Is this normal? How many unbuilt models do you have?

[jrbernier]

If I count all kits(engines/rolling stock/structures) - Between 35-50 kits. Most will be built over this season. That count was over 75 last year at this time, and I bought a lot more. Of course, I have sold off about 300 cars/engines as I have been upgrading over the past year. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have 2 more P2K GP9's arriving, and another 3 waiting for detailing/decoders. I have 2 Kato covered hoppers, & about 24 Accurail cars that need detailing/paint/decals. I have several large structure kits in various stages of completion. It usually takes 1-2 weeks per structure to get them to completion and mounted on the layout. I may be down to 5-6 kits by summer! Then maybe something new will be announced and I will be behind the 8-ball again!

Jim Bernier

[jlcjrbal]

I have one..... I went to my first train show and I saw alot of stuff to buy but I just got web site infor for future use. I am about to start layout # 2 so I did not want to get too far ahead.. Joseph

[dinwitty]

plenty of unbuilt stuff, going to be working on a new layout, so I am in an aquiring phase before I get serioulsy serious building.

[Anonymous]

Do unfinished locomotives count?

I have at least 1-2 of those, just something needs to be done, repaint, new gearboxes, motor etc. Nothing horrible, just collecting all I need to accomplish such.

At least 2-3 buildings somewhere. Again just making time for them is hard.

Alvie.

[Anonymous]

I have over 15 built structures that I have used in the past or thought I was going to use. I decided to make the space for my town into an engine servicing facility. So all of those buildings are now extras.

[PistolPete]

6 structures and 12 cars, plus some of my engines still need to be completed. I would by more but most of my free time goes to working on the layout.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

You are a confirmed model railroader when your basement has a better selection of kits than the local hobby shop.

Dave H.

I deffinantly agree I currintly have only 4 unbilt kits currentlybut i'am bitween layouts.3 old durango press kits.[:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

You are a confirmed model railroader when your basement has a better selection of kits than the local hobby shop.

Dave H.

as well as when you can assemble them

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

You are a confirmed model railroader when your basement has a better selection of kits than the local hobby shop.

Dave H.

and build them

[Texas Zepher]

Do you mean you're actually supposed to open the boxes and build the things?


Up from the polls of last February.
Spacemouse - this was like what your 100th post?

[joeyegarner]

I only have about 6 structures that need building, they are waiting on the new railroad.

[nbrodar]

18 car kits, and about 15 buildings.

Nick

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse

For me it's 14 cars and 9 buildings.

Is this normal or am I just a compulsive? Each does have a place on my current or future layout.

It is not compulsive until your house is so full that you have to built them outside.

[douginut]

Too many to count in both HO and N scale. also have been buying up bachmann and MP trollies over the years. One NEVER has enough trolleys. also a G guage set for the back yard. one day.

If I'm not near the train I love I love the train I'm near!
Doug, in Utah.

[colvinbackshop]

Only 14 car kits......You are normal, or even on the conservative side of things!!
I'm the one that may not be normal...I have hundreds of car kits assembled and twice as many (along with a few loco projects) in waiting to get into the Shops!!! To add to the project list, a major portion of these car and locos will also need to painted and decorated!
I also have close to 100 structures (only a dozen or so assembled) awaiting the construction/bashing crews!!!
It's a disease!! And I'm thinking it's no NOT treatable

[otftch]

This is for JB (Colvin Creek Railway). You're right it is a disease. I only have a few train kits unbuilt but I have over 1000 model airplane kits and still can't resist buying more. In fact I ordered one today. I'll never build them all.
Ed

[bwftex]

I've got two Westerfield kits and one LaBelle kit. Since I'm starting a new layout in standard gauge I have very little in the way of cars and structures for my prototype. Most of it must be scratch built. If drawings, building supplies, trucks, couplers and detail parts count then I have dozens of un built models. Bruce

[bwftex]

I've got two Westerfield kits and one LaBelle kit. Since I'm starting a new layout in standard gauge I have very little in the way of cars and structures for my prototype. Most of it must be scratch built. If drawings, building supplies, trucks, couplers and detail parts count then I have dozens of un built models. Bruce

[jeffers_mz]

Let's see, projects started but not completed:

1. Mainline roadbed and track laid, complete, spur trackbed cut and sanded, support stock ripped, flextrack and turnouts in stock, will lay the railbed today, and the track tomorrow.

2. Wiring components acquired, will snaffle up a control box Friday and Saturday, and wire the beast up Saturday and Sunday.

3. No plans to start the scenery/terrain phase yet, except blueprints and topo map essentially completed.

4. I ripped about one scale mile of 14 by 14 inch timber stock yesterday for a pair of bridges temporarily supported with luan scraps. The roadbed frame for one trestle is clamped and drying, ties cut, rough pier design complete but individual members not cut yet, I'm guessing a week to complete that to paint-ready status.

5. Two 40 foot hopper blue box kits, one for each kid, they haven't seen them yet but they will be rtr a week from Sunday.

I generally plan things to death in advance, visualizing every step along the way, making sure I have all the equipment and supplies lined up, then knock it out once all the lights are green.

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jesionowski

At least 200 car kits, of which 100 are craftsman style Tichy, Intermountain, Branchline, Ambroid, Labelle and a few Resin Kits. Also probably 50 building kits to go on the yet to be built layout.

Rick

Pretty close to [#ditto]

Jeff

[SpaceMouse]

I started this thread back in February when I was as green as my neighbor's grass. I now have 4-5 times as many as the first post.

[Anonymous]

Old posts apparently neither die nor fade away. Nor does this disease which appears to be rampant in the hobby. but It is as normal as alcoholism or drug addiction. Pardon my crankiness, Mother Nature has decided to cover the front yard and drive with the dreaded four letter word!

I wonder if the people responding here have participated in topics crying about the high cost of new kits, locos and rolling stock and structures. A few suggestions for overcomming this problem:
1) Open an E-Bay account and sell two unbuilt pieces for each new item purchased, might even produce sufficient excess ca***o pay the heating bill.
2) Actually build some of those structures, locos, or rolling stock before you buy something else, perhaps a 3 built to 1 purchased ratio.
3) Log off the internet, and go finish a project before you come back here, with the exception of a pass for return if you encounter a problem that requires help from those left here who have no stockpile of unbuilts.
4) Help stamp out Bird Flu, buy nothing from Asia until the World Health Organization gives the all clear for the pandemic. (Have you noticed the spread of this disease into Europe, perhaps we should swear off Europe for a while too)
5) Swear off cigarettes until you have cut your backlog in half (National Smoke Out Day) which may give some of us better health and more disposable income for heating costs this winter, and more trains. Non smokers will derive lesser advantages here , except for having more old cranky modellers to give advise to the new comers. The time needed to fulfil this project should be sufficient to break the smoking habit and actually get some railroad modelling done!

Lastly, a confession, I am as guilty of the collection fettish disease as any other poster here. Time to take some "retirement time" and put it to good use, and follow some of my own suggestions! Signing off for some basement time and inventory coversion!

Will ... one more cigarette!

[IRONROOSTER]

I'd like to say that my backlog has gone down since this thread was started, but actually I have bought more than I have built. But then my secret hobby is collecting unbuilt kits. [:D]
Enjoy
Paul

[Trainnut484]

I've lost count on how many unbuilt models that lurk in my modest HO collection. I know I fall under the category of having more unbuilt models than finished ones. I guess that's normal [:D]

Take care,

Russell

[DigitalGriffin]

I have 3 buildings, 3 large $$$$ service facilities, and 8 cars, all waiting to be built. Sadly I'm adding a cathedral and a chappel to that list today. (Each of which is complex in itself) And then I have about 40 or so cars scheduled for wheel and coupler conversion.

My problem is I worry the model will go out of production, so I snatch it up while I can.

[prompter]

Last count:

897 car kits (HO and On30)

233 structure kits (HO and O)

Chuck

[willy6]

about 98, not counting structures and locomotives. not a thing the WIFE NEEDS TO KNOW......lol

[mononguy63]

Um, right now I have an entire unbuilt layout.

Does that count?

[bikerraypa]

I think I have somewhere between a dozen and forty million [:D] Plus, there are the "partial" kits from which I've nicked a piece here or there to use on something else, the "hodgepodge" kits of leftover parts from projects (ie, two modular walls, some N scale windows, some HO scale chimneys and some lint all crammed into a Heljan coal mine box), and a fair number of "what the *&(^% is this?" kits, which I don't remember buying but still have a pile of.

I think if you leave kits together in a box, they reproduce.

Ray out

[Anonymous]

I have nothing unbuilt. I can only afford one model at the time, so I buy one and build it and move on. Well....I guess if you include scratchbuilt stuff, I have alot of unbuilt models, because I do have some scale lumber. Does that coun't?