The Little World

If you have any money, or a birthday coming up, or know where the household emergency cash is kept, you’re ready for a hobby shopping trip.

But like every worthwhile and/or criminal activity, there are rules, and you’ll need to learn them.

a. Do not shop on an empty stomach. When you try to concentrate on which 15 kits to buy, your digestion will start calling to you. Soon you’ll lose focus and the next thing you know you’ll have wasted money in Hungry Jacks…money that could have gone on kits.

Eat at home – shop in the store.

b. Have a definite list of the kits you are seeking. Put it in your pocket and refer back to it from time to time to pretend you are being responsible. Then ignore it and buy the biggest box near to you.

c. Shop comparatively. If there are 15 Messerschmitt kits available rank them in order of price and desirability. Decide whether you want to pay through the nose for something from the Czechs that will fit or something from the Poles that will not.

d. Remember that you need cement and paint as well, and that if you buy an economy kit, the price of these will be far more than the actual model. You may screw up your face now…

e. If you anticipate having to sneak the new model kit or kits into the house, consider a bigamous affair with someone who builds doll houses. Neither of you will tell on the other.

f. No matter what kit you buy, it can be gotten cheaper from an online retailer working out of their broom closet. They may not send you the kit for three months and it might be packaged in a plastic bag, but you’ll have saved money. You can put those savings toward putty to repair the broken parts.

g. Many, but not all, of the tools that you see at the hobby shop will work as intended. Others will be drawn from one of two categories; those that will destroy your model and those that will erase your confidence.