Why Do You Need?

[RA1028]

IT is the same as your girlfriend or wife ask you why you need two RC car. If you have the resources, why not.

[adam1973]

From what I have been told about the original 3 speeder's pirice when new, and this is from my LHS, the Bruiser was around 300.00, what is the equivilent monetary value now? around 900.00??? MINIMUM!!! I say. So what added profit has been made? 600.00 you might say, but what actual gain has been made? Look around at other prices, petrol/diesel for example, now it's around 1.16/1.25 per litre, what was it then in 1985??

It's all down to personal taste as to why people buy these kits, but as an investment??? Come on, there is none. Just look at the figures of how much things were when these kits were new, and compare them to todays prices for same products.

Me, I have 2 NIB's, one being a Ferrari F40 RE-RE, the other a Wrangler bodyparts set, and you know what, these were kind of investments, but now I am having to rethink my logic behind the reason why they are sill in the boxes and not built. I won't lose any value, unless I destroy them, but these were meant to be built, not locked away for nobody to see. People who are in it only for a quick "buck", are in my opinion akin to drug dealers, because they prey upon the weekness of those stupid enough to pay the over inflated prices for lets, face it, TOYS.

[WillyChang]

IT is the same as your girlfriend or wife ask you why you need two RC car. If you have the resources, why not.

Mine's too smart to ask.

Methink she's just thankful i go for multiple RC toys... not multiple women.

[loaded]

Hello all,

I have been following this thread for a while, wondering if I should offer an opinion, or just stay quiet. It is kind of like being between the devil and the deep blue sea, or put another way, damned if I do, damned if I don't.

I will try to be factual.

There are those who will never understand the attraction of a single NIB, as in their opinion, a kit is a model waiting to be built. In their eyes, a baby that never gets born, a waste of time. I am a little saddened by this opinion, simply because so much joy has been provided to children and adults in the form of anticipation from models, toys and of course Tamiya RC models. Excitement as Christmas/birthday draws nearer, sneaking a peak, finally opening the box and wondering how all those pieces go together when they are removed from their blister packs. Building the model with your father, running it for the first time are of course big parts of this, but the whole bigger picture is where the memories are. One reason for keeping NIB kits is to keep this feeling going on indefinitely. This is why re issues have never appealed to me, as they are packaged poorly in comparison, although the resulting model is at least as good. Another reason would be for having a complete collection of something no longer available through normal channels, just like antique collections.

There are those who will never understand the attraction of a built display model, whether built from spares, restored or from a NIB kit (the latter causing much upset amongst many people). We must remember that Tamiya started as a model company and that their first models were only 'suitable for radio control'. In my opinion, they were super models which could also run, but were of wonderful detail and delightful to look at.

There are those who don't understand why some collectors have more than one of one particular NIB, but apart from regional variations (which even I admit is quite a flimsy excuse) there are perfectly good reasons to have more than one, other than simply 'wanting one'. Outside of Tamiyaclub.com and eBay, it may surprise some to learn that there are a network of collectors who trade their models. I can think of two occasions this year alone when I made very large trades with such other collectors to add to my collection models I didn't already have. As is often the case, 'chucking in' a Scorcher or Sand Rover, etc etc sweetens the deal, as they are collectable models, but I am still left with other examples of the same model. Then, of course, there is simply the desire to build one from a NIB, rather than own the new build from parts, or that somebody else made. Condition also plays a part, as often it isn't necessary (for financial or space reasons) to sell your 'less good condition' kit when you find a better one. I hope this goes some way to explaining this process and how multiple kits end up in collections. Sometimes 'alignment of the planets' leaves me with 7 Sand Rovers in a single week - I can't explain it.

Then, of course, there is sloppy impulse control and obsessive compulsive disorders of varying degrees, but I think this is not the forum to go into that.

I have found that if I collect NIB models, people think I should build them and some people even send me rude hate mails, or comments in the showroom. I have found that if I build them, I get hate mails (again only a few) saying I should keep them NIB. If they sit on a shelf I am told to run them and if I run them I am told not to damage them.

I would like to state, for the record, that I don't just collect NIB models, although they feature quite prominently in my showroom (as they tend to be the most interesting for most people) and my NIB collection is actually eclipsed by built and restored models. In some cases I have what even I think is a silly number of the same model, but I hope I have gone some way to explaining this, if not justifying it somewhat. There are also a couple of gaps in my collection.

This is why, recently, I have kept pretty quiet about these matters and probably is why most mega collectors don't make descriptions in their showrooms and don't allow comments to be made. I would rather lend at least a little insight, get involved and take some (quite a lot sometimes) of flak from people who disagree.

All the best,

Paul

[Mr.Ce]

People who are in it only for a quick "buck", are in my opinion akin to drug dealers, because they prey upon the weekness of those stupid enough to pay the over inflated prices for lets, face it, TOYS.

DID HE JUST CALL US DRUG DEALERS?

lol

[yamita]

If one can afford them, who's stopping? Somebody's gotta preserve them...

[taliesin]

DID HE JUST CALL US DRUG DEALERS?

lol

I do NOT have a Tamiya problem: as long as I keep buying more Tamiya models, there's no problem at all!

Its like some kind of new RC Crack!

[Capt Splatt]

Investing in multiple NIB kits is only a dream for me. If I get a new kit, there's only going to be one and its going to have to be used.

I come from a family of small time collectors and the one thing that gets driven home is, if I could never bring myself to part with it, then its not an investment. Its still an asset, but you'll never make any money out of it. I find it very hard to part with any of my stuff. I always seem to be wondering 'what if'?

What I will be curious to see in the future, is how good these NIB kits last as a long term investment for those who do trade and sell. It seems to me, that the core of enthusiasts for the vintage kits is restricted to a pretty small demographic. We all seem to be only a few years either side of 40 and driven by nostalgia. What happens to the investment prices as we get older? I have no doubt the prices on NIB 3 speeds will only go up in the next 5 to 10 years. I suppose I'm wondering, what will happen when the market starts shrinking and so many of us move on to bigger and better things?

I'd love to see the kits become more universally desirable. It would mean more people 'get' my hobby. But once our numbers start thinning out and only the purists are left, I'm not sure they'll have anyone to trade with.

Splatt.

[WillyChang]

i think Paul has mentioned the best reason for multiple NIBs so far... TRADE BAIT!

any NIB kit is like offering greenbacks vs junk bonds of used gear of undeterminite condition

[loaded]

Just coming back to this topic (I don't seem to want to let it die)

I would like to comment on something touched on by the starter of this thread regarding shrink wrapped kits. There are a few good reasons for collecting shrink wrapped kits, but for me, most of them involve removing the shrink wrap at some point. You won't find many shrink wrapped kits in my collection.

Many of you know that, for example to use a popular one, the Sand Scorcher internal packaging actually came in different guises (for example internal boxes, or blisters were different). Over time, boxes get swapped, removed, replaced and generally messed about - one way to know the model kit has never been pilfered with is to buy a shrink wrap, but then promptly open it to enjoy the contents.

Another reason to buy a shrink wrapped kit is that the box will have been protected from light scratching to some degree. Why does this matter? The shiny boxes when scratched do not repel dirt and getting dusty is more of a problem. A dry wipe clean of a dusty unscratched box leaves it pretty much perfect. Surprisingly, a lot of dirt is accumulated this way, so a shrink wrapped model is a good place to start for box condition.

A shrink wrap is put on by distributors AFTER checking the contents for completeness. Assuming they have been checked correctly, a shrink wrapped box assures you of a complete kit. Some early Tamiya manuals did not have a complete pictoral guide to all parts and it is possible to miss a few things in this way, unless you are very familiar with the car, so knowing that you bought it with the shrink wrap on does give you confidence the kit is complete.

For me, as with many others, being able to open the kit and enjoy it is part of the experience, however, I do own a couple of shrink wrapped kits that I haven't ripped open just yet, however, this is largely because I have dupes.

Paul.

[Skysaxon]

Loaded this was a very interessing excurtion to collectors world.

I was into ols Kawasaki motorbikes and like you do with NIB, I just bought spares just for trading. Sometime you would get a part not for money and word, so you have to over something from your collection.

I never tought that its running the sameway with Tamiya. Thats meens to me that some parts are rare as a blue martius and just got traded form collector to collector.

[Guest rsturbos1]

i dont belive in leavin a tamiya nib but do belive in a shelf queen , you see if its nib n sum one comes round they look at a box thats it,if its mint and on shelf presented well thats what they will say thats mint u put alot of effort into that etc who agrees

[HunterZero]

I can totally understand collecting NIB older kits. The presentation in the older kits is superb, with the blister packs and parts boxes. The superb in-box presentation is part of what makes Tamiya so special among brands. Most of these kits were built and enjoyed, so finding a NIB is very rare and exclusive. It's nice to have a NIB untouched example.

Having a NIB gives you that sense of anticipation - that you could crack open those blister packs and build it if you really wanted to. Having more than one NIB means you can succumb to this temptation at least once.

Part of the fun of collecting is the hunt - so you tend to end up with doubles once in a while.

Loaded gives probably the best point for multiple NIB kits - trade bait.

And for those who remember the feeling of walking into the old hobby shop and seeing stacks of these kits NIB... Mmmmmmmm...

- James

[kalsh]

The man who dies with the most toys WINS!

I have seen this saying on a number plate surround also. I can relate to it given my dad had a 1500+ matchbox collection.

Its all about personal choice and as others have stated "because you can". Thankfully we are all different or it would be a very boring existance.

[Tamiya1/10]

Lets have a number or range of numbers, how many is concidered to be too much. 3 Nib ? 30 Nib ? 300 Nib ? 3000 nib or a collection of 300 models or a collection 300,000 models? Or the number is really based on the justification in the end? Since we are all crazy about Tamiya, the number is infinite?

[HunterZero]

Let me see... How many distinct kits have tamiya made again?

Limited only by your wallet and available storage space.

Oh, and then there's the 'wife tolerance factor' for some of us...

- James

[WillyChang]

Lets have a number or range of numbers, how many is concidered to be too much. 3 Nib ? 30 Nib ? 300 Nib ? 3000 nib or a collection of 300 models or a collection 300,000 models? Or the number is really based on the justification in the end? Since we are all crazy about Tamiya, the number is infinite?

"... I would give it all away for just a little more"

Montgomery Burns, Springfield

[loaded]

The following equation should help you work it out:

cash x space

spousal tolerance

Paul.

[BeetleLover]

Been reading through this topic and was thinking why does it really matter why someone needs more than 1 NIB of the same model... Why bother trying to decipher the reason for someone collecting multiples or whether the cars are more deserving of being run or being sat on the shelf, it's surely not going to change the make up of my collection or make me think perhaps denying running a car is a sin... There's no rules... We do what we like and we all like different things or ways we like our things or the number we feel we require. For Investment, Love, something to do, nostalgia or a combination of all who cares!!!

James

[sirandy]

For Investment, Love, something to do, nostalgia or a combination of all who cares!!!

I like sniffing the tires

[loaded]

That is an interesting point, sir.

The allowed chemicals in manufacturing now are somewhat different than 30 years ago, since the inception of the dreaded health and safety acts, EU regulations on chemicals, etc. I imagine some of the lovely smells and tastes (Boomerang Screw bag A, for example) are probably considered lethal nowadays and would send the average EU safety advisor reeling into the corner, wishing he could have a cigarette and a drink.

Come to think of it, the ingestion of noxious chemicals by most of us would explain a lot

Paul.

[Tamiya1/10]

The following equation should help you work it out:

cash x space

spousal tolerance

Paul.

Wrong: Cash = big number; Space = big number; spousal tolerance? get a new spouse, unless the money and house are in her name.

(i am now whispering ...got to go, the Mrs just hollered for her bath to be ready and firmly informed me not to leave the toilet seat up again.....yes dear, right away dear, OK dear....

[WillyChang]

The following equation should help you work it out:

cash x space

spousal tolerance

doesn't work Paul

0 x 0 = INFINITE

0

[loaded]

It has been a while since I was at school, but 0 x 0 is 0 and 0 / 0 is also 0, not infinity.

but I might be wrong.

Paul.

[WillyChang]

X / 0 = a very large # tending to infinity

or is it overridden by rule of X / X = 1 ?

dunno, think i've been discharged out of skool longer than you