On buying "second-hand" model kits

SuperDave Mon Oct 29, 2012 11:33 am

Tempting though they may be these kits can be missing parts and instructions essential to a pleasureable modeling experience. Lacking those, one is on their own to fill-in the voids.

This requires modeling experience that some here may not possess much less the patience to wade through the complications. Buying a second-hand" kit "sight unseen" can further complicate the equation.

Wisdom borne of experience and pain. Be advised.

**Admin** Mon Oct 29, 2012 12:00 pm

Exactly the reason I didn't buy a few kits up at the thrift store. While they appeared to be all there, I didn't have the time to dump everything out and check it over on the instruction sheet. However, if anyone ever wants any of the kits that I talk about the thrift store having, I will look them over before buying.

SuperDave Mon Oct 29, 2012 12:12 pm

Jacob:

Yes I have one of "those" kits on the board right now.

I thought that I had learned that lesson years ago. My salvation has been the manufactuer who is still in business and has been very helpful.

But such is not always the case.

ahrma_581 Mon Oct 29, 2012 12:46 pm

SuperDave wrote:Tempting though they may be...

Unfortunately, between the influence of ARF's and the Immense Model Airplane Association, it is harder and harder to find new kits for what once was a 'large' model: .40 to .60 size. So sometimes you have to resort to NOS kits, or else scratchbuild.

Buying sight unseen is always going to be problematic. (I love those 'selling for a friend' listings....) But if the kit has the hard to replace/replicate items (landing gear, canopies, cowlings, etc.), a full set of (the correct) plans, and most of the cut parts, finishing it shouldn't be daunting for someone who has built a few kits before.

SuperDave Mon Oct 29, 2012 1:00 pm

First there is the excitment of starting a new kit and then comes the "daunting" part when sometimes items turn up AWOL. The excitment then begins to fade as you doggedly trudge on with images of completed model floating through you consciousness.

But were it not for those expectations I'll dwell on platic RTF models that don't fly worth a damn.

Somehow I feel inspired now. lol!

SuperDave Mon Oct 29, 2012 1:38 pm

To build on remarks above, the modern pace of living is much at fault and in modeling it is the advent of "foamies' which essentially "fly right out of the box.

This song by "Alabama" says it well:

Alabama I'm In A Hurry And Don't Know Why - YouTube

'

gcb Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:59 pm

If you do run across a good kit, consider having the plans copied, then trace all the parts on back of the plans plus cut new parts with new balsa. You then have a new kit to build and the old one to sell or collect.

George

SuperDave Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:56 am

A copy or two of the kit plan allows the builder to cut up them for the purpose of cutting trim designs for the covering material like UltraCote.

I have a local blueprint shop make my plan copiies.

66 Malibu Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:34 pm

Early on in my experience with the auction site, I got burned by a guy going by "Conrat" which was appropriate and another guy from OZ that went by "Fark the World" which was really appropriate...They were telling me something but, I just couldn't live without their items so I didn't follow my own instincts....Lessons learned.....

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