Is there a website that provides the information on the value of OOP kits? I want to see how much I should pay for several kits now on my want list.
thanks
DJ

Frankly eBay is a good but imperfect determinant. Email me your list offsite -- I've bought and traded tons over the last few years and can give you my thoughts

Hi Mate,in answer to your question,how long`s a piece of string ?.
I do a lot of my shopping on E-Bay,i tend to bid up to 2/3rds of the retail cost on a kit that`s available in the shops (otherwise you`re not getting a bargain !).
However,if it`s a kit tht`s OOP or very rare i must confess that it`s a case of how much can i afford (i recently paid £50.00 for a 1/32 scale De-Havilland Mosquito).
That`s my philosophy anyway,hope this helps in some way.

Yep. Anything goes. One week you could draw no interest on your kits and the following week they're all fighting over them,

Been there, seen that.

My Friends-- I thank you for your responses. Thought there might have been something out there to use as a guide.
thanks again
DJ

Do you want them just buildable, or in shop-perfect boxes? That will make a big difference.

David

Also you need to know if (and when) the prices of OOP kits drop due to some new release. Kits that I have owned at one time which aren't worth much because of injection counterparts:

Azimut DUKW
MB Models Char B1 Bis
MB Models 203mm Soviet B-4 howitzer
CMK and Mini Art Karl Morser
Sovereign SdKfz 11
Gunze Sangyo 10.5cm leFH18
Precision 15cm sFH18
Gunze Sangyo Panther G
Criel 8.8cm Flak 18
MB Models T-34/76 m. 1940
DES SdKfz 251/22 conversion
S Models Staghound
Accurate Armour and Verlinden Pz II ausf L Luchs
S Models 40mm Bofors AA

Ok, I got all that. So, let me pose a theoretical case for you to consider. Tamiya Matilda, 1/35, still in the original box all complete.....in you opinion, what would this be worth?

Can be had at model contests for about $10-15. About the same on ebay.

Buying ???? Theoretical ? Aren't you the guy posting in another thread with one of these for sale ? If you want to know what to charge somebody why not be honest about it.
http://armorama.com/forums/124335&page=1

Quote "I have one, send me a PM and we can discuss"

Who are you ? You are questioning my honesty? Shame on you. To make you happy, what if I wanted to buy a Tamiya Centurion...happy now?

I guess it's just coincidence then...okay.

The only way you can answer this question is it is worth what someone will pay for it.

I don't know, perhaps he's just trying to find a fair price to charge.
As for the Matilda, it's really not a rare or hard to find kit, just out of production at this time. As stated earlier, they show up all the time at shows, going for between 10 to 20 bucks. Since this one is on Tamyia's continuous re-issue program, it's not likely to increase in value in the foreseeable future unless something happens to the molds.
When I see people paying outlandish prices for out of production Tamyia and Italeri kits, I sometimes wonder if they are fairly new to the hobby, and don't realize that Tamyia and Italeri are both well known for rehashing/re-issuing kits on a fairly continuous basis as are most other manufactures. After the molds are paid for, it really simply becomes change molds, a few cents worth of plastic, cardboard etc, pump out a few thousand kits, and pull in pure profit, at minimum cost.

The truth when it comes to collecting or buying and selling old kits is exactly what Darren said:


Collecting kits for your offspring's college education isn't really a wise investment!

its all timing too on ebay , ive noticed that when holidays come around the prices dont go so high , i bought a tamiya leopard 2a5 with a metal barrel and a bunch of pe parts (the barrel had a $25 price tag on it . i got the whole batch for 26 usd shipped . i also bought a hasagawa macross zero sv-51r jet for 23 usd shipped 5 days later i saw one go for 43 usd plus something like 12 dollars shipping . its all timing now i just have o find a hemmet for under 30 bucks

I agree with Dave. Regardless of the kit, the value is assessed by the recipient. So, in my hypothetical example, the Tamiya Matilda, a trade is based on the mutual values of those involved. I looked on e bay and some folks are asking some steep prices for kits I have on the shelf (and will probably never build) that I would give up for a decent trade. In this case, monetary profit is not the object of the exchange. I have exchanged several PMs, for example, over the Matilda. I am looking for a Tamiya Panther, I find one I'll be pleased with the trade. I don't the kit will continue to sit on the shelf with the other ones awaiting construction.
As always, thanks for the dialogue.
DJ

You know if this was not a family oriented site, I'd let you know my real feelings about your inferences. As it is, there are wiser friends here that I have discussed and exchanged ideas with other the years who I enjoy sharing this site with....happy modeling.

Look, I don't want this to get silly and out of hand and regardless of this being a family orientated web site or not you can express your feeling without becoming abusive.

What inferences would they be ? I think you are taking my original posts word of "honesty" in the wrong context, as can happen something's in emails. Let me give you an example, you answer the phone and it'll be somebody selling something but you tell them you are just going out and can't talk putting the phone down, but were not really going out . So although you were not being honest it doesn't make you a dishonest person. I could have easily used the word truthful.

I'm not implying you are a dishonest person in fact if you are trying to find out the value of a kit to make a fair exchange that's shows exactly the opposite does it not..

If you'd have said you just wanted to know about a list and left it at that fine but you said "I want to see how much I should pay for several kits now on my want list." Or if you'd said I 'm thinking of buying and selling some out of production kits is there a list anywhere of prices I'd have not even mentioned it.

So when you wrote in theory that you wanted to know the price of a Matilda tank, one would naturally assume from your previous statement that this was a kit on your "wanted" list. But why if it's on your "wanted list" do you in another thread have it up for sale or trade. I merely pointed this out as I found it strange given the above.

You then go on to explain your intentions which is fine and you state which most people agree on, that the price is only what somebody is prepared to pay, that wants it enough. Sure you want a fair trade but really the value is only in the eyes of those doing the trade, how much you want the one kit and how much you don't want the one you are exchanging. Again the value of the trade can only be seen in that context and whilst others may disagree with the values it's what's important to you.

I'll quote you another example to show how things can be misinterpreted, in a post one up from your last addressed to me you stated you wanted a Tamiya Panther. Yet in your opening post you wanted to know the value of "OOP kits" on your "wanted list". To my knowledge the Tamiya Panther is not out of production and in any case a quick look on the internet will see a few for sale by retailers anyway.

My conclusions can only be based on what you have written. If these conclusions are deemed incorrect then it's the way things happen in life and can only be altered by further information.

So I could say based on your opening post, see you are saying you want a Tamiya Panther, but it's not out of productiont, when in fact you could be saying I want a Tamiya Panther but rather than spend money buying one I'll trade it for a kit I don't want that somebody else does.

So maybe my choice of "honesty" was the wrong word in the context that you've interpreted it to be as was maybe the choice of the Matilda as your "theoretical" kit was interpreted by me when you had written in another thread that you were selling or trading one when you'd talked of "wanted" kits in this one.

Hope that this now clears this up.

Alan

True, but the old Eduard PE set for the old Matilda will run $20-25 on eBay.