I haave about 50car kits unbuilt mostly because I used to be a binge buyer so now they sit,anything that will see the light of day on the layout maybe 20 of themare stored on shelves above the workbench the rest will ferment until I stop being lazy and book a trainshow table.[:D][swg]TB
I have about a dozen unbuilt structures, maybe twenty unbuilt cars, and three or four unbuilt locomotives (not counting kitbashing or reconditioning projects I haven’t done yet–in case more like ten.)
I tend to buy items when I find them, typically when I can get some sort of obscene deal or I find the obscure oddball stuff I’m constantly looking for. I then store it until my next construction jag–sometimes I just KNOW I’m going to need a certain kit for a part of my layout that has not yet been built, and so will pick it up knowing it is going to sit on the shelf.
I also tend to go on marathon building sessions where, after building very little for months, I’ll tear through a bunch of projects in a week or two. I just finished such a wild hair–completed three or four car kits, a few buildings, track soldering/painting/wiring, and a couple other associated projects all in one manic burst.
I have enough kits on hand to keep me happily building like this for a couple of years, and I tend to be a little more discriminating about what I’ll buy now than I used to be. But I will almost certainly pick up a couple more things before my shelf reaches the “empty” point…
I especially keep buying building kits only because i like the way they look,but they may never be placed on the layout…too big,too modern,too"country" too old.I also have a few engines to repower and super detail,and way too many car kits to put together,detail and weather.Sometime it’s a hobby out of control and i have to reign my impulses in.But i’m still having fun.
Bought my first model Tuesday, Forgot to buy glue. It is unbuilt.
Have 3 boxcars unbuilt–2 Accurail and 1 Branchline. You’d think that I’d take the 5 minutes or so it takes to put the Accurails together, right? Wrong–I’m trying to figure out why the lead trucks on my just-bought-on-consignment Custom Brass Rio Grande 4-8-2 keep wanting to short out when the locomotive curves to the right! And this is on a 34" radius! Man, I’ve heard of “To Scale” clearances, but this is ridiculous! Oh, yah, I’ve still got a Walther’s “Merchant’s Corner” structure to finish, but that’s okay, because I haven’t decided where I’m going to put the town yet, anyway. Oh yah, and a couple of Tichy water columns–and let’s see–damn! I’ve got a GARAGE full of stuff, enough to keep me building through this summer!
Tom
Rolling stock: about 70 Red Caboose, Intermountain, Tichy, P2k and RGM kits.
Structures: About 15 craftsman kits, Campbell, Yorke, SS LTD, Downtown Deco, Columbia Valley etc.
Autos: 15 unfinsihed Magnuson, Alloy forms and Jordan KIts
Figures: 50 unpainted White metal figures, 100+ Prieser
2 Unfinished ventilated boxcars, unfinished scratch buit SP water tank and tons of stuff that needs to be tweaked.
As you can see I have my work cut out for me.
My train buddies laughed when I swore that I would not be one of those guys with tons of unbuilt kits lying around. Look what happened. Most of the stuff I bought for cheap on Ebay (back in the day) or I got from my friends. I will probably build these (it will take years) as my layout gets built up from the benchwork stage to the point where I can run some trains.
My last layout was pretty much done for about 4 years before I tore it out. I got into scratchbuilding structures and rolling stock. While I was building the layout there never seemed to be time for this stuff. It was a real eyeopener for me. I think the number of kits you have lying around may partially depend on how close to completion the layout happens to be and what your priorities are in terms of which aspect comes first.
On this layout, I am going to balance the kit building with layout construction a little more evenly.
Guy
I tend to be pretty slow building structures,have about 5 in different stages of construction,most all are either laser cut or craftsman.Rolling stock i try to get into service as soon as possible.Terry.
DAMN Some of you dudes are crazy for real. To have many rolling stock unbuilt kits. You must just buy them and put them on a shelf. 50? 200? few hundred? There is a real name for that condition. we all have a little bit in us but you guys have it bad and it is called
OBSESIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER O.C.D for short (#1 winner decoy706, #2 CBQ_Guy and Martin4, #3 Clinchvalley and #4 brunob1) You just keep buying those kits just because they are in front of you. That is bad. You guys are the type of duded when you die they all go at an estate sale for like $1 a piece. HELP IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. [;)]
I generally build the kits I buy in the same week so I am not stuck with a handful of building kits that need to be built. I get them out of the way.
P.S. I was not flaming you guys just telling the truth. Its hard for me to bite my tongue. I say what is the truth.
Some of us who have been around the hobby for a while also know that a lot of kits are short run, companies get bought or go out of business. So if you see a kit you like you’d better buy it now. While I may have over 100 unbuilt kits less than a third of them are currently available.
When I retire and have less income I’ll be glad I loaded up. And if some get sold after I die for $1, then someone else gets started or helped along in the hobby.
Enjoy
Paul
Not many structure kits unbuilt, maybe 20 or so. Freight cars is another story. Hundreds of those. Engines, about 50 to paint/decal.
I’m not allowed to die until they are all built!!!
Parker,
The next question is how many of these kits have been built. I have 130 BUILT freight cars (not counting shake the box kits), Many BUILT structures, tons of painted details, autos. figures etc. and I finished a 16’ X 10’ layout to a high level of detail. I did this over a period of about ten years (basically late at night, instead of watching TV). I suspect over the years I will build a lot of this stuff or sell it to buy new stuff I “must have”.
Most of the stuff I buy is because it is a good deal and of high quality. Most of the items are no longer in production. Many of my friends have much more stuff than I, collectively they could open several hobby shops.
As for it being OCD, I’m sure that there is something about getting the “train bug” that causes this behavior. I keep telling my family and friends that it will take years of therapy and lots of money (on new train stuff) to cure…
BTW: I was in your boat once looking at all the crazy purchase habits of other train guys, just wait… it will happen to you. Some one will offer you some kits for cheap, those cars you “Gotta have” show up on EBAY etc…Its not hard to buy the kits…
Guy
I have about 40-50 kits that are not finished. These range from ‘still in the box’ to ‘I just have to decal the road number(Accurail)’. I hope to get all of this stuff caught up in Janueary. I do a have a large structure project(meat packing plant) that is just time consuming and I have no real schedule for completion.
Of course with the ‘flea market/train show’ going full steam this time of year, I suspect I will add to that pile of new projects again!
Jim Bernier
About 25 building kits, some freight cars, a few vehicles like a tow truck and such…
Only thing I am working on at this time is a book about American model railroading for my fellow Germans, 144 pages and 120 pictures, will have to deliver the text on the 15th and the pics on the 1st of Feb… The other thing I am working hard on is a pint of Teacher’s Highland Cream.
Na zrdavje
Martin
Let’s see…
65 or so resin freight cars to build.
30 or so plastic freight cars to build.
5 Branchline coach kits to build.
10 Roundhouse passenger car kitbashes to finish.
20 AMB cabooses to finish.
10-20 structure kits to build.
4 Bowser steam kits to build.
2 Roundhouse steam kits to build.
20-30 plastic steam superdetailing projects.
8-10 major steam kitbashes/superdetailing projects.
6 diesels to superdetail & paint.
20-50 structures to scratchbuild/kitbash.
And a 3-level layout to finish.
That should keep me busy for the next couple of weeks.
You should see what I’ve got finished! (lots)