Purchasing a new model kit

[Jinxter13]

In the Jets, Props, Helicopter, Ship, and Auto forums word of new kits coming out are in daily discussion, with pros and cons about each. Sometimes the kit gets bashed or lauded sight unseen, just a CAD or test sprue shots can ignite a 10 page or longer debate(s) with arguments for and against. OK lets see how much all this and what parts of it really play into a modelers final decision to fork over his hard earned cash or pass it up and wait for a later day or opportunity. Not all modelers can afford to drop $100-150 for a kit, and another $80-100 for aftermarket goodies, also not everyone is as concerned if every rivet, nut, and dial is there or not. The reasons to buy or not to buy can be as many as there are UH-1 Huey variants; so lets just see what different folks think. The passion of this hobby ranges from it's a model (not very serious) <_< to It has to be as near a perfect replica as possible FBMF(full blown model Fanatic) .

Whether you're just starting your first build or if you have a collection as large as Shawn 'Phantom' Weilers' ;) ; your reason carries the same weight.

Edited December 28, 2013 by #1 Greywolf

[toadwbg]

I'm probably in the minority, but accuracy is low on my list. Sure I like to think my Tomcat is 100% correct, but I am pretty satisfied with "More accurate than a Hollywood Movie" as a general rule of thumb.

[streetstream]

I choose my models on desire. I pick kits of planes i want. If more than 1 manufacturer is available, i give preference to brands i know. I also, most of the times, look up if the kit has major defects.

But one thing that dominates my choice most is price. For some reason i can't bear to spend more than 100 euros on a model (including paint, decals,...).

Also a point i keep in mind is my skill level. I really like to buy a nice expensive kit, but i feel that my skills don't do the kits justice. That's also a reason why i have a "large" stash. I really wish to build the model, but not right now because i'm not good enough yet.

[DONG]

I choose my models on desire. I pick kits of planes i want. If more than 1 manufacturer is available, i give preference to brands i know. I also, most of the times, look up if the kit has major defects.

But one thing that dominates my choice most is price. For some reason i can't bear to spend more than 100 euros on a model (including paint, decals,...).

Also a point i keep in mind is my skill level. I really like to buy a nice expensive kit, but i feel that my skills don't do the kits justice. That's also a reason why i have a "large" stash. I really wish to build the model, but not right now because i'm not good enough yet.

Couldn't have said it better that's exactly my way of thinking too except the "large stash".

Don

[RiderFan]

Shouldn't Subject Matter be part of that list? Maybe that's what Personal Desire is supposed to be.

I don't care how good of a kit the latest FW-190 or Me-109 is, I'll never buy one. But, regardless of how crappy the Hobbycraft CF-100 is, I buy them when I see them. Subject matter is more important to me than quality of kit. I can fix the quality.

[Bigasshammm]

I went

Personal desire

Company's track record

Quality of the mold

And cost

These are reasons I buy a kit.

There are other options I would have chosen for reasons I avoid a kit.

Edited December 29, 2013 by Bigasshammm

[Jinxter13]

Shouldn't Subject Matter be part of that list? Maybe that's what Personal Desire is supposed to be.

;) Say you don't miss a trick do ya?...that is what that was meant to cover....It could be the Lindberg X-3 stiletto (worlds first supersonic lawn dart) , you want it, because you like the aircraft.

[bikerider]

Aircraft type, and paint schemes. I really like certain squadron markings and sometimes that is all I need to attract me to a kit, for example the Academy Slovak Mig-29 with the digital camoflauge. Price of the kit is important. But I'll pay for quality too. A Hasegawa Eagle or Tomcat is worth the price to me compared to the competition.

[zark]

For me, is ONLY "personal desire"!

Accuracy / cost / how much work is needed to make it "respectable" are all part of the game, but they all come second!

[Shawn C.]

Build reviews are a very important part of my purchasing decision. I don't require a kit to be "shake and bake" but I do like to know what I'm getting into. It can be very discouraging to start a kit that I thought was going to a breeze only to have it fight me the whole way.

[Kurt H.]

for me subject matter is usually the most important factor. I tend to like odd subjects which are usually either old kits, or Vacuform, or resin kits. Accuracy is not usually high on mylist unless it is something really noticeable, like the window shape being wrong on the mach2 C-123, or when you see really old Injection modeled kits where the canopy is noticeably weird looking, or the framing is overly thick. So many kits have come out in the last 15-20 years with "glaring horrible shape issues" and I could not tell. :whistle:/>/>

That being said, there are some kits which I like to have and build for nostalgic reasons, the kit having some sentimental value, having built it as a kid, or my dad building one when I was little. sometimes it is just something about the kit series, like Tamiya's big scale cars, where there is just something about those kits which is just neat.

I am willing to take on challenging kits just as long as they are not terminally flawed. (like palmer car kits - they do not bear any resemblance to the subject) Most times, with enough filler, sandpaper and primer anything is possible .

Edited December 30, 2013 by Kurt H.

[DrGlueblob]

Well put Kurt. I am NOT going to drop 100 dollars on any kit myself. I'm just as happy with a Monogram F-101 as any other, and more so now I don't do contests anymore.

I have many more kits in the stash than I can ever build, but once in a while, something comes out I really like.

FWIW.. I once figured it up, and by getting kits from swap meets, freebies from model companies for doing test shots/box models, and just 40 years of buying, I've averaged around four dollars a kit for the whole stash. I think about this when I see that new Trumpygawamia coolio going for $169.00... <_<