W

[Julia9054]

I got conned into one of these once. My lad - aged about 7 at the time - was nuts about the tv program Robot Wars. We subscribed to the fortnightly magazine which sent you all the bits to eventually build your own radio controlled robot. All was going swimmingly until after about issue 10, one of his little friends booted the damn thing across the room, breaking a bit. I rang up the publication and they sent me the replacement part free of charge.
All good so far except the part took about 3 months to arrive. We could not add in any of the bits that were still coming through the post until we had replaced the broken bit. By this time, my son (and I) had totally lost interest. To be fair, he wanted a robot but was never that interested in building it in the first place.
I sold the stack of magazines, the half built robot and all the extra parts at a car boot sale several years later to a very nerdy looking bloke for about £15. He looked delighted.

 

[DaveReading]

Just wondering who if anyone would build one of the magazine Models. The one advertised at the moment, 120 issues at £9.99 an issue ( first issue £1.99) would cost nearly £1200 to build this model.

Yes you get the magazine but 120 issues about a Spitfire, would have to think the editorial / stories would become pretty ropey by the end.

The blurb is somewhat ambiguous - it doesn't actually say that all 120 issues are needed for the bits of the Spitfire kit. But nor does it say that they aren't ...

 

[keithmac]

Me and my wife always laugh at these when we work out how much the models cost by the end of it.

Same as payday loan adverts, think the highest interest I've seen advertised was something horrendous (sure it was 4300% APR..).

 

[keithmac]

Wow, 16.7 Million % APR!..

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/money/2013/mar/16/payday-lender

 

[randynewmanscat]

I signed up for a build an atom bomb from parts series, I think Franklin Mint made the parts but I was disapppointed to find the 1/8 scale plutonium pit was in fact made from zinc and not the prized metal I was hoping for, £3,000, I was ripped off.
There is a comedy radio show that featured the business of building the Titanic via parts bagged with a mag. It is "Fags, mags and bags" and the episode is "Build The Titanic": Corner shop customer Mrs Muirhead's part-work magazine model ship faces stormy waters.

 

[winjim]

The "Mary Rose" was one that stopped partway through.

It was Mary Rose in its current condition.

 

[randynewmanscat]

It was Mary Rose in its current condition.

Thread has caused me pain in my thorax without that thank you. Current condition meaning no more need for aliexp**** fishtank pumps ($6.50 free post) to keep the ship wet?

 

[AndyRM]

There's a Ferrari one being advertised currently, works out at around £1,200.

I'm sure there was a Lord of the Rings chess set which was just shy of £2,000 and you didn't even have the satisfaction of making the thing.

 

[Smokin Joe]

When articles like this start appearing in the mainstream media you have to think that the days of these partworks are numbered -

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/11021035/model-plane-fans-1200-spitfire-replica/

 

[derrick]

I cant beleive people are so gulable.

 

[BoldonLad]

Oops, I got all excited when I read the title

I own up..... me too

 

[classic33]

When articles like this start appearing in the mainstream media you have to think that the days of these partworks are numbered -

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/11021035/model-plane-fans-1200-spitfire-replica/

There's been other companies before doing the same kits, De Agostini being one. They still offer the 2011 Red Bull of Vettel as a part work. Six years since they first offered it on TV.

 

[Smokin Joe]

There's been other companies before doing the same kits, De Agostini being one. They still offer the 2011 Red Bull of Vettel as a part work. Six years since they first offered it on TV.

I started one more than fifteen years ago on a radio controlled nitro car. I gave up after about three issues when I realised how much it would cost (I still have a front wheel and tyre somewhere). But they have flown under the radar until now when publicity about the total cost is becoming more mainstream.

 

[classic33]

I started one more than fifteen years ago on a radio controlled nitro car. I gave up after about three issues when I realised how much it would cost (I still have a front wheel and tyre somewhere). But they have flown under the radar until now when publicity about the total cost is becoming more mainstream.

Senna's McLaren

 

[Smokin Joe]

Senna's McLaren

No, a rally car. Subaru Impreza.