" Proper Collector " What does that mean to you??

[RETRO R/C]

As the title says.

There is something that I have never really understood about people's opinions on what therm "collector" or "proper collector" mean!

Sometimes the term collector is used in a very negative "tall poppy" syndrome type way, other times it is with respect that the term is used? [?]

Is it the volume of cars and parts that makes a "collector" - or is it their passion and love for the hobby that defines them as a "collector"?

I know what the dictionary defines as a collector - not interested in that - it is what your perception of the term in relation to our hobby means. Your opinions and definations will make for most interesting reading I think. []

Cheers

[kontemax]

I don't care what "collector" means.

I'm a Tamiya fan, I'm a Tamiya lover.

The other things aren't important.

Max

[theshopkeeper]

I'd say a "proper collector" collects for the fun of it, loves the products and has a definite theme that pigeonholes his collection (whether it be model buses, trains or RC cars). He will also keep his collection intact for a very long while and not be concerned about the value of it - after all it's amassed for love not for gain.

The other type of "collector" I meet a lot of on a daily basis but more with regard to diecast models than RC. They only want to "collect" things that go up in value and will buy indescriminately if they thing a few quid will be made in the short term on resale.

[Japanscaledriver]

A "collector" to me is someone who looks for the item because he ties an intrinsic value to it that goes beyond price. He/she is souciant in his decision to buy, he/she does not make the choice based upon a whim, but rather thinks about it. a "collector" is often the the butt of persiflagant ribbing from others because of his possible obession.

A person who collcts due to a desire to earn cash is simply boring

[Stefan(2)]

Mmmm, good quistion!

i think it is somebody who goes to great trouble to get

that missing bit in his collection, and when he/she finaly gets

it, he is a very happy person....

That will last about a hour, then he is going to look for that

other piece that is missing in his eyes.

You could also say that is adictive behavior, but imho, between a adiction and being a collector is a thin line []

Would like to mention, that vallue or reselling price is totally inrelivant to a "true collector" , that all in my opinion of course!

Stefan

[Gruntfuggly]

To me, a "collector" is actually somebody who just wants to collect the entire group of items, without necessarily having any love for the items in question. I think of the bloke from Toy Story Two.

By virtue of the fact that we are all members of this club, I don't consider any of us collectors - wer're hobbyists!

[rcracerpete]

To me a collector is:

Someone who believes that vintage NIB's should stay that way if they have survived to this day.Also a collector doesn't care at all about re-selling the car for more than the oringal,and also once they get a tamiya they get the feeling that they will keep it and never want to sell it.The collector will also pass their cars onto his/her kids and hope they also carry on his/her collection.A collector collects becuase they love the thing they collect and get a "buzz" from what they do and don't moan about what they have spent,and a true r/cer has a hole room dedicated to the hobby and always plenty of projects on the go!!!!

True collectors search for their models hard by going to car boot sales/flee markets and trying to search for New Old Stock.They don't do this to make money by selling the product on but to have the feeling thatt they got something very cheaply and possibly saved it from death,e.g going to the tip or in the bin and also can get more cars for their money then.A collector gets a very good feeling of completion once they have completed a shelf queen,and happy to put a lot of time and effort into it.All in all they enjoy the hobby and what they collect,are happy that they collect.

[TWINSET]

A collector is someone with a healthy wallet

Soon after that, they have to become a trader

Then they get married and are a burden

So sayeth the broke [8D]

[yannick]

quote:Originally posted by rcracerpete

To me a collector is:

Someone who believes that vintage NIB's should stay that way if they have survived to this day.Also a collector doesn't care at all about re-selling the car for more than the oringal,and also once they get a tamiya they get the feeling that they will keep it and never want to sell it.The collector will also pass their cars onto his/her kids and hope they also carry on his/her collection.A collector collects becuase they love the thing they collect and get a "buzz" from what they do and don't moan about what they have spent,and a true r/cer has a hole room dedicated to the hobby and always plenty of projects on the go!!!!

True collectors search for their models hard by going to car boot sales/flee markets and trying to search for New Old Stock.They don't do this to make money by selling the product on but to have the feeling thatt they got something very cheaply and possibly saved it from death,e.g going to the tip or in the bin and also can get more cars for their money then.A collector gets a very good feeling of completion once they have completed a shelf queen,and happy to put a lot of time and effort into it.All in all they enjoy the hobby and what they collect,are happy that they collect.

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and if you don't do all of those things you're not a collector? [8)] sorry, don't agree...if someone buys a lot of nib kits from his lhs, builds them and puts them on his shelf as shelf queens ain't he a collector then? he is, he collects new tamiya's []...and I don't say this because I do this because I only have 4 tamiya's which 2 of them are runners...

[Madmat]

I feel a proper collector is a person who has a collection(DUH?), whether it big or small, of cars and trucks, NIB or restored, project, runner or shelf queen. A collector doesn't mind spending many hours restoring or searching for rare parts to finish a resto just to see in go in its prime again.

Thats just my view now

[TWINSET]

Hey Darryn, quick bounce back q - Do you see your NIBS in the same 'collection' as runners? ie are you a 'different' category of person when you race/bash around? Not a dig, just wondered how you felt about driven cars as opposed to the NIB collection?

Personally, I don't think I am a collector, I like to tinker - can see me with a static steam engine driving a water pump when I'm 80 []

I usedta consider myself a collector, but I was more 'technically impressed' with the cars I had than trying for any kind of logical collection; Blazer, Scorcher, Landjumps etc - All big, metal cars, but thats about all they got in common.

I lose interest in new cars very soon after building them, unless there's future potential to get the toolkit out.

[DeeMiller]

A collector: someone with more than two Tamiya's.

A real collector: someone who doesn't sell or trade.

A proper collector: someone who wants to help other collectors.

A serious collector: someone with lots of money.

THE collector: someone who has the world's largest collection of Cheetah's...[]

And then you have the addicts, of course...(no cure for that, but at least you're not alone...).

Grtz Dee.

PS As long as you get any fun out of it you're doing the right thing.

[DeeMiller]

Oh, and stay away from Bone collectors, they don't care a bit for Tamiya's...

In fact, they rip you off...(any deal).

Grtz Dee

[LamboDave]

A' Proper Collector' to me is someone who simply converts their house into an '80's R/C Model Shop'. They are someone who only buys, and never sells (except to help others). They also have all their R/C models 100% complete, always hunting down for those missing bits, all models are in running order, with newly made 'vintage sized' batteries always charged ready to go. They frequently run all models carefully and repair / replace any broken parts (no expense spared). The entire fleet are always in a 'ready-to-ran' state. This is ME [8D] and I re-live the 80's every weekend !!! []

[RETRO R/C]

In answer to you question Twinset - I consider my entire collection the same way.I love em all equally. Every time I run one - I spend double the time cleaning and checking it........all part of the fun!

To be honest I enjoy running them far more than looking at unbuilt kits. There is, however, tremendous satisfaction to be had looking at a car that has not been built and in its original condition from all those years ago. It is a different kind of enjoyment. Kind of a weird "abstanence" in a way??[xx(]

I will build them all in my retirement......now you all know my retirement plans.[]

If there is one thing that gets me peeved though is the inference that people with large collections are all "rich" and "alouf". Sure, there may be some that are a bit on the "alouf" side - however I beleive that the vast majority of what most people seem to consider collectors are damned fine people - and love the cars every bit as much as the guy with one car. As for being rich - sure some collectors out there most definately are - but does that make them deserving of sniggers and "sour grapes" type comments? It is not their fault that they have the means to do what we would all do if in the same position?

For me, I prefer to be called a "Vintage enthusiast" - more because I am - and I dont like the inference of what the term collector means to alot of people.

I think collections are a "fluid" thing.....I also beleive that collectors sell their cars when they have an opportunity to get another thing that they want more........I recently swapped one of my NIB FAV kits for a Opel Ascona. I did not want to let go of the FAV - however wanted a Ascona even more - and can pick up a FAV easier than I can a Ascona later on.

There are ALOT of collectors here who finance their collections with sales of parts and other things to sustain ther "hobby". I do not think this is a bad thing at all - as the parts they sell are only helping others to realise their collections as well.....if these sellers did not get out and find the parts etc - shops plow them into the dump/.........and that is FACT - I have the stories to prove it from the wholesalers and shop owners themselves.

I love the thrill of the chase for parts, the almost addictive nature of receiving packages with new bits and peices. If this "collecting" is the only vice that I have in my life - then I am proud and happy to be this way!

This topic was not meant to be about my views though, however here is what I beleive a collector should be:

I beleive that a collector is someone who is passionate, knowledgeable, willing to share their knowledge/experience and above all honest in their dealings with all people.

At the end of the day - they really are just toy cars...as long as we are all enjoying ourselves.........................[]

Cheers

Darryn

[DeeMiller]

The difference between men and boys, is the price of their toys

Now that's a statement according to Tamiya vintage cars, don't you think?[]

Grtz Dee

[TWINSET]

quote:

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A real collector: someone who doesn't sell or trade.

A serious collector: someone with lots of money.

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It does seem a common opinion that the 'collector' aspect needs to be accompanied by the 'wealthy' one, and that trading to make money from what is essentially an asset is a bad thing, but many times, I've bought badly described items, fully aware of what they are, and when I put them back on eBay, what to expect to get for them, but that is merely a way of making spare cash for the rest of my 'collection' - Is that bad?

I have gone thru an attempt to collect NIBs but just can't do it, I need to build them, but it seems a shame when something managed to avoid it all those years, and I know once it's built I will lose interest in it, for fear of damaging it if I were to run it.

Not a dig at NIB collectors, it just aint me.

[DeeMiller]

quote:Originally posted by TWINSET

Not a dig at NIB collectors, it just aint me.

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Same here.

NIB is history in a box.

It has great value for me, but not in cash.

I think (restored) models have a "soul" and that's what I like about them.

Grtz Dee

[RETRO R/C]

Twinset - ABSOLUTELY NOT. There is nothing wrong at all with selling on to improve your own collection - especially if you get enjoyment out of the restoring process - that is an added bonus![]

Does a kit that is going to be built one day have a soul? I love my nibs - probably more because one day I know I am going to enjoy building them. Very few will remian NIB....

Cheers

[Tipsy]

quote:Originally posted by TWINSET

I have gone thru an attempt to collect NIBs but just can't do it, I need to build them, but it seems a shame when something managed to avoid it all those years, and I know once it's built I will lose interest in it, for fear of damaging it if I were to run it.

Not a dig at NIB collectors, it just aint me.

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Thats why if I really like a kit, I have a NIB and a New Built. Some I also have a runner too, just so I can run vintage, knowing I have a nice perfect example to stare at, at home

[Stevo309]

For me a Tamiya collector is someone who strives to keep a series of models to preserve them in time. Their love of these models or memories are what drives them usually and someone who just has runners would not be regarded as a collector unless these models were restored and kept in good order (like someone who had say a traction engine collection and went to rallies). Someone with only modern runners that were disposed of ultimately would not be regarded as a collector to me. If the motive for trading is financial only then they are not a collector whereas a collector wil trade for the benefit of the collection. I think someone with more than 1 restored, new built or NIB kit of some age would be regarded a collector to me.

[DeeMiller]

quote:Originally posted by RETRO R/C

...I love my nibs - probably more because one day I know I am going to enjoy building them. Very few will remian NIB....

Cheers

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He he, you will regret that, promise!

Why wait?

Do it now!

If you don't have the guts, you'll probably won't have it in the future, I suppose (no offence though []).

But he, do what you love the most, no argue about that, bro!

I can imagine it will be fun, sure thing...

Oh yes...

Grtz Dee

[topforcein]

in my eyes a PROPPER tamiya collector will buy every kit that has been and will be released. full stop end of story.

now that is what a propper collector is

[RETRO R/C]

The reason I collect mostly NIB's is because they are not only far easier to store - it is actually ALOT cheaper in just about all cases to buy a NIB kit than it is to build a car from new parts and or restore with new parts.

I love restoring and running the cars, have alot of cars in various stages of restoration that are not here on TC or my site. I have more than enough projects to keep me going till I am retired....and even then I will probably never get through them all!!

I wont regret building the NIBs because that is what I bought them for in most cases.

Cheers

Darryn

[Shodog]

A proper collector to me means not the size of your collection but the heart you put into it. If you breathe, eat and poo R/C cars, then you might be a proper collector.