[bsmith13]

Gosh Viper! You either took months creating that, or you are an extremely fast typer!

I will take your criteria, and add my own notes as to their applicability to my collecting habits:

1. Subject:
- Type: With a few exceptions, I only rarely have more than 3 examples of a particular subject in my collection. The exceptions have to do with Livery.
- Livery: I have a ton of Spitfires and Mustangs. The really silly thing is that I have 5 BoB Corgi Spitfires. To me, the livery can be boring if someone famous flew the plane. I gravitate more towards liveries that are historically significant rather than merely colorful

2. Scale:
I am not very consistent with this. I prefer 1/72, but if a particular aircraft is not available in 1/72, I will buy it in a different scale. A good example of this is the Postage Stamp 1/100 F9F I bought. I have branched out into nearly every major aircraft scale because of this, but then a few of the Spits and Mustangs seem to creep in.

3. Overall mould accuracy:
This is important to me, but I must qualify it a bit. Depending on how much I desire a particular aircraft, I might overlook some mold accuracy in order to have it represented in my collection. But is also swings the other way - if the mold is bad enough, I would pass it up, even if it sports a livery I really want. There are some models that are so ridiculously inaccurate that I would never buy them, no matter how inexpensive or desirable the livery. A good example is the Ixo Corsair, which has no oil filter coolers in the wing roots.

4. Detail accuracy/quality:
- Paint/finish: If they paint is bad, then I won't buy it. Inked panel lines make no difference.
- Markings/decals, with the subcategories of accuracy and quality: Let's say there are two Spitfires that sport identical liveries from two different manufacturers. Assuming that the molds are similar, I will take the one that has the more accurate markings.

- Landing gear (including gear doors):
In order of preference, I will buy:
-- Models with two sets of landing gear, one up, one down.
-- Models with landing gear permanently in the up position.
-- Models with landing gear permanently in the down position.
-- Models with retractable landing gear. My reasons are the same as FVDs; these models weigh too much for a flimsy retractable landing gear to support them well. I'd rather not risk damage to my models.

- Panel lines:
Engraved is a must. I have passed any number of models that had decals instead of panel lines. Weird, I know.

- Cockpit detail:
I don't have many aircraft bigger than 1/72, but the ones I have all have cockpit detail. Fairly important.

- Antennas, pitot tubes, masts, gun tubes, etc…:
The models should have them. If they don't, I make them.

- Weathering:
I collect both pristine and weathered models. Doesn't make that much of a difference to me.

- Rivet detail:
I am not a rivet counter, but rivets that are grossly inaccurate suffer when displayed next to accurate models.

- Moving/functional parts:
The only moving part I require is a propeller, and this as a measure to mitigate damage. In my experience, a propeller that spins is less likely to break than one that doesn't.

- Pilot/crew figure(s):
I like figs, but they aren't necessary. However, if the model has landing gear fixed up, there BETTER be a pilot in the cockpit. I don't believe in scale ghosts.

- Tricycle balance.
Yes, please.

5. Sturdiness/solidity/heft/durability:
I prefer sturdiness to heft, but that's kind of hard to judge unless I've held a previous example of the mold in my hot little hands.

6. Ease of assembly:
To me, ease of assembly is a bonus rather than a requirement. I have assembled some fairly tricky kits in the past, so doing it with diecast gives me a warm sense of accomplishment rather than a case of annoyance..

7. Availability of a stand or display base:
If a stand is supplied, it better do its job and SUPPORT THE MODEL!

8. Packaging:
I like nice boxes, but not when it's going to cost me an extra $10. I keep all the boxes because I have limited display space, and my models rotate in and out of storage.

Finally, there is one additional criterion I'd like to mention, even though I don't care much about it;

9. Collectibility
I personally don't care how limited a model is, though I admit it is a major rush when I snag a rare Corgi for a good price.

There! Done! That was a whole lot of typing for me, too. Thanks for the subject!