Yet ANOTHER Collection For Sale!

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Summer Storms - 09 May 2006 17:59 GMT

Hello, model aircraft enthusiasts. I haven't posted to this newsgroup
before, but I figured this might be the place to start. I see there are
a few folks either actively selling off collections or at least
contemplating it so I guess I'm at least in good company.

My 74-year-old father has collected model aircraft of virtually all
types and descriptions since he was a child, and has collected the
related magazines and other publications for the hobby for many years as
well. It's quite an extensive collection (filling well over half of a
two-car garage, boxed and stacked - and that doesn't count the built
items) of boxed model kits still in original packaging, magazines sorted
and categorized, and related paraphernalia. The collection in question
includes RC models, some engines, plans, etc., as well as Plastic
models, some non-flying balsa models, etc. There are (mostly) planes
and (some) heli's, along with other odds and ends. And there are
magazines for all of the above and more.... with issues going back I'd
guess to at least the 1970's in most cases, and in some cases far longer
(1960's, 1950's, perhaps some even older???)

Anyway, it's now for sale. Dad recently had some health problems that
unfortunately required him to move from living independently in his home
to living in an assisted living facility, so he's asked me to take care
of selling off his beloved collection in the process of preparing his
house for sale. So this past weekend I moved the collection to a storage
unit near my own home, and am in the process of organizing it. I have
yet to find the binder in which my father meticulously maintained a
complete catalogue of the items but many of the boxes were labeled
externally, so I have at least some idea of what I've got already. As
soon as I have the complete collection catalogue at my disposal, I plan
to convert it to a spreadsheet that I will be able to e-mail to anyone
who is possibly interested in any of the items.

If anyone here has any tips that might help me in selling off Dad's
collection for its real value (and I'm still determining that... in
fact, help would be appreciated there too) I would love to hear from you.

Sincerely,
Collector's Daughter

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The Old Man - 09 May 2006 19:31 GMT

Summer - Let us know when you have a listing prepared of the items for
sale (I myself am most interested in Real Space and Sci-Fi if you have
any) and where we could send a letter to obtain it.
Or respond via e-mail if you are able to transfer the list
electronically.
I hope your dad's felling better soon.
Regards,

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Hey, It's Me! - 09 May 2006 19:57 GMT

Summer,
If you're talking about a huge collection, you may want to talk to some
of the folks in Fayetteville, NC, who recently set up a sale of 10,000
kits for a fellow collector. If you would like the contact information
for one of the LaFayette Scale Modelers Club members, let me know.
They are the guys who hosted the sale and they can give you an idea of
how much work they had to do. I am not a member, but when I lived near
Fayetteville, I was and I still know one or two of the guys. Good luck
and best wishes for your Dad.

-->Jonathan
jbherri2 ***at**** yahoo DOT com

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C.R. Krieger - 09 May 2006 20:12 GMT

> If anyone here has any tips that might help me in selling off Dad's
> collection for its real value (and I'm still determining that... in
> fact, help would be appreciated there too) I would love to hear from you.

For its REAL VALUE? You might want to get really good at ebay. It's
stunning what the true 'collector value' of some of the older/rarer
kits will turn out to be and there's virtually no way you can
personally invest the time to learn enough about it yourself (Nor do
you want to. If you got to know enough to truly understand it, you'd
keep everything.). Ebay levels that playing field, at least in the
plastic model world. The collectors as well as the bargain hunter
builders haunt it regularly.

If you use long-term auctions (not 3-day; 7 or 10 day), those who are
willing to pay a lot for something will find out about it. If you get
almost nothing for an item, that's what it was worth. For maximum
return, though, you'll need to do the maximum work. Auction the items
separately, not as lots. Depending on where you are, you may be able
to find a commercial ebay lister who will do most of the work for you -
for a fee.

Now, some will tell you you're making a mistake to do it this way - and
they'll make what may appear to be a very generous offer for
'everything'. Rest assured that that the amount of that offer can be
doubled or tripled - or more - if you have the patience to auction
everything off separately.

Good luck. Tell your father that fellow modelers understand how
difficult it is to part with a carefully considered lifetime
accumulation of 'projects' as he is doing now. It sounds like you're
treating it with the respect we'd all expect of our valuable 'stashes'.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Dreading that day ...)

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Moss - 09 May 2006 21:25 GMT

> Hello, model aircraft enthusiasts. I haven't posted to this newsgroup
> before, but I figured this might be the place to start. I see there are
> a few folks either actively selling off collections or at least
> contemplating it so I guess I'm at least in good company.

One thing I'd be wary about: If the models spent a long time in a garage
that was not climate controlled, they may have been damaged by
summertime heat - likewise for your current storage space, if it's not
climate controlled temperatures can skyrocket.

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John - 16 May 2006 02:52 GMT

>Hello, model aircraft enthusiasts.

You did not say where you were located so, go to www.ipmsusa.org and
click on the Chapter and RC Directory button to find a club near you
(better if your Dad was a member of one). These folks can help you
inventory and sell the collection. E-bay is a very good option if you
have the time and patience, but to get maximum sales, a good
description, particularly if the kit has been opened, is essential. To
unload quickly, you can also sell the entire lot to a collector (who
then resell the stuff), but you will be lucky to get 50% of the real
value that way.

If you are near a club that hosts an annual show/contest, they may
assist you to sell the kits at a vendor table there.

Keep in mind that the above relates only to the plastic kits - the
flying models are an entirely different story. For those, I would
highly recommend e-bay.

Good luck to you.

When you get your list together, please e-mail me the file at:
mach1@bww.com He probably has some stuff I'm looking for!

John

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Model Forum / General / Models / May 2006

Yet ANOTHER Collection For Sale!