T-72, Tamiya, Scale

George Bacon
I built this model during the winter of 1998-1999, which makes it 15-years old. That got me thinking, how long do models typically live, after they're built? Anyone been tracking how long their models last?

Jermaine Hoskin
I would say forever George considering I box my kits back up when finished. One day I will get a display case but for now all my money goes into kits and supplies. LOL

George Bacon
Jermaine, you box them up. 😮 Where do you keep them?

Jermaine Hoskin
I keep them in a closet within the man cave. I have young children so a completely enclosed case is a must but they are so expensive.

George Bacon
I understand. 🙂

Jermaine Hoskin
How many models would you say you have George? I'm sure you have amassed quite the collection considering your experience.

George Bacon
I have a rotation system with about 50 or 60 lying about at any one time. There are about 10 in a curio cabinet in the living room. These are my favorites and contest winners. As new ones win contests, older ones go upstairs to another curio cabinet in our spare bedroom. That holds about 20 models. The ones upstairs that are pushed-out by new arrivals go to the attic. The attic is model purgatory. Anything up there is fair game for cannibalization or disposal. Every few years I clean the attic. It's a very Stalin-like purge (just about everybody dies). However, a few favorites continue to hang on... 🙂

H K
Good question. I still have all of my models. I am a hardcore collector, I can hardly let go. But due to severe shortage of space 🙂 ,I consider boxing up the oldest ones.

George Bacon
Anybody else keep their models for a long time?

Fabian D.
I still have all... never thrown a kit away...but most of my older stuff made it´s way to the attic, nicely packed in boxes and chusioned with the newspaper of the day, so I can still find out when the stuff ended up there 😉

George Bacon
Thanks Fabian 🙂 I've been curious about what Mates do with their models over time. Sounds like a lot of other folks do similar things, but maybe you hold the record for keeping them all! 😮

Hunter Cummins
I keep all of mine as well lol
and mine never make it into the attic lol

Phil Marchese
I bought two very high quality, new curio cabinets in the late 90s each about $700. Prices are still not much higher. If you value one build-up at that, or dozen or so kits, it's not really expensive at all.

Phil Marchese
My oldest somewhat good condition build is from 1968. I have some rebuilds slightly older; and many vacuforms and major conversions from the mid-70s & 80s.

Frank Krause
Hi George,
usually I also keep my models "forever". At least since I started "serious" modelling. So I don't have any left from my childhood. Any one exception I have to make. When I did service in German Bundeswehr, I built more than 50 tanks. They were all exhibited in 2 special cabinets within the battalion's building. There I had to leave them, when I moved to Japan.
Everything I've built then, is still in my possession.

Jermaine Hoskin
Thats cool Frank, do you know if your tanks are still on display?

Frank Krause
No, Jermaine, i don't! Once end of the 90th during a visit from Japan I had a look a last look.
Since restructuring of the Bundeswehr those units do not exist anymore, and the barracks were handed over the city of Wolfhagen. I have no idea, whom I could contact. I guess they're lost now.

George Bacon
Thanks Phil! Wow, you have some models that go way back! 👍

George Bacon
Thanks Frank 🙂. Hopefully your models have survived. Any military museums in Wolfhagen?

Frank Krause
No, George, none!

George Bacon
Bummer. Some lucky guy is winning model contests with all your old stuff 😉

Vorya hidaryan
Looking good 👍