A Modelling Dilemma

[Vaughan]

Hi All

This must be a dilemma that all modellers must come across. "What do you do with all the models you make" because at some point you will run out of space to store them. At the pace I'm going I'm making one a month and I haven't got enough shelves to put them on. Easy answer I know stop making them but if it's a hobby you like it's easier said than done.

Vaughan

[stona]

I have one corner shelf in our main living room,actually the "back room" on which I usually have my latest effort. This is an old photo but only the model has changed,several times.

In the front room I have two shelves which take five or six 1/32 scale aircraft each.

Obviously I've got a lot more models than that! I store them in large plastic boxes in the loft. My theory is that I will rotate the models on display occasionally. Infact,as I keep making more,the ones up in the loft never see the light of day unless I drag them out for a photo or to show someone. I do find it difficult to throw them away,though I did have a good clean out several years ago and threw out some damaged or forgotten models. I realise this is heresy to some people but I don't live in a mansion and space is an issue.

Cheers

Steve

[geegad]

Hello there I've got the same problem what ive come up with is that IMake a box just large enough to fit them in then put them up the loft until I get the Attic professionally done I get them down from time to time to have a look at.But then again I've only been doing it properly for the last year my first stuff sadly got bind when I moved house.so I haven't got that many Geegad

[Guest]

Having bought, and filled two display cabinets, i have now reached the same problem again. As I see it, my modelling is becoming less in number but more specific. I no longer build aircraft and will probably stick to 1:35 or 1:48 armour of post WWII. So, if I was hard enough, I could throw out all my aircraft and WWII models that are completed. Must admit, this will not be to difficult with some of the models but I still have a soft spot for some. My FW190 diorama with figures is still, in my opinion, the best model I have ever made so I am torn between keeping it as it is not a bad build or binning it as it shows up some of my later builds........

Either way, space is at a premium and some of these have to go.

Another option is to offer them as a gift to the many smaller air/military museums that are dotted around the country. They may find a good home there.

[Guest]

When I was a teenager I was building a model every Saturday and soon my bedroom became swamped. I had them on shelves, hanging from the ceiling, and just about every spare spot of spare surface in the room. Then I left home and they all went into carrier bags and were given to neigbouring kids to play with. I kept one large scale motorcycle that I had on display in the model shop window where I worked which I still have to this day. I think over the years you do move on and those models that you know you could have done a lot better will eventually go and you won't miss them too much but those that have a particular place in your heart will remain with you and, even though you can see the huge advancements you have made over the years, you will still enjoy looking at them.

Storage in lexan boxes is a possibility but I think you do have to be rutheless occassionally and get rid of those that you were never very happy with anyway. Fenlanders 190 is a classic example of one that he should always keep because he was so proud of it at the time is was built, and rightly so.

How about a thread on ways in which we have disposed of unwanted models over the years? I have done all of these but don't recommend a number of them as attitudes and health and safety laws are quite different nowadays:

1) Put them in a carrier bag and given them to local kids to play with.

2) Stuck a banger in an Airfix Bismarck, pushed it out into the pond and watched while the British fleet blew it to bits.

3) Hung an Airfix Lancaster from a washing line and watched the pack of 109's shoot it out of the sky, with the help of an old BSA air rifle.

4) Put a spot of oil on the wheels of an Old Bill Bus model, put some stones in it to give it some momentum and let it go from the top of a steeply inclined pavement. The carnage as the bus crashed into the wall at the bottom of the hill was very satisfying.

5) Tied a 1/72nd Mustang to the bottom of a shilling rocket and watched it take off vertically at a very impressive rate of acceleration.

That's enough from me before I get into trouble!!! I'm sure there are many more methods out there that we remember fondly!

[AFC]

Cannot really comment as I just started in the hobby...but I'm LOL with all attitudes Richard described. Please open a topic for this as it can be either educative and funny to read how people get rid of old models :-)

[Gern]

I'm going to love joining in on this one. All I got to do now is finish some kits! :lol

Gern

[spanner570]

I get more pleasure out of the actual build than the finished job.

Sounds daft, but what I mean is once the model is complete, that's that!..... No one (apart from my 'Friends' here on S.M.) is ever going to see them...My family has not the slightest interest in them, any more than my friends, who think it all a bit strange.

So I keep them for a while then I might try and flog them on ebay. If I'm lucky and sell one, it goes for buttons, but added together I can then buy another kit.

Likewise the dioramas. I recycle some bits but just looking around my den these will all have to go the same way as the single models. I need the room for new stuff....There is no way I would 'bin' anything!

I really can't see the point in storing things in the attic for God knows how long, so flog 'em! I don't know why but there are people who prefer to get a model ready made!

Oh yes, my late father and I did see off an Airfix Bismark...Me in the bedroom window with his .22 airgun and him stood by the model (which was perched on a rockery) filming it with a good old 8mm movie camera. He shouted "Camera rolling!" and I started shooting. He edited the movie so it showed salvo after salvo slamming into the ship with no break. Great days..

Cheers,

Ron

[Vaughan]

solved for the moment

Hi All

My modelling dilemma has been solved for the moment with the erection of two shelves in my garden room. They are metal framed and I have just purchased some perspex to top them. So for now I have room for a further 3 models at 32nd scale (I'm building one but have Three in the wings). Gill is pleased as this frees up our living room, untill I run out of shelves that is!!

Vaughan

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[Guest]

I still have mine in the shed, however with the older stuff i will attempt to re use it in a dioramma as a wrecked tank or truck with a new project. As Carrie and i have a baby due in December ihave had to re locate most of my boxed kits to the loft until i need a project, this frees up space in the shed to put bits from the spare room which is fast becoming a nursery.

scott