How much !!!

[paddy]

Something that i have wondered from time to time with some older kits is...at what point do they become too valuable to build ?
There are a lot of models now like Tamiya's 1/12 McLaren or some of their 1/6 motorcycles that will cost you $400-$500 on the second hand market because they are popular and out of production or collectors items.
The moment you open the box or a bag they lose 50% of their value. Bild them and they lose 100%
Not a problem at $50.00 but where do you draw the line ?

 

[iambrb]

At numbers above $100

Especially when you’re talking numbers like those. MP. Had a Harley kit of some type that was crazy expensive, at least to my mind

Neat, but I wouldn’t want to freeze up that kind of cash in something I can’t build

 

[paddy]

What about when you bought it and put it in the stash and its become valuable ? do you see it as too valuable to build or is it always worth the original amount you paid for it to you.

 

[sharkman]

I have a few "valuable" kits in the stash (Raccoon, Atelier Noix) most are all resin and in a lot of cases, the only kit available for the subject. I plan on building them someday, that's what they were meant for!

I'm not a collector, someone else can deal with that!

 

[moon puppy]

I think I broke even on the Harley Bruce. Mike has a scary memory so he might recall.

What has me thinking is these 4 sealed WNW kits I have. I also have a white metal AA gun, forgot who made it but I've been told it's valuable.

My days of spending $200+ for a kit are over (Famous last words).

What I've run into is hearing a kit is worth $$$$ but I can't find that buyer who will pay that.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

The only ones that I have that are expensive to start with and keep their value and go up in value when built and painted extremely well are the resin figure kits. As these kits are very limited run they bring a fair chunk at the beginning. Then, some folks will pay handsomely for a well known painter to build and paint them. I have 2 that I wanted that were long out of production that I had to pay a pretty penny for. Thing is they are well worth what I paid and I should be able to get back what I paid for them fairly easily. Nicely painted they will bring top dollar plus.

Then there are the plastic kits like WNW that for now I am just sitting on.

 

[Barney]

I doubt my 1960's Hawk T-6 is really worth more than the $5 I paid for it.

IMHO a kit is only worth what a buyer will pay for it. Aurora made a tracked ammo carrier/tow vehicle (M-8?) that I have seen for well over $200. For heaven's sake, it is an old Aurora kit! To me, it is worth $50 (maybe) but others are willing to pay big bucks. Since I only "collect" kits that have sentimental value, I (like everyone else) watch the websites and wait for a kit at a fair price.

 

[helios]

I don't think I would have a kit "too valuable" to build...but I don't really have anything that is crazy expensive either. The closest kit that I'll have to that camp would be the Viggen when it gets here...and that was purchased to build eventually because I know I probably won't be able to afford another one (expecting those to sell for a fair bit more than they cost new once they start hitting the second hand market)...especially looking at some of the silly prices the Collect-Aire and Fisher conversion kits can go for.

The old Monogram Hustler kits seem to be running around $100 secondhand...and that hasn't stopped me from tearing into it (I think I paid $40 at a model show Pre-COVID).

 

[iambrb]

Revel made a 1/35 Jagd Panzer Kanone that i see listed at $80-100, but I mean…it’s a Rebel, not a Meng!

That’s the only one I have an itch for, and not near enough to scratch that itch

 

[jknaus]

I know the feeling. Sitting on a small fortune in Wing Nut Wing kits. I want to build them so wont sell, but kind of scared to build them because they're hard to find and cost a mint if I make a mistake.
James

 

[moon puppy]

cost a mint if I make a mistake.

Preach on brother....

 

[centaur567]

This is a kit that might not so much valuable, but very rare to build. It's a multi media kit. The fuselage and wings are resin and are not warped. I have since acquired a Hasagawa Tony. Gary S.

 

[jeaton01]

Barney, that would be the M8E2 Munitions Carrier, Aurora kit # 332-200. Got one in the stash and likely will build it just to tick off the collectors, even though by default I probably am one!

 

[moon puppy]

It would be interesting to see a Tony in Reno Air Race scheme.

 

[Brokeneagle]

I know the feeling. Sitting on a small fortune in Wing Nut Wing kits. I want to build them so wont sell, but kind of scared to build them because they're hard to find and cost a mint if I make a mistake.
James

Same here James I have a ton of WNW's kits. During 2020/21 I sold the double-ups that i probably won't build (which has paid for my subs) but now Iam just sitting on them . I want to get building after the sub project but who knows what they may be worthe then?

Ian.

 

[Rhino]

I wonder how much value WNW kits will hold when Meng re-issues all of them?

 

[Brokeneagle]

I wonder how much value WNW kits will hold when Meng re-issues all of them?

Yeah, a lot of people are saying that around the net but at this point Meng hasn't purchased the WNW's stock.
Also, I bought the Meng Fokker Triplane and compared to a standard WNW's issue, it's just not in the same league. The WNW's kits have beautiful artwork and great looking box lids. The instructions alone leave Meng for dead and are a reference document in themselves, being super high quality CAD artwork with clear and sharp period photos and profile art. Good enough to keep in your ref book collection. The plastic itself is also better and feels like Tamiya compared to Mengs feeling more soft like AFV.
I think they will hold their value until WNW's start re- selling(if at all) and even then they still will adopt the new price which would be more than I would have paid over 10 years ago.

Ian.