I collect kits just to have them! And like Ty mentions, if I want to build THAT kit, or THIS kit, I have it to build it and don't have to worry about finding it. I bought the overwhelming majority of what I have for pennies on the dollar compared to "collector or modern prices. I have collected just about all the kits I ever lusted for as a kid, plus some others, free flight, control line, R/C and plastic included. I came from what some might call a poor family, with 9 kids being raised by a single, widowed mother, and not much money to throw around, but I managed to have some fun. When I got to a point in life where I could earn a living and have expendable income, I took advantage of every deal I could grab on something that was on my pretty long list. I tried to spend smart money, which I earned working two and sometimes three jobs. When you have an elusive kit in your possession, it is kind of comforting. It is also a piece of history. I collect kits not to speculate on them increasing in value, because I don't believe the will at this point and I new this pint was coming someday. I collect them because they are COOL! I The value that some of these kits achieved is kind of a false narrative anyway. Take the Flight Streak by Top Flite for example. How may of those do you think that Top Flite produced, in a time period where maybe 8 or 10 times the number of active fliers existed in this country?? Brodak produced the same kit as the lightning Streak, and then when Top Flite was sold was able to change the name to Flight Streak because the rights reverted back to George Aldrich. They probably out produced Brodak 8 to 1 on them, I would bet. The original Ringmaster was the most produced kit in history, or was at one time and numbered in the millions over it's entire run, and how many do you think are still sitting on a shelf somewhere? One thing I saw as a trend in all of this was that a lot of guys bought and stored kits for "some day" when time, money and skill caught up to them and they thought they could do it justice. I know MANY a green box Nobler got put away so that the buyer could "take his time and do it right" some day. I know because I was one of those guys also, but just kept at it and bought more than I could build when job requirements got more demanding. Now that retirement is here, I have everything I need including glue, with a pretty good stash of Ambroid in the cupboard also!. I know I won't be able to build them all, but I don't care, as long as I knw I have that Veco Brave or that REAL Top Flight Flight Steak , or Sterling two to a box Peanut Scale kit when the urge hits. I'm the same way with my library and magazine collection. I find the history of model airplanes in general as interesting as anything else related to it, and all these kits, books and magazines are my link to the history of it and my archive. It's kind of funny, that when I was working with my financial advisor she asked me about planning retirement money for hobbies and such. She said there are lots of people that retire, then pick a hobby and go hog wild on it and over spend, and then can't recoup the money on used stuff. I told her don't worry about that, I was taking care of that in real time and at pennies on the dollar, knowing that NOTHING ever gets cheaper, and gave her an insight into what I have collected over the years. And we haven't even mentioned my vintage dirt bike collection! So, I have what I needed to play with in retirement, I just needed to keep a roof over my head, food on the table, and clothes on my back. The rest was covered! Sean asked me one time what he wanted me to do it all when my time comes, and I encouraged him too try and keep all of it, because he will never be able to duplicate what I have collected, simply because he won't be able to find it all. Even at his age now he may not quite understand the history I have collected. I don't care or have any interest in what it all may be worth, because to me it's priceless. It's party of who I am and what I wanted to be as a kid growing up. Some one who was deeply involved in model aviation and was relatively successful at it in several different disciplines, and have trophies from all of them to acknowledge that success. If I had to do it all again, I probably wouldn't change a thing, except for maybe trying for a little bigger house!
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee