Modelers ICS | Inventory Control System

Reviewed by Floyd S. Werner, Jr.

Ever been to a show and bought something only to get home to find out that you wasted your money because you already had it? How many of us have heard of someone passing away and the widow selling the collection of kits but she has no idea how much they are worth? Ever wish you could see what accessories you have for the Bf 109? I know I have. Has your to build pile gotten so large that you have reluctantly become a collector instead of a builder?

If any of these scenarios strike a chord then what you need is an inventory system. Luckily it has already been set up for you at www.modelersics.com . For $9.95 a month, with a free seven day trial, you can track your information online. You can access it from anywhere you have an internet connection. You can track models, decals, or accessories. Like any database you can sort by whatever criteria you select, scale, type or description.

You just enter your information in the supplied format and you are off to the races. What’s that you already have a database? ICS will incorporate your current database into their system with their expert help. Is your information backed up when you’re done? How about updated with current suggested retail prices? ICS will do that for you.

The system is easy to use with drop down menus for the major fields, such as manufacturer, scale, and the type of kit or part. The program also remembers previous entries so that if you have multiple entries with the same information, such as date purchased or price will be in an auto fill format.

You can search the database once you have everything inputted. The information is broken down alphabetically for easy access. You can also type comments in a special block such as an internet review article for that particular kit or where you stored a particular accessory.

How much did you pay for a kit and how many did you buy? If you're like me with almost 100 Bf 109s to build this is a long term tracking nightmare. ICS allows you to input the price you paid and the quantity and will automatically figure out that I’ve spent enough in Bf 109 kits to buy a real one.

Another way that this database can help you is someday when you go off to modeler’s heaven, ICS will input current suggested retail prices for major manufacturers. No need for you to do the work. That way your database is updated with the most current price in case you or somebody has to sell something, God forbid. Then your wife or friend can sell the collection for the price that it worth. This eases that part of the passing.

The print option is very handy for taking a hard copy to the shows. You can deselect what you don’t want printed so that you only get the information that you need. This will ensure you don’t waste your money at the show on something you already own and can spend your hard earned cash on something new.

The hardest part of this program will be you having to take the initial inventory. After that it is as easy as you inputting the data as you buy new kits. You can print an inventory as many times as you want.

I’ve been using the ICS for about a year now as a test case. My collection is pretty big and varied, besides the Bf 109s that is. The webmaster has always been quick when responding to suggestions and questions. The Point of Contact for any questions is contact@modelersics.com. There are also a few other contact methods on the website: LiveChat (web based chat), AOL Instant Messenger, and of course the feedback form.

I think that the information that ICS tracks has saved me at least the cost of the program many times over.

With that said I can highly recommend this program.

Thanks to ICS for the review copy.

Modelers ICS | Inventory Control System

Reviewed by Floyd S. Werner, Jr.

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