Collecting the originals - Should I / shouldn't I? Discuss......

[Andyfish2000]

Despite having an already angry wife and less than healthy hobby bank balance, I have this week had an absolutely harebrained idea of trying to collect as many of the original tamiya cars as possible before I leave the planet. Well, hopefully I have got a few years in me yet, so timing wise I don't think its a problem. Financially however I may start to rethink once I have gone beyond getting a grasshopper and a hornet.

Why some of you might ask have I had this idea. Well, I have brought a few cheap cars recently all of which sit within my current budget, and intend to restore and/or run them for fun. But with all the cars available out there I feel that I need to set a target in order to simply limit which ones I buy.

The thing is, I have got it into my head that they need to all be totally original for them to pass the test. That test of course is nothing more than me setting the challenge. (.....and so we find our selves in a loop).

It got me then thinking, am I wasting time and effort. If/when it happens I believe there will be a fantastic sense of achievement, Or will there? Am I just kidding myself, and therefore better off buying cheaper / more readily available new versions of the old cars (Monster Beetle immediately springs to mind) or should I start to buy old wrecks with the view that it may be 10 years before I complete some of them?

I am interested in hearing from others that maybe in this situation or even considering the challenge themselves.

[Champ85]

Sometimes the wanting is more fun than the having.

Although it is frustrating to be wanting all of the time.

So maybe just get a few, but not all (unless you win the lotto of course).

Personally, I'm happy with the re-re versions of the classics. Cheaper and less OMG moments if something happens to them (oops, I flipped it over!).

Unless you want shelfers. That's different.

I am not a "true collector" in that sense. I guess my collection would be deemed more "practical" than a "vintage original collection", even though some cars are the originals from the 1980's and live on the shelf.

[beefmuffin]

My little piece is that I like re-re's and I like vintage originals. I, like a lot of people, also started down the path of trying to collect up quite a few originals for the shelf and often sticking to re-re's for running. I've had to dial back my ambition somewhat due to time and resource limitations, but I still am pretty happy with where I got to. Like you say, the originals usually entail spending quite a bit of time and money to get them right. For me the floor fell out of my time situation when I got back to work after being on a leave of absence during which I got used to having enough time to finish projects. It took me almost 3 years of all those unfinished projects piled up around the house for me to finally accept that I don't know when I'll have sufficient time again for projects and to let some of them go so I can focus on a handful I really, really want to finish.

I think the bottom line is, pick one or two that you are most enthralled by and restore originals of them. See how you feel about it and if you're hooked, good, keep at it. You don't need to go all or nothing... start with a small number that motivate you and play it by ear.

[markbt73]

Oh no, are we really getting to be "bucket list" age? Yeah, I suppose we are...

I know I've been doing a lot of thinking about this hobby and how it fits into the rest of my life recently, and getting less and less interested in the newer models, and more intersted in a very specific era (1985-1995). For quite a while, I was content with the re-releases, but recently, they're just not "doing it" for me. It's almost the same thing, but it isn't quite, somehow. So like you, I find myself being drawn to owning more of the originals.

I really like restoring old cars, I find. I hate chasing down parts, so I substitute where necessary instead of waiting ages and spending $30 on a screw bag, but I know some people really enjoy that. I have no desire to have a "complete set" of the first 50 or 100, like some people do, but there are a few more I'd really like to see on my shelf: Fox, Boomerang, Striker/Sonic FIghter/FX10, one of the Group C cars, a TA01 Lancia or Escort, and a Marui Big Bear for a start. Restorable wrecks or garage-sale specials are fine with me, but I would really like to have two NIB kits from that era: one to build and enjoy now, and one to crack open on the day I retire.

As to the larger point about setting goals: personally, I think it's a great idea to put some thought into where your time, effort, and money go, especially for leisure expenses. No one ever has enough time or money to do all the things they do just for enjoyment, so setting a goal and sticking to it is commendable. Maybe you should prioritize the first 100 according to how much you really want them, and if there are two models on a particular chassis, pick your favorite? That way te list might not look so daunting.

[beefmuffin]

...there are a few more I'd really like to see on my shelf: Fox, Boomerang, Striker/Sonic FIghter/FX10...

Heh heh well Mark, we know at least 2 of those are soon to be much farther along.

[Indetrucks]

Two years ago this month, I started with my Original Fox restoration here on the forums after pulling it from my garage.

I now have (in near perfect condition):

58001

58002

58003

58006

58008

58009

58015

58016

58024

58028

58034

58035

58041

58043

58045

58047

58049

58051

58053

58058

58060

58063

58065

58080

58086

58102

They bring a smile to my face every single time I look at them!

Do I want all 100? No, they don't all make me feel tingly inside. Ya only get one chance to live this life, I say do what makes you happy while you can!

The remaining on my want list are:

58017

58021

58022

58023

58027

58029

58039

58040

58044

58050

58059

So if anyone out there has one of the above on my want list and it's up for sale... I won't mind a private message

[Grumpy pants]

I think keep the number low to start with and have a couple of runners, a couple projects and mix it up a bit with modern and vintage.

I love the ReRes for runners as well, but Vintage for collecting is my preference.

So I wouldn't run my SWB WW or my early Scorcher, but I do run my ReRe Scorcher and my WW2 and I enjoy them.

But the DT02 was a really good runner in the woods and the one I have enjoyed the most out of the ORV, WT01 and SRB'S.

[Wez-li]

Two years ago this month, I started with my Original Fox restoration here on the forums after pulling it from my garage.

I now have (in near perfect condition):

58001

58002

58003

58006

58008

58009

58015

58016

58024

58028

58034

58035

58041

58043

58045

58047

58049

58051

58053

58058

58060

58063

58065

58080

58086

58102

They bring a smile to my face every single time I look at them!

Do I want all 100? No, they don't all make me feel tingly inside. Ya only get one chance to live this life, I say do what makes you happy while you can!

The remaining on my want list are:

58017

58021

58022

58023

58027

58029

58039

58040

58044

58050

58059

So if anyone out there has one of the above on my want list and it's up for sale... I won't mind a private message

I've been into Tamiya on/off for 30 years and i still don't know them all by model number

[Indetrucks]

I've been into Tamiya on/off for 30 years and i still don't know them all by model number

I cheated and went to a website that has pictures and their numbers

I have never actually done a count of what I owned so I guess I had a little more inspiration in that post than normal.

Wow... I feel like I have all of em when I view them at home, but in reality I only have 25 of them!

[GregM]

I limit myself to only buy kits where I have an intention to build and run them. I don't see a point of having just boxes with unbuilt content around for eternity.

It's no big thing to buy kits. Just throw enough money in the hat. Having enough time and passion to build and restore them is much more effort. Don't underestimate that.

Even after years of knowing the small differences between vintage releases and re-releases, I wouldn't rate the re-res down at all.

[Nobbi1977]

Have a look at the going price for some of the originals and then think what else in life you could do with that money. The first 100 would go a big way towards a nice 1:1 or a small home.

Opportunity cost, what would you miss out on to have them. If you can make it balance then do it.

[ncpantherfan71]

What I have done is get true vintage original kits for only the 5 cars that have special meaning to me.

M38 Wild Willy, the first Tamiya I ever drove. It was my brothers and that was my first introduction to the addiction. I have an original one, only need one small plastic par, one screw and nut, and decals and it will be done.

Original Super Champ. Same brother gave me one. I have one, complete with vintage radio gear. All I need for this one is decals and to paint the re re driver.

Wheelys Wheeler. I have a line on an assembled, never driven one I am trying to work a deal for.

SRB F150. Always wanted one, don't have one yet, but I keep looking.

Blazing Blazer. It always looked so awesome in the catalogue, I'll probably never be able to afford one. If Tamiya re releases it I will buy it as long as it comes with the same tire.

I also am looking for a modern discontinued kit, the ta02 mustang. I have a 95 gt in my garage and I would love to paint one to match. If anyone has one, or a new unpainted body kit in the US send me a pm!

The other vintage cars I own are ones I got for a price I couldn't resist, Blackfoot, Frog, and 2 Lunchboxes, and 2 Monster Beetles. All of those get driven. I even use the Frog to teach my daughter how to drive rc.

The remaining cars in my collection are re releases. I get the look of old, but not the price.

I do have one weakness. I own every Wheely new release to include the land cruiser and dump truck 4x4 version, except for the tumbling bull and Honda turbo, haven't got those in hand yet.

[zomboided]

Hmmm, I spent too much on my vintage Monster Beetle (probably £400 getting it to shelf queen standard). Don't regret it but it made me think about what things were actually worth (a set of decals or a single parts tree are not worth £50+).

Go after the models you *really* want, but if it's one of the rare ones be prepared to pay for it big time. I personally would resent paying the kind of prices that some of the early kits command just because of some self enforced OCD need, and that would sort of ruin the fun of it for me.

[Hibernaculum]

The thing is, I have got it into my head that they need to all be totally original for them to pass the test. That test of course is nothing more than me setting the challenge. (.....and so we find our selves in a loop).

It got me then thinking, am I wasting time and effort. If/when it happens I believe there will be a fantastic sense of achievement, Or will there? Am I just kidding myself, and therefore better off buying cheaper / more readily available new versions of the old cars (Monster Beetle immediately springs to mind) or should I start to buy old wrecks with the view that it may be 10 years before I complete some of them?

I fully respect that not everyone will agree with how I do things, but here's my view...

I collect only originals - both NIB, restored, and for runners.

To me, the hobby itself is all about collecting the vintage R/C models I love. And this means collecting vintage R/C models.

It's the difference between collecting something that is vintage, as opposed to something that merely looks vintage.

If you are super nostalgic for the 1980s, and for all the original design thinking, realism, complexity, flaws, charms, problems, and all the things that made the R/C toys and models of that era so special, then in my opinion you will find it very satisfying to be able to say: "this model I have is 100% original and vintage from the 1980s".

Vintage Tamiyas (and all vintage R/C models) were popular for a reason. The reason is because they were the new-fangled toys at the time. But also because the design-thinking of that time was very naive, and each car was quite original, unique, realistic and packed with character. That era of creativity was very special, very unique to the 1980s (because the hobby was new), and it will simply never be repeated again.

Collecting original cars is also satisfying because it is often a challenge.

It's easy for anyone to click "buy" on a reissue, when there are 10,000 for sale. Hunting for original parts and restoring a true original is a treasure hunt that requires more time and patience. But the more effort something requires, the more satisfying it is when you finally complete it.

Vintage original items will always grow in value over the longer term too. Simply because nothing can ever replace the original. This applies to every collectible item on earth, from books to toys to furniture.

It's also not too late to capture some "low hanging fruit" today - you can sometimes get true originals, for very, very good prices. Those days are not entirely over yet. But inevitably, they will be one day.

H.

[one_hit]

For me, the biggest enjoyment I get from this hobby is running/racing an RC car and the tinkering/modifying involved, which includes the actual building of a kit. This is the reason why five years ago, I only had five rc cars. Now I have 55 kits, all of them I bought NIB. Yes, the reissues all have differences from the originals, but I don't think I can ever stomach cutting up the blister packs and building a $1000 vintage NIB kit, when I can build and run (and run hard) a reissue that looks 90% similar and for way less money. I have tried restoring a vintage model in the past, but I have realized that to me, it's not worth the time and money paying $100 for a NIP Vanquish G parts tree that is probably brittle already and will crack and break anyway as soon as I install the parts in the car. I'd rather use that $100 and buy and build a new kit. Love the smell when you first open the box of a new kit, brings back childhood memories.

It's great that there are folks who have the passion and patience to restore vintage models, two thumbs up for you guys. But thumbs down to those who frown upon and put down others just because they don't share the same way of thinking with regards to how one should enjoy the hobby.

[Indetrucks]

It's great that there are folks who have the passion and patience to restore vintage models, two thumbs up for you guys. But thumbs down to those who frown upon and put down others just because they don't share the same way of thinking with regards to how one should enjoy the hobby.

Absolutely! No one man is created equal and we all tick to a different clock.

While I don't have any NIB Vintage kits, I would love to own some. I do have many Vintage near mint kits that I do not run and each and every time I take a look at them in on my shelf, they bring a smile to my face. Probably on the same level as driving them. So to each his own!