The downside of too many models

[Saito2]

I was studying recent Youtube videos of a dearly missed, departed club member with a tremendous collection of models done to stunning specifications. While each one was/is a treasure and a work of art, the sheer quantity was staggering. It gave me pause and forced me to take stock of my own collection. Looking over my runners, I counted 26 up and going at the moment. I've made a concerted effort to get out and drive this year. Rather than sporadically running here and there when time permitted, I made sure to stow one in the 1:1 car on Saturday outings to parks with my little one. It was good to let them all stretch their legs but still...With 52 weeks in a year, that meant each would only really get run around twice a year.

This reminded of a past topic. As a child I would have dreamed to be in this position. I can grab a member of just about any chassis family from Tamiya 1st 100 and take it for a spin. The problem? Well for one thing, there is no more dreaming or guessing what it might be like to drive an Egress or Bruiser or Top Force, etc. For another, I feel as though as if I have little connection to much of them. Some of my favorites do. There's a Lunch Box, Monster Beetle, Clod Buster, and Hotshot I feel connected to, but my Wild One, Top Force, Bigwig? Not so much. They don't feel like mine but rather I'm just their custodian. With adult time constraints, its hard to form a bond with all of them. Its great to have the option to run them but a little sad too.

We, as adults, have the spending power we could only dream of as kids and I think the quick growth of our collections comes from that inner-child exercising that power. Our connection to our runners suffers as a result. That connection with our old models from BITD is magical and tricky to replicate, if not impossible. We were shackled to low numbers due to childhood financial limits and perhaps we loved what we had all the more with real appreciation. Where once, I could only dream of owning the Super Shot the "rich kid" at school had, now a Super Hotshot is just a click away. I don't know where I'm going with this but I have a feeling leaping to the next model hoping for that rush we felt in our youth is not a productive way forward. Its great fun to build and enjoy new things, but will it last like that trusty Blackfoot or Grasshopper we got in the 80's? I'm not sure.

[MadInventor]

For me, the buzz of buying new has gone completely. Knowing I have models I don't use at all, the practical part of my head says if I buy any more they'll just get built and then shelved after 1 or 2 runs. I have an unbuilt Terra Scorcher I bought in 2020, couldn't wait for it to arrive at the time, then had to put off building it as I couldn't get paint for it at the time due to the pandemic. I even made a custom set of alloy wheels for it. Now, I have no desire to build it at all. I've owned most of vintage models I liked as a kid apart from the Rough Rider, but adult me now knows that although it looks good, the handling will be garbage by even hotshot standards. Having spent 3 years building my War Rig, I ran it a handful of times and it has now sat idle since 2019. I would now quite happily part with a significant proportion of my Tamiya RCs, as I just don't use them or have suitable spaces in which to run them.  (I still have an advert for a FAV and a Wild one lurking on the sales forum from last year). They are fun to build and use for a while, but I would now quite happily shave my Tamiyas down to my Hotshot, TXT-1, Terra Scorcher I haven't built yet, and modified Juggernaut 2. 

Currently I'm trying to build another 6x6 lorry having spent a lot of hours playing Snowrunner, and that's meant shelving my 4x4 tractor for the time being (I got that to the point of being to run it, and have now kind of lost interest in doing the cosmetic stuff like the bonnet and the cab. 

What you're describing is a bit like hoarder mentality, where there's the buzz of acquiring something, but once acquired the buzz quickly fades, and although said item is never used, the owner is very reluctant to part with it. Plus being an adult, I just don't think we get excited about things the way we did as kids, and it's pointless trying to chase it. 

In the 80's Tamiya's motto on RC's was 'Toys they're not'. Perhaps now it should be 'Shelf Queens they're not'.

 

[LongRat]

The buzz for me as an adult is not just the ability to now buy those things, but much more, the acquisition of skills to do my own thing to a level I dreamt of as a child.  That's the value of age and experience.  The RC hobby for me is a continuing challenge to improve my own ability to think up and make what fires my imagination.  That's mainly why I don't spend a lot of money on RC cars, but more so into tools, workshop and materials.

I remember when I saw a model 1/8 scale Napier Deltic engine at a show nearly 20 years ago now.  An utterly sensational build by a guy who was old, but had kept up the pace of learning and hadn't stagnated.  The same feeling came over me as when I used to dream about driving an Avante.

I knew I couldn't build anything like that Deltic engine then.  Now, I know what all the steps would be, and if with the right motivation I think I could get close.  It's the combination of satisfaction of improving yourself, and admiration of those who are several steps ahead, that gives the hobby real meaning to me.  I have memories of seeing a friend's Grasshopper and thinking how cool it was.  So much faster than my Nikko Turbo Panther.  Now, to get the same feeling as then, the Grasshopper needs to perform in the way I recall in my childhood perception (not how it actually did).  The challenge of getting my cars to those levels is what I enjoy.

[Willy iine]

My wife and I had conversation similar to this a little while ago... she has an elaborate manga library along with anime and Ghibli collection, etc.  My pretend RC shop has some cars, what to do when we die?

Nutshell comment we both agreed to:  who cares, once we die that is it.  

Enjoy life how we want to while we are alive..someone (kids, relatives, etc) will remove all of it, sell the house, and move on.. we will be forgotten.

My pretend RC shop is one unit that includes all cars as various elements to the project.  Most of it is display even though I drive all my cars once in a while when I feel like it.  They are set up to be driven as runners.    If I don't feel like driving that is also fine, I do not force myself and enjoy being with them in my little pretend shop.    

[SupraChrgd82]

Sometimes the chase is more thrilling than the prize.

This guy for example.  I just had to make a Blazer with rallley wheels and a white topper.  No desire to drive it, it just needed to be built that way and I obsessed until it was done.  It’s been shelved for years.  The idea was more thrilling than the completion.

[El Gecko]

I think it really depends on why you like the models you've built in the first place. It has taken me a long time to come around, but I think shelf queens are totally fine (NIB is a whole different story). Sometimes a car (or a whole collection) can be seen as art, and the builder an artist. In that way, none of them would even need to be capable of running. They would simply need to be appreciated for what they are.

[Willy iine]

28 minutes ago, El Gecko said:

I think it really depends on why you like the models you've built in the first place. It has taken me a long time to come around, but I think shelf queens are totally fine (NIB is a whole different story). Sometimes a car (or a whole collection) can be seen as art, and the builder an artist. In that way, none of them would even need to be capable of running. They would simply need to be appreciated for what they are.

Ooops.. 

[bavee]

2 hours ago, Willy iine said:

Ooops.. 

It's a shop so you certainly need NIB's .

[Keracticus Pots]

I'd guess that the vast majority of the middle age demographic that own more than 2 or 3 Tamiya are driven by nostalgia and are coming back to RCs.

This certainly applies to myself. A "pre-loved" Rough Rider as a kid.  Second phase was 2003 - 2009 when the kids were younger and then on and off for the past few years.  It's only recently I've embraced all aspects of the hobby - NIB, shelf queens & runners. I've always appreciated the collecting aspect of old stuff that includes NIB & shelf queens. But previously I couldn't really get my head round the idea of buying new releases to just stash away or build and not run. Now I've worked out for myself I like the building - not so much the bodies - my skills are lower than my standards! So I'm going to end with more cars than I can sensibly run on a regular basis.

So in summary, if you have the space and disposable income, keep them NIB, build and shelf them to your hearts content. It doesn't matter if you don't run them.

My '79 Rough Rider was second hand without a box. This may explain why my Buggy Champ bought in 2009 sits unopened, my scorcher hasn't run and I've got Buggy Champ and Scorcher body sets to finish. Probably need some therapy to unwrap that one! 

Anyway back to '79.

KP

[bRIBEGuy]

4 hours ago, El Gecko said:

I think it really depends on why you like the models you've built in the first place. It has taken me a long time to come around, but I think shelf queens are totally fine (NIB is a whole different story). Sometimes a car (or a whole collection) can be seen as art, and the builder an artist. In that way, none of them would even need to be capable of running. They would simply need to be appreciated for what they are.

I do largely agree with this, even though the concept/topic of shelf queens is a loaded topic forum in and of itself.  I used to make sure that ALL my cars had full electronics in them... I think as sort of some justifications that I could/would use them (even if I had no intention of doing so).  Now I have a bunch that sit electronics free, just proudly being displayed as the toy/art/collectables they are.  NIB collection takes this a step further... I think in some cases it can be fine, but in others it can be a bit odd.  I have a decent stack of probably 12 NIB's, but my intention is that 99% of them will end up being built.  They represent good opportunities to buy (sales, etc), for something that will provide entertainment in the future.  I used to buy CD's 6-12 at a time for the same reason (cheaper shipping, better pricing...), but then would open them and listen to them one at a time.  Sometimes I'd have discs that sat for months... but I knew I would get to them once I had enjoyed the others.  A few of these NIB will end up as "ART", so go along with a built version of the car.  I also think this is fine.  But really, all of what we do is a bit wacky... I say own your quirks and just try not to get too bonkers with it.  Now where is the bonkers line?  That could be a whole other conversation...

[Pablo68]

I have 40-ish cars, about 25 of which are Tamiya.
Downsides...they take up a bit of room, Ieven want to build a shed specifically for them. I never get around to using them all regularly, though this is a plus for the more fragile ones. Flat spots on the tires, which means I need to one day make display stands for possibly 40 cars.
But, to heck with it, people do collect things, with me it's RC cars.

[Big Jon]

Some are more fun to build than they are to run, and some drive so nicely that they always seem to be the one you grab. Others are too fragile or parts are too scarce to drive regularly, or maybe you have to travel too far for the proper surface. Maybe you’re the only guy in your group with a specific niche vehicle, so it only comes out for special occasions. 
 

Besides, we’re doing our part by keeping these cars, kits, and parts away from the hoarders.

[Badcrumble]

@moffman mis-post I can't delete, sorry.

[Ferruz]

On 12/23/2022 at 4:06 PM, bRIBEGuy said:

own your quirks

Loved this 😌👍

Indeed. It certainly is one of the main rules towards successful enjoyment of our hobby.

[Ferruz]

Sorry, double post. This site is also quirky, lol 😄

 

[Nikko85]

I'd love to have a collection of three, but there's no way I could choose. I think six might be the perfect number for me... enough so I have got options but not so many you never drive any or have totally redundant cars. I no longer see the point of two of the same chassis in the same basic configuration. 

The problem is if I trim back I just end up buying something to fill that spot. My nine month old has a growing collection in the loft now! He's got a QD monster truck, GF01 heavy dump and a Beetle on a QD buggy. All lovely so I can't get rid, but don't want them in 'my' collection either. Hopefully he will grow up enjoying toy cars so will have a few presents over the years lined up!

 

 

[JYCM3]

Yep each has their own quirks on what they collect. Whatever makes you happy that’s all what matters. I saw web a guy who painted bunch of really nice 1/7 R34 GTR body which lead me to Arrma 1/7 infraction forums and realize he has at least 10+ infractions in his garage each with different cool aftermarket bodies that he custom painted them.. 

very expensive as each rtr brushless kit is ~$650 and aftermarket bodies run between $90-120 each.

I love big scale and realistic bodies of cars I like but fortunately I don’t have that kind of disposable income. Which computer market in downward spiral, I’m forced to thin out my collection.

[wun1jee]

On 12/23/2022 at 6:59 AM, SupraChrgd82 said:

Sometimes the chase is more thrilling than the prize.

This guy for example.  I just had to make a Blazer with rallley wheels and a white topper.  No desire to drive it, it just needed to be built that way and I obsessed until it was done.  It’s been shelved for years.  The idea was more thrilling than the completion.

 

This is very true. Earlier this year I built a Jeepspeed XJ based on an SCX10. I have a few other crawlers that I actually run but I had no intention of ever really running this, I just wanted to see it completed, just to see what I could do with it. It became an enormous money sink and while I'm happy with the way it came out I feel like I probably could've funded 2-3 other projects with the money I spent on something I never really had any intention to seriously run.



I do this with all of my hobbies though. Haha. I have +-130 airplanes and more 1/1 cars than I have room for.. Including a recently-purchased K5 that I couldn't live without. 

[Killajb]

I love my collection of 27 cars.  Some are treated like shelf queens but are also ready-to-drive if I felt the urge.  The Avante Black Special is car #27.  I'm taking my time to finish painting the body, and have purchased extra wheels and tires and a 2011 Avante driver and decals to paint box art blue and purchased a painted 2011 body just in case (but have since sold it on).  It's a bucket list thing for me.  Pricey for sure, but after some thought worth the price(to me).

I don't regret having 27 cars, I enjoy it.  After I pass on, I can only hope that my family can either share that enjoyment if the saw fit, or make a few coins selling them on for someone else to enjoy.  The cars I drive are driven carefully but still get to stretch their legs.  While I have very little precious space left to fill with new kits, I fill my sense of satisfaction each time I sit at my desk and look at all of them.

[Nikko85]

On 12/23/2022 at 2:59 PM, SupraChrgd82 said:

Sometimes the chase is more thrilling than the prize.

This guy for example.  I just had to make a Blazer with rallley wheels and a white topper.  No desire to drive it, it just needed to be built that way and I obsessed until it was done.  It’s been shelved for years.  The idea was more thrilling than the completion.

This really rings true. I've certainly been fixated on a project but when done.. .meh, never even really drive it. A few months ago I built a JP jeep on the MF01X chassis to see if I could. 3D printed wheels, chassis spacers etc.

Then I built another MF01x to see if I could put a pumpkin on there better than Tamiya did it with the low rider.

But I really don't need two and since making the Pumpkin it hasn't been out. I am now about to start a CW01 to see if I can 3D print lots of upgrades and make the ultimate budget CW01 but I have a feeling it won't do much the quick drive monster truck I have will, or look better. 

 

[Wooders28]

Depends what you class as, 'too many'

I've come to the realisation that, more cars than time to run them, is too many.

As mine are all runners, building them 'stock spec' gets you up and running, but 99% of the time , they need setting up, with damper oil changes, spring rate changes or tyres etc. This takes time, more time than I'd like. When a car does what you tell it to do, and is predictable, it's just so much more enjoyable to drive ,and 'connected'

[LongRat]

14 hours ago, Nikko85 said:

Then I built another MF01x to see if I could put a pumpkin on there better than Tamiya did it with the low rider.

 

Very much mission accomplished.

Really like the look of your Pumpkin, top work.

[RC Perspective]

Too many models? I don't think that's a thing in this hobby.

The real issue is "Too Little Time". 

It is quite literally all of the above though. 

I think the one that rings truest with me is, "Living out the childhood dream."

The things we wanted, and wanted to do when we were kids. I never really look at it as too many. Yes they are remote controlled, but that doesn't mean you have to drive them. The joy has always been, first and foremost, the build process. Next comes setup and getting it where you want it to be; This doesn't always mean driving though.

The models do what YOU want them to do; so I truly do feel as if there really is no such thing as "too many".

I have 2 TT02's and a TT02R. After that I picked up a Pan Car, that I literally haven't done a thing with. After that was my RC4WD Trail Finder 2 scale crawler. Then the TRX4 that I just recently got. Then this past week I was given almost $1500 worth of RC stuff. A Losi V100 69 Camaro, a stock Traxxas Slash and a heavily hopped up LCG Slash that I've gotten running on a castle brushless, (Been quite a while since I've been in the middle of the road giggling like a 5 year old ) and a toolbox with enough new spare parts to keep the slash running for quite some time.

So my newest infatuation is with the slash and I've been playing with that quite alot. My speedrun TT02R hasn't been run in the better part of 5 months, the TT02 basher was run less than a month ago (I use this one the most), the TT02 RWD drifter I have driven maybe 3 times, and never finished setting up since, oh maybe 8 months ago. The TF2 has a pretty thick layer of dust as I haven't used it in about 3 months, and since getting the Slash, I haven't touched the TRX in about a week.

-RC Perspective

[moffman]

1 hour ago, RC Perspective said:

Living out the childhood dream

That's it in a nutshell for me! When I was very young back in the day I was lucky enough to have as my first "real" rc the Ford ranger simply because my parents worked extremely hard and long hours something that as a child you didn't realise until you become the adult and you look back at what they actually did for you! And then you start earning a wage yourself and you go to the model shops (Beattie's in my nearest city)  and look at the top shelf rc buggies/trucks and just dream of owning that new in stock avante and drooling over the blazing blazer and new out Toyota bruiser and thinking one day! Well that day has come and if I loved to own 50 rc buggies back in the day my ambition now would be to get those 50 but my rc dream is just a humble half a dozen (avante, egress, bruiser, Optimas mid etc and super shot) all the rest I have which is about a dozen I got because I just love building them! So I don't think there is a downside to owning too many models just a downside of the size of your hobby room or man cave and obviously the most important thing your budget (which today is no1 priority cost of living etc) 

[87lc2]

I think about this topic a lot and its definitely different for everyone.  After a rough count I think I'm near 50 with 10 or so being trail trucks/crawlers, 10 park runners (buggies, Blackfoot, Monster Beetle), 3-4 on road cars, 3-4 backyard basher monster trucks, and the rest (20 or so) being race trucks.  I defintiely have too much and don't use all of it as much as I should, but in my head it all has a purpose and "will be used" at some point...right?

When I first started "collecting" there were a lot of vehicles that I just wanted to keep nice and on the shelf, but that is no more.  If it becomes a shelfer for any period of time and I would cringe at the thought of running it or getting it dirty I try to sell it.  Still have a few to move on from, but not enough hours in the day to even list them.  

The real issue for me is I simply can't stop building them.  Once I finish one another one is on the bench and taking shape.  The problem is I do find it hard to part with things, especially after I put so many hours into making it what it is.  Its a real struggle honestly, I just can't stop.  I absolutely love building RCs and its even taken over my 1:1 car hobby since its so much neater, simpler, and easier to fit into my schedule.  I'll always mess with 1:1 cars to a degree but I would much rather spend tiem building an RC these days.