Maker or Collector?

[Mini Me]

Collecting is in our DNA..............We as humans have been hunting and gathering from the beginning of time. It's what we do. That is why modelers have a stash.........we don't want to run out of what we consider to be an essential part of our existence. I am happily both a collector and a maker of models. Part of the reason I can't throw away or pack up built models for storage.......They, in and of themselves have become a collection for myself and others to enjoy looking at. Where would we be as a race if we had nothing (museums) to remind us of our past....some of the greatest collections in the world are in museums. As far as the price of collectibles..........nothing more than supply and demand. Want to buy at low prices, buy the product that is produced in the millions. The internet has done more to drive prices up than anything. It pits the entire world against itself to compete for a few objects on auction whether there are millions or not available.....competitive buying is a great motivator to separate one from their hard earned money. I often see items being bid up beyond retail for something that can be currently purchased in shops locally. Something to consider the next time we secure a "real bargain" on the net. Cheers fellow modelers and collectors.

[Guest]

I've always suffered from OCD that in the past resulted in collections of stamps, coins, notes, matchbox toys and fountain pens - to name several - plus a manic participation in sport to international level until some insight kicked in. Reading 'The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction is Not a Disease' by Marc Lewis (ISBN 1610394372) gave me enough information to explain and manage the condition and its impulses. My interest in scale modelling is primarily as a maker, but the OCD driven collecting helps to maintain a fairly largish stash (150+).

One advantage is that when I do finish a model, I have plenty to choose from for my next build. Strangely enough, I'm not fussed about collecting completed models. For example, I'm just finishing off a 1/48 Curtiss P-40B that is a much better build than the similar one sitting in the display cabinet. When the former is completed the latter will be binned. The mind works in very strange ways ...

[Guest]

As to opinions of collectors - live and let live eh?

[Tim Marlow]

Yep, my sentiments as well Peter.

[Mini Me]

Dittos.............

[minitnkr]

My wife thought I was a hoarder as I accumulated many 1/87 models, both RR & military from the 60s through the 90s till I was laid off in 2001 despite 35yrs of exemplary reviews & successful projects. The STASH was instrumental in my maintaining a semblance of sanity whilst enduring endless rejection before giving up on careers one & two and beginning training for career three. Once retired, two to ten hours a day in the cave modeling or researching. PaulE

[Guest]

Collectors are a human phenomenon, and are found in all fields from baseball cards to Ferraris. The different packaging collector is just an extreme case of the same thing.

I don’t think it’s that extreme — just the normal development of having collected (most of) the basic things already: you move onto the variations. Collectors like rare things, because they’re obviously harder to find, and thus, are more prestigious (whether to other people or to the collector).

Like I said in another thread, this is sometimes mercilessly exploited by manufacturers of collectible items, especially action figures.

For me: I’m in the “builders” camp, even though — like many here — I already have more models than I’ll probably ever actually start, let alone finish. However, if I have a kit that’s obviously rare or old, especially if it’s in good condition or in its original shrink wrap around the box, I’m strongly disinclined to build it. Not because I view it as a collector, but because I like old things to stay the way they were, as a historical thing. I hate it when people remove bits of random paper from the 1970s from an old book, for example, or take a pile of old photographs that hasn’t been touched in decades and put them in a different order.

[stona]

I'm a maker as far as scale models are concerned. I build 100% of the kits I build and never have a stash greater than two or three kits.

That's just me. As for everyone else, whatever floats your boat!

Cheers

Steve

[outrunner]

I class my self as a maker and if I had more that 10 boxes under the bench I would give myself a good talking to, only 6 there at the moment.

Andy.

[BattleshipBob]

My stash or collection has shrunk asbi have sold a lot BUT do collect the odd StuG or 30 kits, books etc, etc lol

[AlanG]

Bob. I understand your collection though. We all know here you are trying to build every mark of StuG. So i think you're allowed some slack

[BattleshipBob]

Doctor i need help

[minitnkr]

I'll alert Matron, she has a new batch of pharmaceuticals she's anxious to try. Bed #105

[BattleshipBob]

But i do not like needles, especially big pointy ones:anguished:

[Tim Marlow]

That’s OK Bob, they are delivered by suppository....