[Closed] How to go about selling *LOTS* of Airfix/Revell/other model kits

😯

How about airfix roulette - I paypal you £5. Post me a random box?

You could end up on channel 4/Dave/quest with that lot!

[quote=matt_outandabout ]
How about airfix roulette - I paypal you £5. Post me a random box?

£5? that's not going to cover postage is it...

ebay going to be a pain 560 listings or various job lots. Have you searched for collectors.

or how about an airfix trouser edition?

Chuffin' Nora!
I'll bet there's stuff in there that collectors would be very keen to get their hands on!
I'm not sure, but I'll bet there are web sites specific to model kits, I know there are sites specific to military vehicles, especially tanks, so probably aircraft as well, so those might be a good place to start, but eBay collectibles might also be a good place to maximise the value.
Just did a very quick google, and even a cheap small kit would be around eight quid, some are a [i]lot[/i] more!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/airfix-model-aircraft-kits?clk_rvr_id=1164862816586&rmvSB=true&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F710-53481-19255-0%252F1%253Ficep_ff3%253D2%2526pub%253D5574933636%2526toolid%253D10001%2526campid%253D5337487963%2526customid%253D%2526mpre%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww%25252Eebay%25252Eco%25252Euk%25252Fbhp%25252Fairfix-model-aircraft-kits%2526srcrot%253D710-53481-19255-0%2526rvr_id%253D1164862816586
Say an average of £10...

I'd love to have a nose about! Any chance you'd post that list up?

Any Canadair CL-415's in there?

Kingkits and kit-kits; both have websites with contact details.

I bet you could find a home for a good quantity of it here, if you put up a list and bundle the orders?

Pop-up shop in Hebden Bridge? Trews and Glues? Kits and Keks?

Sort kits and sell individually = more time and more money.
Sell as one lot = less time and less money.

Work out what's worth good money and eBay it with individual listings and then bulk list the rest?

Can someone warn Harry The Spider by text or something, before he opens this thread and inevitably collapses?

Can someone warn Harry The Spider by text or something, before he opens this thread and inevitably collapses

Too late. I emailed him at work already earlier this afternoon 🙂

ZAmofahger, I had that exact Lightning kit as a kid.

<backs away from thread>

Get all the kit you need for posting, jiffy bags etc. Then slowly but regularly eBay them, takes time, but you get a steady stream of income

ZAmofahger, I had that exact Lightning kit as a kid.

Lightning kits not for sale as he started his aircraft engineering career on shop floor as a fitter and worked on all the Lightnings that flew.

Top bloke.

Blimey! I bet a few in there I've been looking for... ? I'd love to see a list or let us know where they go to.

I know a man who buys such things Brant.

Whatever you do, don't just take the easy road and sell them as a lot, unless it's to a collector who really, truly loves them.

I made that mistake in the immediate pre-Ebay years with a few collections of good stuff, and thought I was doing the right thing by taking what I now realise was only a few token dollars from an antiques dealer.

I bet, looking back, he made thousands. But the thing that really disappoints me is that he couldn't have cared less about the actual stuff. I would rather have given it all to someone who would have cherished it.

Anyway, you could have a goldmine there - either financial, or sentimental, or both.

Ebay. Not such a massive ball-ache. Easy to photograph, photograph has the description in it. You could crank out the listings.

Once you've sold some you'll have a good idea of what its worth and could entertain job lot offers etc.

There's an Airfix modeller's page on Faceache, if that helps.

Individual ebay auction is a good way to find their collectable value - some will go for peanuts but you'll likely find a few that go for big bucks. Don't do buy it now price unless you are sure of value.

Some sort of automated system for cataloging them. Can't google do it if you photograph each box against a white background and then do an image search for that image - hey presto - most details filled-in [via copy/paste].

If you're selling them do they come with a touch-up kit for when the paint flakes? 😉

"photograph has the description in it" - not going to be searchable with the search function in eBay.

Toy fair here?
http://www.barrypotterfairs.com/fairs.php?fair=13

04 Mar 2017.

The chap who runs the model shop in Halifax would likely give you some advice on value and rarity.
Also, and this is a maybe, I was in the modal shop on Saturday and I thought I saw a flyer for a model show this weekend in North Bridge Leisure Centre.
Might be worth seeing if you can get a a table and invite offers?

happy childhood memories

do you have an air gun ?
do you have any bangers ? (as in fireworks)
do you have some spare fishing reel line ?

simply create a slide between two trees, set the plane going downhill(with a lit banger attached) then pop away at it with your ack ack facilities - thoroughly enjoyable

*edit - have a look for specialist toy auctions, or related mags with adverts sections

Job lots of anything are never a good idea on eBay . One weekend of listing and it's all done.

I would say it might be worth grouping them.

A fair few of the modellers I've encountered like an era.

So for example find all the WWII stuff then subdivide maybe by Allied, Germany, Japan, Russia. Then do bulk packs on eBay. Or do WWII or Cold War lucky dip packs.

I probably would get a list together first and then work the groupings out from there.

Anything that looks particularly unusual I might set aside and do a bit more research.

A basic Airfix 1:72 is about £10 at high street retail (Jet Provost bought a couple of weeks back as my measure) so you could do 10 kits for £70 or something like that, which ought to be more post and time efficient.

Edit of course I should have said there's probably a few rare ones lurking in there but it's really a question of added value vs. time of researching 550 kits to find them. Only you can make that choice based on your own commitments and inclination to get best value over freeing up space.

That's one hell of a collection!

Do you know anyone not working? Offer them a % to do the listings/postage etc for you?

That's one [s]hell[/s] half of a collection!

FTFY

Thanks all. Confirms what I thought.

Will crack on.

Cheers

Wonderland Models in Edinburgh took on a deceased customer's stash after they died and have been selling them alongside their regular merchandise. You'd probably get more cash if you sell each kit separately, but obviously that'd be a lot more hassle for you.

I too would be interested in seeing the list of kits you have there.

do you have an air gun ?
do you have any bangers ? (as in fireworks)
do you have some spare fishing reel line ?

simply create a slide between two trees, set the plane going downhill(with a lit banger attached) then pop away at it with your ack ack facilities - thoroughly enjoyable

Brother and I used to do similar with Airfix Flightdeck, land the plane before it blew up!!

Have you a son/daughter, nephew/niece who is time rich but money poor?

Do a deal with them to ebay the lot, percentage of the sale price after costs.

I live in Cranfield and look over at a lightning every day, never flies although they do run up the engines from time to time, it shakes all the windows in the house!

Holy Cow! What wouldn't I give to have a relative who left that stash in the loft!

I have a collection of airfix 1:144 scale airliner kits, as yet unmade, that I will use to build a scale model airport one day. N gauge train accessories are close enough in size to use with the planes.

Was supposed to be for my son, now will be for a grand child. Time flies 🙁

"I would say it might be worth grouping them." +1

6 at a time. Any real enthusiast would take a hit on buying 5 mundane ones just to get at the gem in the group

I've only done one collection of stuff on ebay, but a batch of listings every month got through most of it quick enough.

Listing separately will surely get the most value out of it (if that's what you want) but maybe as importantly, the people who are genuinely interested get a chance on exactly what they want.

As mentioned I did a collection, and the gems often got a few follow up email exchanges which was nice as you know the buyer is happy to have found their particular thing.

The cheaper ones didn't but then they went cheaper for a reason, less collectable, less people interested in finding them. etc.

Definatley contact a specialist toys auction house. I can suggest Brightwells (google them) I used to work there, and they have regular specialist auctions for collectable toys.

edit - heres a link

http://www.brightwells.com/antiques-fine-art/general-information/specialist-departments/toys-dolls-textiles/

I know a man who buys such things Brant.

Me too. A mate at work has about 300 in the loft but he does actually build them (& does a very good job too) He's a member of a model club as well (Huddersfield).
I can get you in touch if you like Brant.

If there's a 1/48 scale Mig 15 there then I'll happily take it off your hands for a reasonable sum.

I know a man who buys such things Brant.

Brant knows this. The man is a sales wizard.

b r - Member

Have you a son/daughter, nephew/niece who is time rich but money poor?

Do a deal with them to ebay the lot, percentage of the sale price after costs.

Hi Uncle Brant <waves> 😛

I live in Cranfield and look over at a lightning every day, never flies although they do run up the engines from time

I have an interest in modelling - though not aircraft.

Some of those kits may be worth a few quid (when I say a few quid, could be £40, £50 for a few of them).

To realise the full value your best bet is to find an aircraft modelling forum and post there. Ask what people are looking for and (if you have the time) prepare an inventory you could send.

(oldmodelkits.com may be worth a look, US based but might give you some values)

If they have barcodes you could automate some of the inventory work.

Don't suppose you have an Airfix Catalina?

This

Some of those kits may be worth a few quid (when I say a few quid, could be £40, £50 for a few of them).

Do as mrmonkfinger says and sell them in batches on Ebay, there may be a few gems in there that a dealer won't tell you about.

If you're selling any on here I bagsy the Sea Fury!

spursn17 - Member
If you're selling any on here I bagsy the Sea Fury!

That's the 1/72 PM Model Sea Fury, it's an alright (albeit simple) kit but not something I'd expect anyone to get excited about! Did you know about the 1/48 new tool Sea Fury that Airfix will be bringing out later in the year? There's also one or two existing 1/48 Sea Fury kits, plus the PM Model kit was reboxed by Airfix (with better decals) for a while.

Here's my attempt to build up one of PM Model's other Sea Fury kits as VX281, part of the Royal Navy Historic Flight:

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3917/14827683234_5c33704401_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3917/14827683234_5c33704401_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

OP, get them on Ebay.

I just had a quick look and the Trumpeter 1/48 Sea Fury is going for 20-35 quid, the 1/72 is 15-20. There's a Trumpeter F105D in that stash and if it's 1/72 it's about £20, 1/32 is £90ish!

Did you know about the 1/48 new tool Sea Fury that Airfix will be bringing out later in the year?

I didn't, I'm having one of those! Sorry OP you just lost a sale! 😀

If you want them to go to someone who will love them then check out local model clubs and shops. Could ask a model shop to sell them on your behalf for a cut of the money.

Or stick them on eBay a few at a time and let them decide what they are worth (minus ebay fees of course).

Also Gumtree is also worth a punt as people setup general alerts for items they are after. They also come to your house generally so no fees and no delivery costs

Final count is 1203 😯

Thanks for all the feedback.

Final count is 1203

That must be some kind of record Shirley??

I'd love to have a peek at the inventory.

Agreed, would you be amenable to offers on some, thee are clearly a few here who could be tempted!

Post on the Britmodeller forum, & the Scale Models sub-forum on Pistonheads, you're guaranteed plenty of interest from those.

Yikes! If you only got a tenner each...

If only they had only cost that much each to put up in the loft in the first place.

It probably makes me a heathen but I just don't get the whole collecting thing. How does something like this start? Did Brant's sort of FIL buy a few with the intention of building them, then a few more, then a few more so he had a pile bigger than he conceivably would have time to build.Then just started collecting them with no intention of building them. Then the collection got so big you'd never be able to access them to look at so you are just collecting them to know that they are 'up there'. There's nowt as queer as folk.

convert - Member

Did Brant's sort of FIL buy a few with the intention of building them, then a few more, then a few more so he had a pile bigger than he conceivably would have time to build.

ChrisL take heed.

It probably makes me a heathen but I just don't get the whole collecting thing

Nor me, but I can understand how it starts. I've probably got around 25 waiting to be built and for someone that only completes 1 or 2 a year that's a lot, I do intend to build them though!
I usually buy something that I like when it comes up cheap, but then another manufacturer will bring out a better version and I'll get that as well. I can see how a more prolific builder could start to amass a decent size collection.

Then just started collecting them with no intention of building them. Then the collection got so big you'd never be able to access them to look at so you are just collecting them to know that they are 'up there'. There's nowt as queer as folk.

He was a collector of aircraft models.

You presumably spend many hundreds of pounds a year to ride a bike around muddy fields.

Indeed, there is nowt so queer as folk.

He was a collector of aircraft models.

You presumably spend many hundreds of pounds a year to ride a bike around muddy fields.

Yes I do appreciate we are all different and inexplicable in our own ways. But where is the endorphin moment for a collector; is it the act of the purchase or is it a Gollum like desire to walk your lands stroking your treasures? I could see me getting off on collecting stuff I could use (even if I rarely did) like cars or bikes or collecting art that smothered the walls of my home or vinyl I could listen to. But unused stuff that was stockpiled in the loft, not so much.

1. find a forum used by cash-rich nerds;
2. post on there asking for advice;
3. profit!

[i]You presumably spend many hundreds of pounds a year to ride a bike around muddy fields.[/i]

Why so defensive? - he only asked the question. I, personally have many sporting events on DVD and VHS that I'm never going to get the chance to watch. I can't explain it, but I couldn't even remotely compare it to mountain biking.

It probably makes me a heathen but I just don't get the whole collecting thing. How does something like this start? Did Brant's sort of FIL buy a few with the intention of building them, then a few more, then a few more so he had a pile bigger than he conceivably would have time to build.Then just started collecting them with no intention of building them. Then the collection got so big you'd never be able to access them to look at so you are just collecting them to know that they are 'up there'. There's nowt as queer as folk.

Maybe the model kit boxes were part of one massive model kit box model? When looked at from space you can actually see they all combine to make a model of a one big model box.

[img] [/img]

I've got a collection of vintage board games that I never play! No idea why I bought them, went through a stage on Ebay a few years ago. 😳 😳

Probably worth a few hundred quid if I ever round to selling them.

I collect one random hair on my chin that grows like a twig. Every time it shows itself I pull the bugger out and put it with the rest of its kind - so I can observe its ancestry.

[i]Every time it shows itself I pull the bugger out and put it with the rest of its kind - so I can observe its ancestry.[/i]

More like road cycling that one. 😉

Just spend your remaining years building them all?

Your life just got a purpose.

Selling them under the HebMoKiCo brand, will enable you to sell them to people on here for around £100 per kit.... 😉

Bish Bash Bosh....

slimjim78 - Member
I collect one random hair on my chin that grows like a twig. Every time it shows itself I pull the bugger out and put it with the rest of its kind - so I can observe its ancestry.

Dude... seriously... gross

*Note to self: Idea: Artisanal trouser kits.*

*Note to self: Jamie could be onto something*

Brant - Have a chat with these guys: [url= http://www.scalemodellingnow.com/ ]ScaleModellingNow[/url] - they'll be able to offer advice, or at least could be interested in writing an article about the find.

Final count is 1203

Bloody hell. Unbuilt model kits seem a particularly odd thing to collect.

I was staggered to see the price of models in Hamleys at Christmas - I think those estimates of £7-10 only cover the smallest simplest kits looking at https://www.wonderlandmodels.com/models/plastic-models/airfix/?gclid=CIK6oceojdICFRUTGwodyPMDhA

Those big boxes are £50+ each

Bloody hell. Unbuilt model kits seem a particularly odd thing to collect.

You know that film "40 year old virgin"

Bloody hell. Unbuilt model kits seem a particularly odd thing to collect.

Iv'e got about 60-70 in the loft/garage but only recently have actually had a suitable workplace (for 15 years) to build them, so the intention's there!

I started buying the odd one here and there, must have 10 or so to do now

So it's an investment thing? I 'get' collecting - music, stamps, coins, art, watches, whatever but to collect something that isn't 'displayable' or 'usable' is the odd bit. Even 'dinky' cars still in the packaging were visible - you could look at them in the packaging.