbay but at best its more of a hassle then anything. I’ll probably sell a few unbuilt models. But as far was selling built models and packing no thanks. Next I thought about contacting a local modeling club which I did but never heard back. Finally after contacting a local hobby shop an assocoite came over. And was able to work out a deal with his boss where a few of my father’s models would be put on display. Along with a note saying models from his collection are for sell. If anything will happen time will tell.

So in the end guys try to make plans on what you want done with your collections when the time comes. It can make it a lot easier on your family not having the burden of figuring out what to do with them.

2

My condolences on your loss. Losing a parent is never easy. My wife said she’s keeping my stash when I go because it is a “part” of me.

3

I was thinking about posting this question myself recently . Not for the passing of a loved one but for myself as i am getting up there in years and this subject will become a topic within a few yrs more n likely .

My condolences for your loss .

Myself i think my unbuilt kits should be donated to our servicemen and servicewomen and anything that is built that my family does not want could be piled up and burned in a funeral pyre to my memory . I’d like that !

4

Sorry to hear of the loss of your father. I know how bad that hurts.

I’d look into Craig’s List or perhaps an ad in your newspaper.

5

My father passed on leaving behind a model railroad collection to die for.

But it was only the best of the best left when he passed. He sold the other 75% to a store for a good deal when we made it clear ‘dad, only you know what it is worth and who to sell to, and we would rather you enjoy the cash while still around’.

He gave some good items to a friend that had earned it from his friendship. The sale went to a local retailer though.

Father passed and the family basically had no real interest other than myself. I don’t believe in the afterlife by the way. He was here and now he is gone, end of story. He lives on in his collection as i see it. My last words to him ‘I’ll be seeing you in your books dad’. His reference library is safely held with mine away from the uninterested and largely no understanding attentions of the rest of the family too.

Now when I pass, well I suppose Dad’s stuff will be on it’s own like mine will be. I have tried to make it plain my stuff is actually valuable to someone, but, if it gets junked, well, it will be THEIR loss, as I will be gone, and won’t be in a position to care.

Worth is subjective though. I have met people that wouldn’t give you 5 cents for something worth 50 or 500 or 5000 bucks. I KNOW is a thief broke into my home, the loser will almost certainly miss the boat on what is actually valuable. They will steal the electronics, might smash the models and will almost certainly not realize the books are the only thing impossible to replace without a massive cost outlay.

My dad’s trains are worth more than most mortgage downpayments. And that’s the reduced collection. When alive, dad had the collection insured with more coverage than the house and the rest of the contents. On eBay, his collection could have bought a house on a single payment. But then most people on eBay are nuts too :slight_smile:

I don’t personally have a will, as when I pass, I will be gone, and my things will be someone else’s headache. Hopefully the family has listened to me over the years. If not, tough luck to them eh.

6

Yes, this is a difficult topic to consider. I’ve not made arrangements as to how I would like my models to be disposed of, and I really don’t know right now.

I think that unbuilt models should be donated to veterans’ hospitals, maybe built models could go to aircraft museums or theme restaurants or general local museums where many could see them.

Trains- I have my original Lionel O-gauge stuff from the 40’s and early 50’s in near mint condition, and I have been wondering what to do with that too. I think my grandson and his dad would appreciate it.

I’m not really interested in cashing it in for money, I think the value is more sentimental and for others to appreciate in seeing it.

7

I don’t have a “collection” so to speak… Just a bunch of built/unbuilt kits and some dioramas… I’ve no emotional attatchment to any of them, and I tear them down, for the most part, after I build and photograph them…

The wife can get what she can on Ebay, or give 'em to the grandkids, whatever, don’t care… Wherever I’ll be, it’ll likely be far to hot for styrene…

8

When i was working out at the museum, we used to always get people coming in who had model collections of a loved one who had passed on. At first we took them, but then they would just sit in storage due to lack of space and display cases. It got to be too much, and they won’t take models anymore.

They still have boxes & boxes sitting in storage, and its been over 10 years.
They should have a auction or something to turn them into money.

9

Thats why i’ll have mine burned in a memorial funeral pyre . Makes more sense to me than having them stuck in a box somewhere . Eventually the museum is going to through them out into a dumpster anyway .

10

I buy them from your grieving wife for pennies on the dollar and then ask her out to dinner…

11

Mine’s already buried two husbands… Sure you wanna take the chance?

12

An aquaintance of mine died not long ago, a really close friend of my best friend. He left behind a house and barn full of kits, the estimates are in the 6k range. Long story short a good portion of the kits were sold and profit given to his son. Friends got a few by the good graces of the son.
I agree that it’s best to have a will. When my own dad passed a couple of years ago it was hell trying to get things sorted out. We all thought he had a will, he had said on many occasions he did. But no. And it was hell getting it all worked out.
Plan ahead so the family left behind don’t have to deal with it.

13

Sorry to hear about your Dad…

Interesting this topic came up as I recently had this discussion with my boys. We were building some kits together and I told them they could do whatever they wanted with “all this stuff.” They can either build, sell, or donate the un-built kits and keep or throw out the built kits. They liked my suggestion in maybe using some for target practice. I had my fun with them.

14

Now now Hammer, from my brief time here observing your good works, I’d have to believe your odds of having a high altitude work bench are not that bad. [A]

As far as my stash, it will give the kids something to complain about.

15

this is not to say anything bad about anyone’s built models but… where many of us build for our own peasure the level of building my not be up to standards that others would fork out money for (my models are of the crap standard ) but unbuilt would be easier to get rid of

16

True enough DURR… Ever see some of the “Pro-Built” models on Ebay?? Shudder

17

I was just digisnosed with terminal cancer and the wife and I were just talking about what do do with my collection. No one in my family builds models but my oldest son has said he would like to have my completed ones. My wife is going to wait at least a year and contact members on the forum to see if they would help her by taking some of them. But for now, she will keep all of them and may never sell or dispose of them.

18

First of all my condolences for your father, i lost mine in 2005.

I have no plans for my kits after i’ll die, will be a choice of who reamais, if i will able at least put the best on some showcase for protecting the bests. I supose will be conserved as memory.

I have a similar problems with thing that used my father but lots of them are tools for working. Lots of other thing that actually are unusefull for me. You can keep what you like, give someone as gift or so, just wait some time to decide best choice.

19

Sorry, Man. Best wishes to you and your love ones. I guess fate of models has quite a different perspective from where you sit. I’ll say some prayers for you and your family when we kneel before the Lord, tonight.

20

Thank you everybody for you condolences. And Berny so to hear that, you and your family will be in my thoughts.

Sorry it took me awhile to reply guys, had my dad’s funeral this week.I ended up contacting a local hobby shop and they agreed to take a few models. Just to show what his work was like and if anyone is interested they will call me to look at additional models. Luckily one gentleman purchased pretty much of all of his model cars and balsa wood airplanes. I did think about donating some models to the local airport. They have a rather large display of civil aircraft. But as lufttiger pointed out there’s only so many models they can take. It’s a shame a few years ago a WWII museum was going to be built in town. But it never got of the ground that would have been the perfect place.

I’m thinking about listing a few pieces of armor on ebay just to see what they’ll fetch. I’ll also probably do craigslist also. Right now the bulk of the models are packed in boxes and I could really use the room right now.