I'm told I should post this here so everyone can have a good laugh.

Once upon a time, I wanted a Tiger I from Kursk. I bought DML's 6406 a few months ago, and was very disappointed with the rubber band tracks that don't fit. Moreover, it's a late Tiger, with the wrong wheels and other details needed for a mid-1943 tank.

I was appalled to see the DML-CH kits going for $200+, and sought an alternative. (You may recall my post of a few days ago.) I was advised that Tamiya's Tiger 35216 wasn't all that bad, so I went shopping and bought one off "the auction site", ordered Aber's 35K01 and some MasterClub tracks, and life was good. One down.

Then I saw DML's kit 6253 on the same site and thought why not, if I can get it for cheap, I'll go for it. I thought $60 was reasonable, and that's what I bid. Of course I got slaughtered, and when bidding passed my $60 bid I went looking elsewhere. There was another one available, so I bid the same $60 on that.

Then, wonder of wonders, DML 6350 (Wittmann Tiger) appeared on "the auction site". THIS is the kit I really want, so I screwed up my courage and bid $100, knowing that was more than I had ever spent on a model before, and was about half of what they usualy go for. No expectation that I would win the auction . . .

Out of the blue, I get an email from the seller of the first 6253 kit. It seems the fellow who outbid me bailed, and I was next. Did I want this kit for the $60 I had bid? No brainer — yes! I figure I can flog it for a tidy profit if necessary. In truth the 6406 kit isn't that bad, apart from the tracks, but this one has more options. Two down.

Then, a miracle. I win the Wittmann Tiger (6350) for the $100 I bid. No way, say I. I must have horseshoes you know where! Now, I sense a problem. This is three kits in the mail, only one of which I want. I'd gladly forego the Tamiya kit and the late Tiger, because I only want ONE, and 6350 fits the bill, but it's too late. What's done is done, and what's paid for is already paid for.

Alas, a few minutes ago I won the auction for the other late Tiger kit 6253, for only $60, which is a good deal, but really! That's now FOUR in the mail! Add to that the 6406 kit I have in my stash, and another ancient Tamiya Tiger 35146 I've had for fifteen years, and now I have SIX bloody Tigers. I only wanted ONE!

By the time I add PE and tracks and Zimmerit and miscellaneous resin, each one is going to cost upwards of $100 beyond what the kit costs. I"m quite happy to sell my children to pay for all the goodies, but I don't think my wife would go along with that. Geez, I'm reeling. $1000 for Tigers? What a dumbass!

There is a lesson here. I've learned it, because I'm on the sharp end, but I pass it on to all. WAIT UNTIL THE PAINT IS DRY BEFORE TOUCHING THE MOUSE AGAIN! It's not all bad — I got some good kits at good prices, but really! SIX Tigers? Sigh. I only wanted one . . .

Cheers
Scott Fraser
Calgary

Actually.. all in good fun Scott, but I guess you could resell them?

Visit my VBench
http://www.planetarmor.com/forums/index.php?showforum=9

James, I'm still in a world of pain and can't really laugh. Want to buy some?

Cheers

Hi Scott,
I think only Tom Cockle could top that one when it comes to buying kit's he'll never get around to building (sorry buddy!). I suppose "acquiring" is one of the most interesting aspects of the hobby, so at least you can enjoy that part. Heading to Virginia next month?
Regards,
Gary

I think only Tom Cockle could top that one when it comes to buying kit's he'll never get around to building (sorry buddy!). I suppose "acquiring" is one of the most interesting aspects of the hobby, so at least you can enjoy that part.

I'm not sure I want to go there. I still have a huge thirty-year collection of 1/72 scale WW2 aircraft, no idea how many, but last time I counted they were well into four figures.

Collectors are nothing more than frustrated modellers, with more money than time.

As for tanks? Well, I was building trains until last fall, when on a whim I decided I wanted to build a tank. Trains weren't doing it for me — no history. I bought DML's Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.E and was totally blown away. Things have changed in the model tank worls since 1994, when I bought my last tank model.

I swallowed it all, hook, line, sinker and probably the rod too, which would explain why my posture is so much better. And of course I resolved not to buy another kit until I finished the one I was working on (how familiar is that, guys?). That resolution lasted about 24 hours.

Sigh. Now I have a couple of Italeri T-26s, a T-28, a T-35, and PE and barrels and tracks for same. I have some Trumpy KVs, Tamiya's IS-2, and a bunch of GAZ and ZiS trucks. Then there's MiniArt's T-70 and Suka, and (groan) a Zvezda T-60. I haven't counted recently, but I must have twenty DML-CH T-34s. (Yes, Soviet armour is my thing!) I shudder to think how much I have spent in aftermarket parts for them all. My dear wife is tolerant, but has no compunction in pointing her finger and singing the "Na-na-na-na-NA-na" song. "When are you going to build them?"

And now I'm buying German stuff. I though it important to have a bit of the "opposition", and it's a bottomless pit. I think I may check into rehab.

And what's this talk of Virginia? I'm lucky if I get to Airdrie! I thought you were in Emmuntun, where I grew up. I stil have family up there, and I come to visit from time to time. I would knock on your door if you were into in. I'm sure we have mutual friends.

Cheers
Scott Fraser
Calgary

Scott,

Waht Gary is is so diplomatically referring to is my recent move to the dark side. I bought a Tamiya F4U-1A Corsair in June but now I have thirteen of them - 5 Tamiya, 7 Hasegawa and 1 Academy. Aaaannnd! A Hasegawa P-40E! But you know, I intend to build every one of them.

See you in September.

Tom

Funny story Scott. Loved it.

On the plus side, you never know.........if you decide to re-sell the Tigers you might even be able to make a profit.

I have er.... wait to count them out...
Tiger I Early Tamiya x2
Tiger I Mid Otto Carius Tamiya x1
Tiger I Mid Tamiya x1
Tiger I Late Tamiya x2
Tiger I Late AFV Club x1
Sturmtiger AFV x1
Sturmitger Tamiya x1
Tiger I Initial Dragon x2
Tiger I Initial DAK Tamiya x1
Tiger I Late Dragon x1
Bergetiger I CMK x1
Tiger I Initial DAK Italery x1

My problem is that I want MORE!

Didn't count my King Tigers yet!

Alex

Oh you poor guy. You're at the same place with Tigers that I am with T-34s. My passion is Soviet tekhnika, not German. I wanted ONE Tiger and ONE Panther to display the opposition. I have (I haven't counted them recently) maybe twenty T-34s.

Why are we so foolish? Buying kits that we will probably never build. I am 53, maybe have another twenty or thirty years before I turn to dust. If my eyesight cooperates, I might get through my existing stash, barely, so why am I still buying stuff?

There's a very good paper there for some undergraduate.

I've been modelling since childhood. Forty years and counting. You'd think I'd learned the lessons, but clearly I haven't. I still buy stuff that I will probably never use. What drives us?

I've been pondering that for a long time and I have no answer. My wife would tell me, and I'm sure the rest of the women in the world would agree, that it's just plain silly. Buy a kit, build a kit, and buy another one. No need to see them stacked to the ceiling! I love her, and I hate her, because she's RIGHT!

What a fool am I, and I confess this to you guys, because we're all on the same page. Heavy sigh.

Regards
Scott Fraser

PS: If any of you send this link to her, I will track you down and firebomb your house!

No need to worry Scott!
You are not the only one!
Our hobby is more like obsession!
I am 32 years old I have many kits, but every time I enter a hobby-store, or entering a site like hobbyeasy, moduni, sprue brothers etc, I have the temptation to buy just everything!

I ended up with two Dragon Tiger 1 late (6253) as I drunkenly misread the Hannants terms and conditions. I placed a preorder for £0.00. Then I thought I couldn't place an order for £0.00 and that my original one would be cancelled. I then ordered some other stuff and a Tiger 1 late. All after a hefty session down the pub.

I didn't think any more of it until I received a package from Hannants containing two Tigers... and a bloody big bill...

Andy

It seems everybody has a stash here but think of those who don't. (Me) Those who wish they could look into a closet just filled with models begging to be built and never have to buy anything anymore! It pains me to know there are probably hundreds of models that will never see a drop of paint or glue.While there are hundreds of newbies, teenagers, and kids who want to get into the hobby who can hardly scrape together money to buy a single one.So just be glad you actually have a stash, you lucky few...

Just my thinking,
Richard Singleton

i have 3 could be 4 i'd have to go look 100.00 AUS each... while the thread is still fresh i'll give it a shot,worth a try i suppose.. any takers?? e-mail me if interested ..............jamie

Just be REAL GRATEFUL that you aren't into 1:16th!!!!

Hi Richard,

My own stash started when I joined a model club, until then I only bought and built one kit at a time. At the club, other members would bring in kits, paints and accessories they didn't want and either give them away or sell them for a couple of pounds. Newbies, youngsters and kids were often swamped with kits. One member offered to swap me two unbuilt kits for each built one I had, I took him up on it and the stash began. As the stash grew I did the same as the other guys.
I am a member of a small club locally and the same thing still goes on, at the last meeting one member brought in a box with hundreds of tins of paint and said if no one wanted them he'd put them in the bin. I took what was left over after everyone else had what they wanted, there was roughly 140 tins.
I hope this helps.

Regards
Mike

Please remove xxx from my email address.

I'm sure that the ZO is right around the corner, you will have quite a collection when all is said and done.

Hi Scott,
Your story has made me feel better about my own buying habits.
I have been liquidating some of my stash on ebay and I found that I had five Tamiya 'Chi-Ha's, five Dragon 5cm Pak guns, (why? I'm not even that keen on artillery) and numerous duplicate tanks.

Regards
Mike

Please remove xxx from my email address.

Well, in a week or three the sting will be gone, but honest to goodness, what a stupid sequence of events. If my kids did this, I would cut off their Internet for a while, and maybe I should do that to myself.

Five Chi-Has? That's as bad, maybe even worse — did the Japanese have that many tanks? Not my cuppa, and I know nothing about armour in the PTO. As for the PAKs, I will keep a lookout — I might get one to hang behind a Blitz.

Cheers
Scott Fraser

Thi think I have enough interiors for you (LOL)!

Around 36 differing types / SPGs so far. Started in 1981. FINISHED 2 so far. Many in progress or nearly finished (LOL) and all waiting various bits / info/ swaps. But I had a final stab gain today to work out the best options / mixes available... nearly there...

Andrew