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[boathound]

So how many of those big kit projects actually get built. If you go on E-Bay there seem to be loads of unfinished kits. It kind of makes me sad, all those unfulfilled hopes and plans not just of the builder but the designer of the kit and the effort into producing it. Some are quite advanced while most are barely started.


This particular model subject seems to pop frequently http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Deans-Marine-Model-Boat-Kit-/152043265193?&_trksid=p2056016.m2518.l4276


Its been waiting to be built so long that it's box has a box. Have you ever given up on a kit and why, what did you do with it? My secret is giving up on an expensive Robbe U47 at an early stage- hate vacuform hulls it turns out!
....

[craggle]

I too have a U47 in the loft.

I built the main hull, bought better decks, resin conning tower etc. but then couldn't decide if I should invest in the ballast tank and make it a diving sub or just put it together as a surface model. It's all there in the attic and I will get it built one day, just not sure when....

My Dad has a Deans Liberty ship in his workshop, I'll probably end up finishing that one day too.

On the plus side I have built and completed one model and now building another one.

Craig.

[thething84]

I got a billing banckert which I bought started off ebay sitting in my cupboard a little further down that when I got it. Think life gets in the way and not having a dedicated work space keep getting stuff out and putting it away put you off doing. That and a 4 yr old who likes to help and disappear with said tools.

[NFMike]

I heard it said in model railway circles that manufacturers' profits are all in the unbuilt kits.
I'd guess that applies to other branches as well 

[Norseman]

When I was young all my cash had to go towards family and mortage etc. Now that I am older and still working I find that if I want something I can have it. When I retire and become time rich I can complete those shelved projects. Failing that I'll pop my clogs unexpectedly and you can pick them up cheap on ebay 

Dave

[barriew]

I have never not completed a kit, but I have bought and completed quite a few that came up on ebay.  If they haven't had too much work done they can be a cheap way of acquiring a model that you may otherwise find too expensive.


Barrie

[triumphjon]

i dont tend to buy many kits although ive aquired a few over the years the latest being a part biult billings niels juel no 514  the hull and deck is built , needs finishing , somebody bought it hoping to fit radio  etc ! nearly all of my fairey marine vessels are biult up from a grp hull from plans of the full size vessel

[Buccaneer]

The answer is probably that most of them get finished. The question is how many people does it take?
John

[boathound]

Ha! Thinking about that you have a good point Buccaneer, my City of Ely kitt was £100 on Ebay, hardly started it looks like it should be such a simple subject but there is far more to it then you first realize, lots of it very repetitive wonder if that's why they keep on appearing on E-Bay?

[Nemo]

I have never not completed a kit, but I have bought and completed quite a few that came up on ebay.  If they haven't had too much work done they can be a cheap way of acquiring a model that you may otherwise find too expensive.Barrie

  Thanks Barrie, I thought I might be alone out here! I think this is the cheapest way to model-making as so many are enticed to buy, then give up and auction off what is a very buildable model ship. Goody, goody! EG: I have just purchased an unstarted kit on Ebay for £70 which retails for double that now!
I am constantly amazed that so many members have kits languishing in their attics having been bought and just put away - but Norseman does make a good point.

[Norseman]

My stash is hulls and fittings rather than kits but I plan to be really busy when I retire. What a lovely word retire sounds 

[Nemo]

My stash is hulls and fittings rather than kits but I plan to be really busy when I retire. What a lovely word retire sounds 

It sure is!

[radiojoe]

Amen to that. 

[warspite]

When my first was born - Huggies did a box of nappies in a toy box - about the size of a standard storage box you get from a stationary / hardware store, its full of all the plastic kits I want to build from boats to aircraft (including a Puma helicopter that Matchbox did that's huge - can't remember the scale, but was going to motorise the main and tail rotor - at the time it was a good idea) in fact I have two that wont fit in the box, one is a Warspite (1 of 2) and the other is the Victory being built in another thread. Can't wait to retire - but ages to go with the age limit going up every so often.

[nivapilot]

My stash is hulls and fittings rather than kits but I plan to be really busy when I retire. What a lovely word retire sounds 

It is, and then everyone else finds out you have retired, expecting you to take on every project they can throw at you... , 'cos you have the time now.......
I find I spend most of my retired life in front of the damned computer, researching that project you want to get done...

Must pull my finger out and get on with it.
Maybe just one more coffee before I go down the shed.........whats that dear? daughter would like some shelves up.........of course dear, right away....

[RAAArtyGunner]

It is, and then everyone else finds out you have retired, expecting you to take on every project they can throw at you... , 'cos you have the time now.......
I find I spend most of my retired life in front of the damned computer, researching that project you want to get done...

Must pull my finger out and get on with it.
Maybe just one more coffee before I go down the shed.........whats that dear? daughter would like some shelves up.........of course dear, right away....

   
Simple fact, there is not enough time.

[roycv]

Hi all, I am well into my retirement and if you are not doing it now you probably wil not do it when you retire either.  Obviously there are some exceptions but it is surprising how much there is to do just living your daily life.  The other point is that you have to be quite fit to do a full time job and you have to keep up the fitnes when retired, or on your own, sometimes not so easy.

Also small things start to affect how much you can do, arthritus etc.
So do not consider your age and what you should be doing at that age, just act like you are in your 40's and get on with it.
Sorry if I am teaching grandma to suck eggs!
best regards,
Roy

[RAAArtyGunner]

Hi all, I am well into my retirement and if you are not doing it now you probably wil not do it when you retire either.  Obviously there are some exceptions but it is surprising how much there is to do just living your daily life.  The other point is that you have to be quite fit to do a full time job and you have to keep up the fitnes when retired, or on your own, sometimes not so easy.

Also small things start to affect how much you can do, arthritus etc.
So do not consider your age and what you should be doing at that age, just act like you are in your 40's and get on with it.
Sorry if I am teaching grandma to suck eggs!
best regards,
Roy

Bit of a bummer at my place.
Every time I try it, there are howls from SWIMBO, and the Kids, grown ups, what is he doing now, why is he up there, he should be taking it easy, etc, etc.
Nevertheless, in spite of them, got one boat finished and two more on the go.

[radiojoe]

I bought my first large warship kit a month before I retired in 2010, and thought after a few jobs that needed doing about the house I can start HMS Solebay, before I could, there were jobs coming thick and fast from both daughters families nether of their partners know a thing about home maintenance, apparently,  so I'd been retired two months and barely had time to look at Solebay let alone build it, so I made a decision and told them all I'll do the jobs in hand and after that I'm doing what I want, Fifty years of work is enough for anyone, so your home maintenance is no longer my concern, both family's have reasonable incomes, certainly a lot more than my pension, so why should I be a  workhorse, so now after six years of blissful model boat building I have eight finished and HMS Brocklesby in build, of course jobs crop up on our house now and then but overall life's a goodun 

[Liverbudgie2]

Probably not all that many actually are finished completely for various reasons many of which have been indicated previously however, I'm well into retirement now and I'm still restoring my TR6 and planning her first trip for next year, so not much in the way of modelling for me.

LB

[Colin Bishop]

If I'd known how good retirement was I wouldn't have wasted all those years working.....

Colin

[warspite]

  if retirement is that bad, then I might as well work until I drop, with my health that could be before I retire anyway

[Crossie]

If I'd known how good retirement was I wouldn't have wasted all those years working.....

Colin

        When I got to 40 and was just about burnt out, I decided that I'd never work full time again for any employer no matter what the salary- - - - - and didn't. Just enough self employment to get all the essentials and if I wanted  a day off, just took it, and if family members wanted this that and the other, then they had to work for it and I'd help out. As a result all 4 kids ( now in their 40's) learned that STUFF doesn't just grow on trees and they are all really successful and happy. My wife and I have been happy too with a proper work/life balance. So retirement and building those kits CAN start at whatever age you wish, it's your life - your call.

                                                                   Trevor

[lakesidebob]

Totally agree with Radio Joe and the rest of the comments about retirement.We have worked our ***es off for 50 years [paid taxes] and raised families and looked after the house...learning different skills as you went along as well.Why don't the able youngsters today have that same attitude rather than 'we want it all now'...I love retirement and our hobby..we've earned it....My rant for today,sorry...

[tica]

Here in small Denmark we guess that it's ratio of 1:10 or 1:15 and a few of us is buying the leftover for a barging.

I'm not even close to retiring so I have time to build a lot of models  or do I !

My insight into life the last years has changed and I'll build my models now (non started kits do have a name on them, it makes life easier for those left behind) and my interest into cars (Citroen CX and VW T3 (T25) will also have a high level of interest. And I'm blessed with a wife that do share my interest.