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Recycling Your Old Kits

Introduction
Born in 1963 my early military modeling experiences were influenced by TAMIYA, BANDAI and ITALEREI ( that’s how they were spelled in those days ).

Although I had and still have a quite huge stock of un-built kits at home waiting to be built, another passion of mine is inhibiting these projects. The passion is: recycling!

I love to take old kits and make new ones out of them. Previously I just sanded off the paint, today I am much more sophisticated and strip off the paint by drowning the kit in a mixture of water and soda and then brush off the paint. I received some kits from friends and colleagues who quitted modeling, or I purchase such kits at flea-markets. Meanwhile about 30 stripped down pieces are waiting to be rebuilt. For many of you this habit may sound obscure, and I agree that not every kit is worth to be treated like a rare old-timer.

I want to describe with 3 examples how to upgrade oldies or parts of them. I took kits which may rest on your shelves as well, or may have been bought by error, like Tamiya’s old Panther, which has been re-released 2 or 3 years ago. I hope this article inspires some of you to built some oldies as well.