Interesting thoughts here. I personally have never viewed models as an investment opportunity, although possibly overly optimistic I fully intend to build every Kit I've bought. Wingnut Wings has been a wonderful "ride" for this lifelong model aircraft fanatic and I have enough of their products ferreted away to last me a longer time then I'll likely be here! I just did a quick inventory and am shocked at the numbers of their models I have collected over the past 10 plus years. I have 19 built and 24 stashed! Of the former I can honestly say they were all a real pleasant building experience. The latter causes me some guilt, but not much. If my only justification for two dozen in the stash is the best of intentions to build them all I am satisfied. From what I've been reading here I suspect most of our group have sufficient Kits stashed to provide for many years of modelling excitement and pleasure. The demise of Wingnut Wings has provided some very promising signs of stimulus in their erstwhile smaller competitors, the future of WW.I Aircraft Modelling is anything but bleak!
I know some folks are "collectors" and I'm fine with that; it's those that buy whatever they can in bulk to take advantage of short supply and inflated prices that bother me. A price tag of $1000 for a plastic model airplane is somehow real wrong, at least in my simple mind however I fully understand and support those whose circumstances drive them to sell the Kit they would rather keep to build. A Canadian on-line shop I deal with had acquired a "Special Purchase" of kits this weekend and advertised both early and late AEG's for $499.99 CAD, and the Barker Snipe for a decent $105.99. If I were in a position where I had an AEG and money was tight I'd not hesitate to sell it off at that price! There was a Felixstowe on the Link originally at, IIRC, $699 but it wasn't there an hour later when I checked.
All of this to say let's maintain our perspective. It's been a real boon to the hobby to have enjoyed the Wingnut Wings experience and the future looks bright as well. Hopefully there's still a decent amount of inventory yet to appear on the market and some reasonable prices will apply to allow those who may have procrastinated to add a few to their stashes. In the end result though, in the inimitable words of my dear friend Mark (MGunns) Krumrey, "For Gawd's sake, it is, after all, just a box of plastic"!
If this post has offended anyone it was not my intention. It's a lazy Sunday morning in the Great White North, the dog has been fed and is asleep at my feet, the coffee's good, and today's challenge to this old retired "has been" is to survive a couple of hours worth of the local Model Club IPMS Meeting with some great company. As long as we maintain "social distancing" and are spared what's not to like here?!
Cheers All,
Lance
