How do you go about purchasing a model kit?

General Discussions
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Several equally important items to consider in Wade’s World before a key purchase:

  1. Will I enjoy paint and weathering process for the kit in question. My perception is formed based on box art, pictures availble of the subject matter and my understanding of the subject. Liking the subject matter has proved to be a secondary factor.

  2. Will I enjoy the build process by my standards? I dislike building. Clean straight forward and keeping the build under my ~100 hour limit is always a goal. Projects that linger often end up as a newest shelf queen because of boredom.

  1. Dimensional Accuracy. Needs to look right and have correct shape. Adding detail if the “bones” are good is enjoyable with quality older kits. If it’s an out of the box build, DA is a lesser factor in some cases.

  2. Value shopping & stewardship applies in my car hobby so it applies in the model hobby as well. Part of the fun is finding quality kits & good aftermarket at reasonable prices. I’m OK with being a year or two late on a hot new release I want in most cases.

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42

I look at reviews and builds( if available). Cost can come into account, but not a real deciding factor. Brand name has some relevance, but kits are and can be subjective, especially if you figure your experience, skill level and time. I hope that helps!

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43

It depends on my mood ,or if the subject s of high interest.

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44

Yeah, I don’t buy kits just to have something to build. I have to really want something and match that with a genuine possibility of living long enough to build it. On a rare occasion an extremely low price may raise my interest level, but even then I’ll only follow through if I’m likely to build it AND if I think I can sell it and get my money back if I change my mind. I was at a show a couple of weeks ago and there were at least 20 kits at near-steal prices that I looked at and thought about but only ended up with one, and that might go on eBay anyway.

After a couple of decades in this hobby the sensible folks become much more selective and can make their buying decisions quite quickly.

KL

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45

I’m looking in the new-kits part of my monthly model magazine and then go on the website of " Modellbau König " , where I always buy my models. Then I see many other things I like to get and mostly it takes some days and I change my list of order some times. I also like to watch catalogues.
My girlfriend wonders how I can buy shoes in 5 minutes and need days to order a model or a book

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For me that calculation gets tricky if the purchase is discovered too soon… :sweat:

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47

“Honest honey, they don’t except returns” :innocent:

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48

I tend to “see it, want it” but, I like to try different manufacturers kits as well so, I use that as a way to select my next purchase.

Interesting question.

Watto.

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49

I usually decide what kit i want. Either by subject matter or just interst. I then try to go to “Scalemates” to check on the kit availability, cost and any current orvprevious reviews. Its also a great place to checkout superdetail supplies and details. YouTube is also a GREAT place to source info. Then, adding up the “pris” and “cons” (cost, availability, paint requirements etc) I decide to either purchase or pass.

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I’m all over the place with this one, sometimes I want a big complicated build with scratch and after market, then sometimes I want a nice, easy Tamiya type build straight from the box. I definitely check reviews on the build-ability of a kit, I can’t stand kits with fit issues and tons of sanding etc. I don’t want lots of PE and I’m a bit put off by individual track links, but I do love Fruil Tracks, I find it relaxing to put them together for some strange reason

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51

Me too, I find assembling Friuls extremely therapeutic.

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52

First… I check my stash to confirm I don’t already own it.

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Not checking sets you up for a WTF moment when at some point in the future you are holding the same kit in your left hand and in your right hand.

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54

It’s all good, that keeps you from going blind. :rofl::rofl:

But it’s not a real problem, everyone should have a wing man.

Three might be a crowd or a fun time. Either way it’s probably gonna be costly.

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I choose to view it as “Woohoo - now I can build two versions!” You know, silver linings… :slight_smile:

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did that recently with a Trumpeter Flakrakete Panther G. Its a MASSIVE box of a really obscure model, astonishing i ended up buying two!

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I have about fifteen kits I need to get to. I thought my excess was over the top, then I saw what some of you have as a stash. :smile:

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The WantForce must have been very strong that day :wink:

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59

Great thread! For me, it’s the subject, for sure! Secondly, it’s the manufacturer. These days, Tamiya, Eduard, newer Airfix, Great Wall Hobby, Meng, MiniArt (recent). For other manufacturers, I usually wait and see what the reviews have to say. Lastly, and this applies to all potential kit buys, regardless of the former stuff, I almost always wait for build reviews by certain builders (not just sprue reviews, though I’ll read those, too, if the subject interests me). If a kit is judged to have ‘issues’, I’ll consider those to decide if the subject is worth the hassle to me. Lastly, for airplanes, I look to see what is included in the kit regarding cockpit details, like color photo etch for panels, or, if there is stuff available by Quinta, for instance.

By the way, to the original poster, did you ever get the Meng Namer? I have it :slightly_smiling_face:

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Hi Curt, several attempts to purchase the Meng Namer were foiled as my favored online retailer had sold out. The more I looked at the kit tracks the more I wanted aftermarket but those too had sold out. Probably time to check again to see if it’s back in stock.

What’s your appraisal of the Meng Namer?

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