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I use filters as you mentioned.However, doing so requires a lot of discipline.I agree that the number of issues is overwhelming at times.I have realized that I can't buy everything I like, both because of space and cost. I have selected 3 categories for 2020, Virgil Extner cars mostly in white metal from 1957 to 1961, GM fastback/sedanettes from the 1940's and Mercs/Lincolns from 1954 to 1956.I enjoy modifying models and plan to 2 tone the sedanettes using airbrush/compressor. These periods have what I feel are interesting automotive designs. In 2019, I focused on Cadillacs-particularly GLMs 1941s-I have them all. In 2018 the focus was Duesenbergs and Packards from the early 1930's. The main problem with letting the rest go, is the low production numbers in a lot of new resin releases. Once they are gone, they are gone !

No matter how amazing its competitors, I pretty much stick with Brooklin.

I have plenty of other, less expensive resin models, and I don't buy every Brooklin.

My problem now is that we've run out of space for the models and their boxes.

As I age, one primary filter begins to take charge, besides the cost of course.

And that is: what would my kids want to keep? My daughter is a car nut and is fond of 1950's finmobiles and pink cars, and her significant other is a BMW enthusiast, who really liked a Spark M3 GTR I got him for his birthday. My son isn't too much of a car person, but he used to enjoy rally car video games and this influenced him to get a Subaru. So I guess he gets the Subarus and rally cars someday.

I recent years I've been disposing of planes (1:72), most construction equipment, Ertl tractors, and now I'm starting to get rid of non-US commercial vehicles and military diecasts. This still leaves a lot of cars, so there will be many tough decisions ahead.

Of course I will still go on getting woodies, Le Mans racers, LSRs, Indy cars, F1 champion winners, Bentleys, Porsches, Ferraris, MGs, and other sports cars for a while yet. And it's hard to resist bargains that fall into my field of view.

The only filter I have is that I do not collect race cars. All scales, all decades, all makes foreign and domestic are represented in my collection. Space has now become the limiting factor however so I am going to have to learn some restraint.

The ONLY filter I use is the dirty looks I get from my wife when I get another pkg in the mail

My primary focus is woodies and their pseudo wood panel cousins of which

I have about 140. Other than that I collect the 50's and some 60's American cars of which I have about an equal number. I have some 30's and 40's American cars but don't really collect any more of them. I don't collect anything beyond 1969. Space is filter, a limiting factor for the models and then of course their boxes. How I hate using valuable space for boxes! I wish they were all fold downs. I think about how the models will be desposed of some day and it makes me cringe!

No problem Curtis - just will me your woodies! Cringing averted!

This is a GOOD question. And we should ask ourselves this too.

With the current glut of our scale we are becoming 43rd gluttons aren't we? My grandkids are not into model cars enough for me to push my estate onto them. And I think I have more than I can fit with me into my coffin. Once I had an enormous collection and a big house but eBay came to the rescue. I do have a photo album with most of them in it. But now I'm already out of display space with the second chapter of my collection. These little cars are so beautiful! And most are built better than I ever did. It's disease I tell you.

Harvey, thanks for your suggestion. I know your are only thinking of my mental well being, one less thing to worry about!

Yes, it is definitely a disease!

I used to collect a large number from many brands but now focus on 1:43 scale.

I collect Goldvarg, Brooklin, Conquest, WMCE, some GML, Neo and Kess and the odd different brand occasionally. I now focus on 1939 to early 70s, with the majority being 1950 to 67. I now only collect American cars, now that I have pretty much all the British 50-60s cars I wanted. I have a huge number of models from original Moko Lesney Matchbox, Dinky cars, trucks and airplanes, Corgi, Tonka, DM, Exact Detail, WCP, etc.; although I no longer collect them. Like many others, I have far too many overall, so I will have to sell off some in the coming years. It will be hard to choose which have to go though as I am very attached to them.

I used to have a much larger collection and had the same struggles.

Not enough room, no real buying focus and a concern for what happens when I'm gone. I also struggled with the thought of selling any of my little jewels. Eventually, I had to rent a storage space to hold my models as I ran out of room at home.

Once I bit the bullet and found that there were eager buyers out there, the high-end stuff went quickly and cleanly. It took a few years but when things had whittled down, I found it much easier to purchase what I really like rather than trying to have one of everything. My wife is much happier knowing she won't have to deal with a huge collection and a lot of money and I'm saving the fees for the storage space.

Now, I buy a good number of Brooklins and the odd resin model that strikes my fancy. If I have it for a while and find that it is not really one of my prize possessions, I sell it. This keeps me active in the hobby I love while not amassing another huge collection.

I keep some of my most precious models in my office at the church and on a dedicated shelf at home. Those are the ones I enjoy looking at from time to time. I try to rotate them once or twice a year.

Running out of display room, as well as other storage, and also facing my senior years, I have been much slower in purchasing the scale models that I know I will want to display. Recently I have returned to the model building that I did years ago and have found that I still enjoy it. (pic) Shame that my skills aren't better, but I only build for myself. And, yes, I've sold a few of my models, but there are other collectibles that I think I will sell first. The recent shift by several fine builders to the cars of the 60's and later make it easier for me to buy fewer of the new production models.

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Ken, please post some of your modified models. Several of us here do similar work.

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