Worth buying old/second hand kits?

[pjgtech]

Hi, how do people feel about buying old or second hand model kits? Eg: at jumble sales, auctions, second hand/charity shops, etc.
What are the pitfalls to watch out for? For example do they usually have bits missing?
Just thinking to myself that the Wife goes to quite a few auctions, charity shops, etc and maybe these could be good places to source kits from.
Cheers

[Ian M]

An old saying says:
You pay your money, you take your chance.
If the kit is 'unopened' or 'still in original bags' you should be OK. If the kit is started.... try to get to look at it first. A few guys on here are great at finding bargins and have found some super kits. Others have found that they are missing a part or two.

[Steven000]

Most of my stash consists out of 2nd hand kits, most of them have sealed bags or are unopened, so that's the best you can get of the price is right.

Very old kits most of the time have decals that have 'yellowed' over time and for me that means they need aftermarket decals if I'll start the kit.

Don't overpay for very old 'vintage' kits, unless you know what you are doing you'll end up with undetailed, bad fitting kits that have raised panel lines and yellowed decals etc, prices for those old/rare kits go crazy on evilbay etc. cheers

[PaulTRose]

One of the joys of going to amodel show.....foraging thro kits looking for a bargain.....happy days ?

[Andy T]

If the kit is started.... try to get to look at it first

I fell foul of that one.

I was so desperate to find a 205 T16 kit that I bought one as 'partially built'. It looked okay on the pictures but once it arrived it was pretty butchered with most of the parts glued slightly out of place and still covered in mould lines and sprue gates.

I may still be able to rescue it but will definitely be more vigilant in the future!

As for general advice on second hand kits, they're absolutely worth a look. There are a couple of places that specialise in such stuff, checking the models for completeness before resale. More expensive than taking a risk yourself, but maybe a safe starter into the pre-owned market.

[Jim R]

I was so desperate to find a 205 T16 kit that I bought one as 'partially built'. It looked okay on the pictures but once it arrived it was pretty butchered with most of the parts glued slightly out of place and still covered in mould lines and sprue gates.

I agree. I bought a started car kit. Seemed a real bargain. Looked fine in the photos but the chassis had been put together with a strange glue and was totally out of square. Took ages to take apart, clean up and reassemble. So yes, second hand kits can be a good buy but beware.

[stillp]

I'd avoid kits that have been started - I bought a Ferrari at a model show from an under-the-bench box. It looked as if someone had piled the parts in roughly the right plce, then emptied a tube of glue over everywhere they touched.
Most of my stash has come from charity shops. Most will let you open the boxes to check the kit if you are serious about buying
I've only once had a problem with a charity shop purchase, with an Airfix Bentley that was in a sealed shrink wrap. It turned out that the shrink wrap was added by the shop, and several parts were missing or broken! That particular shop shrink-wraps jigsaws as well - I hope they check that all the pieces are there>
Pete

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Most of my kits come from the bargain bin at my local model shop. I have had some great bargains but I would never consider a kit that had been started. My worst experience with a second hand kit was the Terracruzer that I am building now. That was described as "superb". When it arrived a stack of small pieces had broken off the sprues and were flying around loose in the box that had been opened. Fortunately all the pieces were there. Its always a gamble but as has been pointed out if the parts are bagged up in the box you cant go far wrong and there are plenty of bargains to be had.

[pjgtech]

Cheers folks, I will keep my eyes open....

[Valeron]

I've only every bought one second hand kit and this hadn't proved too good. It was already started, not put together well with missing pieces. It was cheap but the extra work in fixing problems and scratch building parts seemed pointless for the money I was saving.

I did buy it online and won't do this again.

[scottie3158]

I would if I could find them

[grumpa]

It's not a bad idea if you intend to bash them up.

Jim.