Runner vs Shelf Queen

[hammerstien]

to be honest I buy to run and run hard only have a few SQ'S and nib

But thats only because the were so mint when i got them and had others on same chassis i can run

And even then very tempted to run them and will run some at the vintage race

[BigSteve]

This is going to be a really good thread. I also think it could get heated along the way. I don't own many rc's like most of the other members having only six buggies. But I enjoy running them all some harder than others. I recently bought a really good condition Bigwig my all time vintage favourite and that gets taken out regularly but not slaughtered.

If I'm honest I would probably own more rc's if I had the same disposable income as some of the members on this site but I don't and therefore only own what I can afford and want to use. What I don't understand is, as when the re re Egress came out, is people buying up to five kits. That's over £1000 worth of kits even at HK prices. It was almost as if there was a competition going on who could buy the most kits.

As I enjoy running what I own I personally go for re re's where possible.

After all said and done each to their own and as long as people enjoy what they do and what they get from this awesome hobby that's all that matters.

Steve.

[backtomyroots]

• I enjoy building my r/c models.

I don't enjoy running them.

I enjoy spending lots of money on fancy fully functional r/c models.

I don't enjoy running them.

I enjoy staring at my fancy r/c models.

I don't enjoy running them.

I enjoy building and shelving my vintage r/c models.

I don't enjoy running them.

That is why I'm a "shelfer".

Although, I do have a few "demo" models available for the curious.

[ukfox]

When I first started to collect Tamiya, all my cars were built to be driven.

But now I have quite a few I seem to be Building more than running.

Most of my cars have full radio.

All my kits are built with bearings and shock oils, so it wouldn't take much to run them.

I enjoy building, and don't drive much

I would say that around one third of my cars have only been tried indoors to check they work correctly

I do have a few cars that I do not intend to run, that will live on a shelf looking pretty

I also have a few NIB kits, that I will get around to building one day

[neverfollow]

When I first started to collect Tamiya, all my cars were built to be driven.

But now I have quite a few I seem to be Building more than running.

Most of my cars have full radio.

All my kits are built with bearings and shock oils, so it wouldn't take much to run them.

I enjoy building, and don't drive much

I would say that around one third of my cars have only been tried indoors to check they work correctly

I do have a few cars that I do not intend to run, that will live on a shelf looking pretty

I also have a few NIB kits, that I will get around to building one day

Sadly, this is how I'm becoming now. All will run if I put a battery in them, majority of them are hopped up, but haven't been able to run them as much as I'd like to

Also availability of parts for some of my cars keeps me from running them hard when I do run them. Another

[nascar24jd]

I'm a runner for sure. Yes, when the Frogs got their first scratch it hurt, but they survived.

[THE HP FREAK]

HI!... Well you can see how I feel about shelf queen's... lol!

[nascar24jd]

HI!... Well you can see how I feel about shelf queen's... lol!

 

Wow, that is a beautiful collection. I love the Frog, Hornet, and Grasshopper.

Those were what was available when I was a kid.

[wood5tock]

HI!... Well you can see how I feel about shelf queen's... lol!

Mmmm... Tamiya goodness...

[WhoKnowsWho]

All of the cars I built, I planned to run. Same with rollers off of eBay and the like. But after I built my Clodbuster and Super Blackfoot, they both looked so nice and clean, I just went back to beating on my Stampede and other cars.

I just recently picked up a Bullhead and another Clodbuster for cheap, so one Clodbuster is going to be modified with a new chassis and run hard.

I also picked up an Ultima, Turbo Ultima II, and Double Dare in pristine condition. I didn't buy them with the intention to drive them, they still have the original MSC installed. I bought them because of the history they evoke.

[Tamiya1/10]

Is a natural progression.

When 1st get into this hobbit, is build and run

Then starting to buy more and more, and is still build an run.

Few more years into this hobby...will be mostly NIB or shelve queen

Then run out of space and or money, start thinning out the collection and focus on group specific.

Then from experience, only buy what you truely like and not everything put out by Tamiya, as one began to realize most of Tamiya stuffs are just not that great.

The bottom line is if one runs all his models, that mean his collection is not big enough.:-D

[danb1974]

I like to build them. I like to run them. I like to look at them - I only choose cars which look good to me.

Unfortunately I can't afford to have more than a few cars at any time, so now and then I have to sell one to move to another. There are a couple I regret having to sell. They would have been nice shelf queens, but they would have got now and then some action, even if only indoors. Don't like the ideea of a car which rots on a shelf, materials slowly degrading.

If you like looking at shelves and shelves of displayed cars, but cannot afford to keep such a private collection, you can always go to a bigger lhs on a quiet day. I know I am like a kid in a candy store whenever I go to one (rarely, since there are none in my area).

[ralphee]

NIB I've never got, its a box, I've got boxes, there empty, but they look the same as another box, that has parts in it lol, just not my bag, i think if i came across a load of NIB kits, id have to build them all over time anyway, i know thats not the point, but keeping NIB in hoards, just seems a profit or investment thing i guess, but, each to there own, and, if it pays a young ones College or University education in years to come, all power to you for being clued and and shrewd!

lee

[yogi-bear]

when I started I intended to run all that I collect, as most of my collection are cars I wanted as a kid and thats what I wanted to do as a kid! I've since branched out a little into the early vintage cars, but still would run them, but not hard. The parts are just too hard to get, which is why I am loving the re-re's. I see running them as a but like the vintage car days for 1:1 shows, they come out for a show etc, maybe a rally drive, but are usually looked after.

I like the build process, but I also like fixing and remaking things, probably more so than the build process. So for me fixing a broken car is a bigger buzz than a new build usually. Plus I like to film the cars too, and I want to film all my cars! However for me time is a big issue, so I do what I can and quite often won't run or work on a car for years, but I have come to terms with that and know as I age (or more so that my kids age) I'll get more time to do what I like, so for now I collect what I like and run or fix when I can,

Johann

[Gruntfuggly]

I like the maintenance aspect.

I like running/bashing, but just don't get many opportunities to.

I've got several cars on the shelf, but they certainly aren't 'queens' - I just like to know that I have them.

I've only ever built one NIB car, and it was "ok" but didn't really float my boat.

My favourite thing is to receive a wreck through the post and gradually bring it back to life using whatever bits I can find - not a full resto, just to make it run again...

[Champ85]

My original plan was also to run everything, but smoetimes, a new-built car is just too nice, I think, so sometimes, intentional runners end up as "show-pieces" instead, .

And either way, I like them for what they are, namely awesome looking model cars, with the ability to be run hard, if the need rises, lol.

This describes me almost exactly.

I always intend to run every car I build, but sometimes the result looks so nice that I am reluctant to drive it.

That said, every car I build gets built to run, including full oil in the shocks (if they aren't friction of course!), full electronics including ESC, receiver, wiring, greased gears, and full ball bearings. Also, a transmitter slot is reserved for the vehicle, including proper servo/ESC trimming and alignment.

I could take any one of my vehicles, charge up the batteries and drive at any time. I just..... don't.

[Axeboy]

For me its the build pretty much. I enjoy that part the most and don't really use the cars much at all. Might be down to time and a decent place nearby but really, I don't shelf or use, just build.

Its a collecting thing too, and reminds me of childhood etc, but I don't need to display them. This might be due a lack of real locations in the house to put them though.

[lentner3]

I want to run all of mine but I'm too scared.

Some will remain shelf queens for a long time but eventually get bashed. Also I play a game, I buy a NIB and see how long I can go without building. The anticipation is half the fun.

[Theibault]

That sounds like torture, not a game! LOL

[WhoKnowsWho]

I have a Monster Beetle new in box if you want to talk about torture...

I really want to build and drive it, but want to leave it pristine on the shelf too because I love how it looks.

[Fruitfly01]

I would love to run mine more, But i have mostly vintage plastic fantastics, and getting hold of spares is difficult and costly. I have one or two modern types and spares are easily obtainable. The thing is, I prefer the driving characteristics of my older cars that are too fragile to really let loose with anyway. It's catch 22. Do I risk ripping the wing off my Falcon should I do something stupid, spend £60.00 on a new body, and then be too scared too drive it again for fear of the same thing happening?

Is it monetary value I'm concerned about? Sure the car is more valuable when in good condition, but will I sell it? Probably not, as I'm a pack rat. If I could get hold of parts easily and cheaply I would run them more. Bring on the re-re's. Updated cars and a good supply of cheap spares.

Shelfers sit on shelves due to rarity and personal value. I won;t sell them, but they are far too rare to thrash about. Sad but true.

[wood5tock]

I want to run all of mine but I'm too scared.

Some will remain shelf queens for a long time but eventually get bashed. Also I play a game, I buy a NIB and see how long I can go without building. The anticipation is half the fun.

That sounds like torture, not a game! LOL

Nah sounds like Lentner3 likes Tantric Tamiyaness as well as I do

[bromvw]

I think Berman summed this debate up really well . You have spent your hard earned cash on something so how you get your enjoyment from it is entirely up to you .

There is no right or wrong

[Daves956]

I think Berman summed this debate up really well . You have spent your hard earned cash on something so how you get your enjoyment from it is entirely up to you .

There is no right or wrong

i'm not so sure about that. If I were to cut a hole in the top of all my cars and then fill them with dirt, plant flower seeds in them and keep them watered on shelves I think we all could agree that it would be just wrong.

[Sayer]

i'm not so sure about that. If I were to cut a hole in the top of all my cars and then fill them with dirt, plant flower seeds in them and keep them watered on shelves I think we all could agree that it would be just wrong.

Well, I just discovered my keyboard and screen are "coffee resistant"