JUST WHO IS A "PROFESSIONAL MODELER

I'm a professional modeler in my eyes. LOL!

I know there are tons of talent here and I do try and pick up a few tricks of trades along the way. Will I be able to create a museum quality kit? No, but I do it the best of my ability and my satisfaction. Besides, this hobby gives me a reason to de-compress from the rigors of real life.

A: Do you make models & get paid to do so, including commissions?

B: Do you make Masters for models that others sell?

C: Do you paint models as samples for Manufacturers to use on the packaging or publicity?

Then you are a lucky so & so, & probably a 'pro' weather you do this f/t or p/t.

I've done some commissions, didn't get paid for them, but I did them for fun.

There is a guy that builds models in the Phillipines, that 'Model Builder' displays on this site.

I understand he gets recompensed in some way to do so, so is that 'pro'?

Then there are those who put over-priced, rushed, badly assembled, but (quite often) well painted models as 'pro-built'.

You pays your money, but I wouldn't waste my $/£ on them.  

not me for sure !!!

 Well, regardless of the true definition of "professional" as it might pertain to one who builds models and, in return, receives monetary compensation, I would give my left lug nuts to make a living doing what I love so much. That would be a dream come true.

 What's the saying?  "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life."

Kin I ride in one of yer spaceships ? Gees , those are awesome . I wonder though . Do you get the same sense of frustration and relief when a model is delivered safely . After all , will the client really appreciate all the hours sitting up at night figuring out the next move on a scratchbuilt model ? They don't ! I picked up one of my own at an auction some years back .

     It wound up in a restaurant ! The place went bankrupt and no one knew where they got the model . The bank was auctioning off their furnishings . It almost broke my heart to see the condition of a model I worked on for almost sixteen months . I vowed then to NEVER do another sailing ship model . So far , I've kept my word to myself . With one exception . I have under construction a twelve meter - R.C. sailing yacht  just for me .        Tanker-builder

you could say you are .You just use yours in a different venue .This still puts you in the bunch . Tanker-builder .

I guess using Subfixer's post as a reference, one COULD consider that I'm a professional modeler, although I've had several different professions over the years, and I recognize that there are many modelers who are better in ability than me. But I have made a living for 4-1/2 years steadily as a modeler in a professional studio environment. Here a few of the projects I've worked on:

62" TOS Enterprise:

72" Battlestar Galactica:

30" Klingon D7:

36" long Enterprise D:

My fulltime job is in the modeling industry. Im lucky enough to be around this stuff all week long. I see a lot of professionals making some sweet kits/am items but I still dont consider myself to be a professional just as I said lucky.

Thad

I whole-heartedly agree with the doog.

I am a professional retiree by definition. It's a great job and I am good at doing nothing, I had plenty of practice while I was working for a living.

I"m a published author in several magazines and have won "Best of Master Modelers" awards at contests, but I don't consider myself to be "Professional". In my way of thinking, if you make the majority of your income through modelling, THAT makes you "professional".

Anything else below that level and you're just "lucky" to be making a little extra dough doing something you love and enjoy. :)

While I do get paid to build  it's not my full time job. So I dont consider myself a "proffessional. However..... soon.... very soon   I will be semi retired and hope to start building full time!    Will I starve?   YES!!!

I am wondering if I would fall into that group,,,,,,,,,not on purpose, though

I am using models to illustrate both the evolution of paint application specs and markings schemes in a book series, and I am also using models to illustrate the evolution of the actual paint colors for a website I am building

I am not building models as a hired or paid model builder, but, I am building them to sell books and provide a free website to historians and other modelers

Rex

   I guess that makes me a " PROFFESSIONAL MODEL BUILDER . Although NOT well known , I have been involved in some large projects for courtrooms , T.V. channels and MOVIE groups .I also have built many models of oil spill clean-up vessels for two companies in CALIFORNIA . 

   I am now involved with a client in SAN ANTONIO (almost done ) and a client in ALABAMA , (not near completion yet) .I guess that's why MINSHIPCO is still around after over forty years .I DO NOT put out catalogues as I work alone .

    I did BRASS work for the owner of B.a.D. shipmodels on the model of the U.S.S. WISCONSIN display model at the ship's museum and I did the brass detail sets they made available, for purchasers of their kits . . Those were a learning experience definitely ! I don't make near what  I should on a project . For instance I create " speedboats of the forties " which are HAND CARVED AND ACCURATE MODELS OF THOSE KINDS OF BOATS .THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN SINGLE, TWIN AND TRIPLE COCKPITS AND INCLUDE A " BARRELBACK " MODEL .   

    These are then planked in hand cut mahogany planks sanded smooth as glass and clearcoated . and hand made chrome trim items . I have folks tell me they can get larger ones cheaper and bigger at " HOBBY LOBBY " I've seen them . they are nice , but  "ACCURATE " scale models they are not ! They are three hundred dollars compared to my minimum of one thousand dollars and mine are accompanied with a nice parchment describing which " CHRIS-CRAFT " real boat  , from the past ,the mahogany came from !  No one else does that , I am sure ! NO , in case anyone is interested .I DO NOT make enough to live on that income alone (the old story of feast and or famine ) . 

     I do it I guess , for the love of creating miniatures of vessels that ply waters in this modern day and those that went before  . I also do ,for a limited clientele a group of ships I call " Train Scaled " YES , they are done in the popular train scales of "H.O". "N","Z" and back up to "G" and larger .All these have full crews visible (well those who would be visible ) and fully detailed , modern , classic and transitional wheelhouses and bridges for these ships as well as ALL of my models .A detailed wheelhouse is kind of like a trademark ! . I do sign the models ,  ALL TYPES  , by engraving my name in the keel or the floor of the cockpit or wheelhouse . This I guess makes me a proffessional . Does that mean I have to put a fee in the piggy bank when I build one for me ? HE. HE.       Tanker-builder , CEO , founder ,  and chief go-fer to MINSHIPCO  - - - -Thank You for asking !