New member, what to do with partial kits? 10187 Volkswagen Beetle

bobotech

HI all.

I've loved legos since my first set back around 1973 or so.  I am mainly interested in Lego Technic stuff since those were my passion since i was a teen in the early eighties.  

Lately I've been going to thrift stores and buying interesting legos that I see for reasonable prices.  I will buy them if they are around 5-10 dollars or so a pound.  

I recently got about 80 percent of a fairly rare set.  It is of kit 10187 Volkswagen Beetle.  Part of the roof is missing as is one of the doors.  No box or instructions.  What do most people here do with a partial kit set of a fairly valuable kit.  

datsunrobbie

Welcome the forum @bobotech. I also mainly buy at thrift stores. When I find enough of a set to identify it, I usually try to complete the set if it is something I want to build. The sets I have pieced back together end up displayed all over the house. I haven't sold any yet, but if I found 80% of #10187 and could complete it from parts I have onhand, I'd try lising it in the marketplace here at the forum.

eggshen

There are a couple of sites that sell parts, I personally use bricklink.com. You can figure out all of the pieces that are in a set, create a want list of the pieces you need, and find those pieces at hundreds of different stores world wide.

If you sell a partial set, even when rare and desirable, you will get a fraction of the complete price. If you complete it you can keep it or sell it for much more. If you do sell it, I would recommend disclosing that it is 80% original and that you "bricklinked" the missing parts, and I would keep the list of replacement parts handy. Some collectors are more particular than others.

There is a "how to bricklink" guide somewhere, either in this forum or in another. 

Good luck! I never have luck at thrift shops, that is a good find!

ecmo47

Naturally the roof of the VW is where the rare pieces are.

5x3033 (6x10 Dark Blue plate): Avg $15.00 - $20.00 each

https://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?P=3033&colorID=63

2x3036  (6x8 Dark Blue plate): was rare when the set first came out but now average about $2.00 due to newer sets with the part.

https://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?P=3036&colorID=63

jon11380

However, you could get around the rarer parts by using combinations of other parts.

catwrangler

Here's that guide to using Bricklink that @eggshen mentioned: http://guidetobricklink.com