Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Model Boating => Topic started by: boathound on April 05, 2016, 08:18:45 pm

Title: How many kits get finished
Post by: boathound on April 05, 2016, 08:18:45 pm
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!
.... {:-{
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: craggle on April 05, 2016, 08:45:22 pm
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.
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: thething84 on April 05, 2016, 10:12:40 pm
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.
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: NFMike on April 05, 2016, 10:57:02 pm
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  O0
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: Norseman on April 06, 2016, 12:32:19 am
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
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: barriew on April 06, 2016, 06:52:14 am
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
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: triumphjon on April 06, 2016, 07:46:11 am
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
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: Buccaneer on April 06, 2016, 07:39:03 pm
The answer is probably that most of them get finished. The question is how many people does it take?
John
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: boathound on April 06, 2016, 08:31:48 pm
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? {:-{
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: Nemo on April 07, 2016, 10:07:18 pm
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.
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: Norseman on April 07, 2016, 10:18:47 pm
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  O0
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: Nemo on April 07, 2016, 10:26:11 pm
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  O0

It sure is! :-))
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: radiojoe on April 07, 2016, 10:29:46 pm
Amen to that.  :-)) %%
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: warspite on April 08, 2016, 07:31:40 am
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.
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: nivapilot on April 08, 2016, 07:43:40 am
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  O0

It is, and then everyone else finds out you have retired, expecting you to take on every project they can throw at you... :embarrassed: , '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....
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: RAAArtyGunner on April 08, 2016, 07:55:15 am
It is, and then everyone else finds out you have retired, expecting you to take on every project they can throw at you... :embarrassed: , '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....

 O0 O0 O0  %% %% %%
Simple fact, there is not enough time.
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: roycv on April 08, 2016, 09:25:29 am
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
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: RAAArtyGunner on April 08, 2016, 09:42:32 am
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. :-)) :-)) :-))
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: radiojoe on April 08, 2016, 10:44:13 am
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  :-))
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: Liverbudgie2 on April 08, 2016, 10:57:58 am
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
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: Colin Bishop on April 08, 2016, 11:03:58 am
If I'd known how good retirement was I wouldn't have wasted all those years working.....

Colin
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: warspite on April 08, 2016, 11:34:58 am
 >>:-( if retirement is that bad, then I might as well work until I drop, with my health that could be before I retire anyway >:-o
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: Crossie on April 08, 2016, 12:12:47 pm
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
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: lakesidebob on April 08, 2016, 05:29:28 pm
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...
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: tica on April 08, 2016, 09:02:48 pm
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.

Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: Norseman on April 08, 2016, 11:01:34 pm
I am happy to hear you all like your retirement. If my health can just manage two more years in work then I plan to retire (61-62). My wife will too and that 'full time' company will be an adjustment in itself. One of the things I have planned ahead is to be happily occupied; so obviously model boats but I also have most of two 1950's German scooters to restore; a Durkopp Diane and a Heinkel Tourist. I have no intention of becoming aimless, depressed and alcohol ridden - well aimless and depressed are certainly out  %) . A guy needs his Staffie, a warm shed with some interesting things to do, and Swimbo.


Oh, and a cunning plan!


Regards Blackadder
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: roycv on April 09, 2016, 12:20:52 am
Hi all the topic has moved on a bit sorry if I edged it that way.
I have 2 started kits that have a good chance of finishing 1, is a Graupner Bugsier 3, and 2, a strange one from Poland called Lilka (a pilot boat).

I have a started Dumas American Beauty which has very poor plywood and I look at it and get daunted every time but it was a present from my son.
I also have a Robbe Wotan all new in box.

The trouble is that I get tempted away with another boat and have 2 or 3 scratch built ones looking for love and attention.  I have also been restoring model boats and yachts for myself as well as for other people.  A couple have got built though in between all this.
Sometimes of course the weather plays a part, too hot is the worst for going in my shed.  I can warm it up OK.
I am in Australia at the moment so I have a complete break from model building, 6 weeks away so I shall see if anything has changed in me when I return.
best regards Roy
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: Norseman on April 09, 2016, 09:13:21 am
I like that pilot boat and remembered seeing this on YouTube

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KhTXv6RZZzs
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: Martin (Admin) on April 09, 2016, 12:15:42 pm
 
these days.....   1 in 10 {:-{ 
I used to build simple speed boats, one or two a month!   :-))

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/My_models/0%20index.htm
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: Grace2 on April 09, 2016, 04:54:54 pm
a few years ago we lived on a narrow boat and had plenty of time to model be sociable and have fun, then my 5 year old developed a brain tumour so weve had the last few years dealing with that, 4 months in america for proton theropy....we think she is going to be ok.....sinse moving off the boat i let a friend live on it with my boat models tucked away in the back cabin...a few weeks ago he left the narrow boat and i found out that his two bull terriers had taken a liking to my models and pritty much destroyed them all...five large boats and my tiger tank..i had a couple of boats that id half heartedly started building that probably wont ever get finished
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: Captain fizz on April 09, 2016, 06:27:19 pm
Some friend <*<
Title: Re: How many kits get finished
Post by: roycv on April 09, 2016, 11:54:57 pm
Hi Norseman, The Lilka plans are or were on the Internet and can be downloaded for free.
The kit is nicely cut laser wood but they did not include wood for the deck, but nice fittings, the English translation for building instructions is not very clear.  The kit was given to me and I should really finish the job, I keep looking at it!
There is no Internet nformation on the full size boat, I tried several times and failed.
This might start me off again!
regards Roy