Kit Value Poll (Original vs. New)

I asked this down in another thread and it now seems like something that should be generalized and broken out.

I'm taking a poll of forum readers regarding what they would do if they had a good condition, stock, unmolested kit of some classic airframe that either Brodak or RSM or someone else is currently offering a version of. Example is the Skylark, Nobler, Smoothie, Thunderbird, Shark .45, Flite Streak, etc. Old, original kits are around and you have one, but new manufacture kits are available from a reputable source.

For purposes of the poll, all manufacturers are putting out better quality kits than the originals, I'm not interested in starting the debate about Brodak vs RSM or whomever.

For purposes of the poll, all designs are essentially equal.

Example of a kit not in the poll would be the Ares.

If you had a good condition original kit of a classic stunt ship, would you:

A) Keep it unmolested as a kit as an investment
B) Build it with Ambroid and Silkspan as an VCS entry
C) Use the parts for templates and build a clone (molesting it)
D) Sell it on eBay and buy a Brodak or RSM version

If I had a cherry kit of one of those jobs you mentioned, I would probably unload it to the collectors on Ebay. I'm not into hoarding stuff I'm never gonna build, and, if I was going to build a Nobler,etc etc I would go with one of the new kits.

Steve

Amen to everything that Seve said.

I agree with Steve.

E) Keep the kit not as an investment, but just to have, if it's a kit that has a special meaning to you, and buy a Brodak or RSM or whomever kit and build that.
Kiiski

For me, a flyer of model airplanes, a kit is valuable if I am going to build it and fly it-regardless of who made it and when. Sometimes these kits serve better as a set of templates. In this case, I would copy what I wanted and then make the kit available to either another builder/flyer or kit collector. As far as the price of the kit, the seller can let it go for the maximum that anyone will pay for it. If a buyer thinks it is too much, then don't pay more than you want for the kit. Sometimes this means letting it go. Good luck to all of the buyers, sellers, builders and flyers out there.....
John

I have some collector condition kits and they will remain that way. I would like to build some of them and fortunately there are plans of them available from various sources. It will require a little more effort to build the kit and then build the plane. Kits sold at auction may be going to individuals that have only the interest in building them so the supply of pristine kits is getting smaller. The number of plans available can meet any future demand for the building of kits that are obsolete. I would hope that the kit manufacturers can supply enough variety to at least slow the trend of kits being used for building. A little co operation from holders of the plans that are not readily available will help also.

For most folks the solution would be a function of (A) What the original kit will sell for? (B) What can you buy the current kit for? and (C)How significant is this profit to you in your overall scheme of things. Also are you a kit collector or want to start collecting or do you just want the best possible kit to build and fly.
I saw a Sterling Skylark kit go for around $290 on Ebay a while back-normally they go for $80-120 so who knows. The Skylark is a wonderful design but Sterling kits are normally horrible quality so what do you get for your $290. A good quality kit can be had from RSM for less than half the bid price.
I saw a post indicating that there is a belief that Smoothie and T bird original Veco kits have gone down somewhat on Ebay recently, possibly due to the fact that Brodak has brought them back in readily available kit form. The only way to know for sure is put it on E bay with good, detailed pictures, a good candid statement of the condition of the kit and put a reserve on the kit which would represent a minimum satisfactory price to you.

I have 2 kits I keep in the closet. A Sig Shoestring and Buster
goodyear racer. I keep them for future patterns. I can see no
real value to old kits aside from the sentimental attachments.
New kits have better wood, better cut quality and are a tremendous
value VS old kits.

I've flipped any number of vintage kits on ebay or locally, or over the various bulletin boards (Shameless Plug coming: like on my own humble CL Peddle section on Flightlines).

Jr Noblers, Ringmasters, Sterling Starfire, Berkeley B-25, Sterling Spitfire, Sterling Waco, others...

Want to know why?

Greed.

And I'm Packrat enough as it is.

Weird. I agree completely with all the posts above. I've bought and sold a few collector's kits, made money on them, no regrets, tho I originally bought all to build. The only one I have left is a Berkley Grumman Guardian Stunter, which is technically sold as soon as I can figure out how to make a mold off the steel cowl without leaving a mark. I may carve a pattern that duplicates the kit cowl. The Guardian is a very nice flier...not competetive in Classic (but it would tear 'em up in OTS if it was legal)...and great looking. I have some reluctance to put a kit or engine on Ebay, but I'm not sure why. I have a matched pair of NIB Doonside Mills .75's for sale, but they're worth about $300/both. Maybe I'd rather sell them to somebody I know a little bit rather than some stranger with too much money? Steve

Use the kit for templates. I do this on both old kits and new kits. Old kits because the wood is usually not that good, and new kits because I'm too cheap to pay kit price every time I want to build that particular ship.

The fact of the matter is that when all us old guys are gone, there aren't going to be enough young people interested in this branch of the hobby to keep the sport alive. Been to a contest lately? They look like a senior citizens center without the domino tables. And look at "Stunt News". Seems like the obituary column is taking over more space with every issue.

I say build the old kits and run the old motors. We're dropping like flies and all the kits and motors we've collected (hoarded in some cases) are going to end up at the local land fill. So build them, run them, fly them while you can still enjoy it.

Just unpacking the kit will spoil the value to a considerable degree. Punching out the die-cutting and copying the parts would probably cut the value by 25% to 50%. Buy the plans. Steve

>Just unpacking the kit will spoil
>the value to a considerable
>degree. Punching out the die-cutting
>and copying the parts would
>probably cut the value by
>25% to 50%. Buy the
>plans. Steve

Steve: No it won't. Just remember how everything was placed, and repeat. I do this all the time.

And, if you are careful, you can stick the punched out die cut piece back in its mother piece of balsa. (But, sometimes, it can be a real Mother to pull this off).

I think mrwhizkers hit the nail on the head, there are a few younger CL fliers around but very few... Build it, fly it, run it... the next generation doesn't have a clue...

Wonder if I can get the 4 Skylark kits I have built this winter:7
Bob

I agree Mr. Whiskers. I have four kits in my closet and 7 in the building area. I like to build three at a time. While one dries or gases, I work on the others. The ones in the closet; Green box Nobler, Gieske Nobler, Ares, Flite Streak. I have two Ares kits, one I'm building, two CLC Ares, both being built, two Stilletos, both being built. One Juno, about to be started. I also love to build from plans. I guess I'm trying to make up for all those years at sea when I couldn't build and fly. some times I'm the young guy at meets and I'm 60. I'll bet the average age is in the early 60's and there are so few whipper snappers that care. Used to be if you started an engine in your back yard, 10 boys and 2 girls would show up and actually ask questions and want to "build one too". Now they think it is some bozo with a weed whacker or chain saw. I know I've perked up my ears only to realize a few seconds later what it was. So build them, fly them, wreck and repair them. Or else they will be sold for a quarter at the garage sale by your daughter or given away all torn and tatered.

Larry --

I would agree with (what I read as) the consensus above. For the most part, modelers make and use things, rather than collect things. In other words, a "collectible" kit is somewhat of an oxymoron. Collectibles of any sort, whether typewriters, vases, or old toys, have to be displayed somewhere in the house to bring joy to the collector. Old kits are the least displayable items I can imagine.

However, I did buy a pristine Ringmaster kit from Racefella, and hesitated a little before removing the original shrinkwrap and price tag. I knew I was reducing the value as a collectible. I did take some pictures of the original box before digging in.

I doubt that many kit collectors have a display of unopened kits in their family room. Somehow, it just doesn't work.

>I doubt that many kit collectors
>have a display of unopened
>kits in their family room.
>Somehow, it just doesn't work.
>
>
>Larry F

The Wives just don't understand this.