"Pro Built" models on Ebay...or not.

Two points:

1. Yes, many of the models I see for sale on eBay, flagged as "Pro-built", don't look that great.  On the other hand, some do.
2. Regarding the question of who buys built models, because we build because we love to, etc, think about the fact that there are folks out there who share the same interests as we do, but can't build a model for whatever reason, and so, they're willing to pay someone to do it.  You might not think of it so much in our hobby, but if you get into some of the more specific branches, especially military and historical miniatures, you find that there are collectors who can't build and paint, but love the figures or dioramas, and they'll commission pieces.

And as a disclosure, I admit, I've thought about buying a finished piece once, when I looked at a particular anime kit and thought, "I'll never be able to do this piece justice, my skills just aren't up to it."  And I wondered if I should contact a painter and have him finish it. But I'm working on it on my own.  In the end, I did decide that I need to try, and see how I do.

JTRACING

I would want to see lots of close up detail pictures if I was ever to buy a "pro built" model,  I see some so called "pro builders" in the magazines and wonder how they sell anything with all the mold lines and pin marks on everything lol

 

Yeah they'd better be award winners for sure if I'd ever pay that much for them...but....if a person has the money then that's not an object. If you don't believe me ...check THIS out.....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-Ford-Country-Squire-Station-Wagon-Pro-Built-1-25-R-amp-R-Resin-/291316453944?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=kWIZWhislKrldyXncy2vjM2u5EQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

subfixer

Let us know when you put "Spooked" on the market.  

 

Check out his Spooked tread. I asked him first

I would want to see lots of close up detail pictures if I was ever to buy a "pro built" model,  I see some so called "pro builders" in the magazines and wonder how they sell anything with all the mold lines and pin marks on everything lol

lol. I have just joined this Finescale Forum, so I am a member now for 24 hours and every post is of interest to me - even the dead ones - to you. Richard

I have seen that on ebay and find that pro built museum quality to be too subjective to be

believed. what the builder considers good might not be up to your standards. It is just a way for them to justify asking $200.00, $300.00 or more on a built kit. caveot empitor or whatever it is.

Guys,

A thread that is old to you may not be old to everyone.

Cheers, Aaron

Will someone please call van helzen .!!!.

He'll know how to deal with zombie treads lol

IT LIVES !!!! Another old thread revived! LOL!

I also am one of those people who much prefer a model which is built to having to build the model myself - to be honest, I have not built a plastic model for the better part of 60 years - yet I have all of the old 1/8 Pocher built models (prior to the factory catching fire) except the Rolls Royce Ambassador which I thought looked pretty much the same as the other Pocher Rolls Royce's, so did not bother getting one and many of the diecast cars up to 1940 (I'm not interested in cars built after then except for Le Mans cars) but the better brands 1/12, 1/18 & some 1/24 - Autoart, CMC, Exoto, Minichamps, Franklin Mint and so on, more as a hobby and investment, if need be - hence my preference to buying "built" when previously A$1 = US$1, however, now US$1 = A$1.50 and £1 = A$2 roughly, so the exchange rate counts in my favour, if I were inclined to sell some (not likely).

 

Brooker

 

Hi :

        I have given this some real heavy thought since I made that previous post . Now that said .I have seen models that blow me away ! Yes , me ! I have built for companies for training and display , museums and done restorations of what used to be called " Museum Grade " Models .There is a difference . I did one resto and after cleaning and Prepping it for rebuilding I noticed some more lettering on the stern still buried in paint .After working very carefully I was able to uncover the original name .The  ships equipment fortified the impact .I was holding and had on my bench hand made blocks ,belaying pins and deck hardware from a model that had resided in a museum forty years before I was born ! It had historic importance too !  

      Now , that said , I called the owner and asked if I could continue and bring it back to it's Original rig .When I explained why he agreed .So in a nice home ,in a space made for it ,  is a one hundred and some year old model of the " Amistad " . The slave ship that hed a mutiny of the slaves and resulted in one of the biggest boondoggles for our fledgling government in the early years ! I have NEVER really considered myself a " Pro " , in the sense of a steady job . In the sense I build accurate ,historically or present day correct models of ships for clients .

   This takes some amount of talent .I feel that a pro is someone who does his homework ! !  Take Al ROSS .he's written books and done some big piles of ships over the years .I may not always agree with his finished product ,(this concerns ships I served on)  ( The types ) And I Feel he missed the boat .That's my opinion .He's been working in the field a loong time .So If he does one is it a " PRO " build , You bet your sweet bippy ! Now if I build one in the medium I use and it's qualified to sit in a museum or boardroom of a shipping company , that makes me a pro too ! I wouldn't sell anything at " Bay "prices though !

   My 1/25 model cars start at $1000.00 ! This includes working suspension , opening doors , trunk , Hood , working windows , steering and shocks and springs  ! Plus ,  the paint comes straight from the dealers stock

   ! Now , on ships , if it's a Navy ship , I use paint chips and photos to get it right on the federal spec numbers . The equipment is fit for the era or when the customer was on board . These can go to some thousands of bucks . I work eight hours a day four days a week .I still don't make what they allow me to make while on Social Security ! Like most commission work by an individual , it's always between feast or famine . Occassionally I'll do one for someone based on verbal descri[ptions . I have one such Back in my shop notw .It seems my build as interpreted by me was somewhat incorrect .There is NOT much written on the vessel in question and only a few very poor photos exist .He had them and sent them to me after the ship was done . Now I am having to fit him back in the mix .He will get it back probably in a month or so . Price $ 50.00 .Why so low ? The owner is himself an artist and sculpter who gave a gorgeous piece to a very good cause .Could I do any less by him ? That said think about what I wrote and make up your own mind what makes a " Pro "

It's obvious that these "Pro-Built" models are not for us.this is a model building forum and it's actually distasteful to us to have someone build something that we can do,and maybe better.

But they do serve a purpose,it's really the same as someone buying home or office decorations,I mean if someone who has no interest in building models wants to decorate his office or basement in a military scheme,then he would buy these,just like something from Corgi or Franklinn Mint,why should I look down on him.Same as if I buy a painting for my den,since i can't paint.

That being said,I suppose that it would be foolish to buy a finished model sight unseen,especially spending big bucks.

It would be interesting to hear some of the buyers of these so called "Pro" built models thoughts. I would be leary to buy a pro built model on ebay for 100+ bucks, only to receive it in the mail and find poor seems, silvered decals, and glue smudges. Things you can't really see in the ebay pics. Now if a person sold a model on ebay with all the above problems and only wanted 20-40 bucks, then thats a different story.

VanceCrozier

I don't begrudge the "pr modellers" out there. They have a skillset, and apparently somebody is willing to part with the $$ for a finished model kits. Whatever works I suppose. But i'd rather build the kit myself...

The point is that alot of the models being labeled as "Pro" are not even close to being pro.  

I would post links to the "Pro" models that I'm talking about but I'm afraid that maybe some of the models were built by people on these forums and I really don't want to embarrass anyone.

There's always somebody in for the shortcut. I don't think they ever get it.

Mike,

eBay bad. spend money. I'll have to check them out, but i'm sure I'll be depressed afterwards. How about some WIP on your builds. I could use the tips and advice on building.

Thanks Lyle, I am happy to serve.  You can see my builds on E-Bay under BABALU1201.  Mike

I don't begrudge the "pr modellers" out there. They have a skillset, and apparently somebody is willing to part with the $$ for a finished model kits. Whatever works I suppose. But i'd rather build the kit myself...

Babalu1201,

First, welcome to the forum. Love to see some of your work. Secondly, Thank you for your service as a police officer. My son is a paramedic for the county. I appreciate what you do.

I would say that you have nailed a niche that works for you. Sounds like you have a good thing going and more power to you! Interesting perspective, too.

Lyle.

I'm one of those guys you are talking about that sells built models on Ebay.  First of all I do not claim to be a so called "Pro Builder" or the builder of "Museum Quality" models.   I believe that the models I build are of above average quality, but nothing more.  The prices I ask are little more than what I have in them.  I'm a police officer by profession and build as a hobby on the side.  I found, like many of you that my own collection was busting at the seems and had little display space.  So I decided to sell some of my collection.  I found, by surprise, that there was a market for these models on Ebay.  Also like many of you i would not purchase a pre-built model as it defets the purpose.  I was amazed that I was averaging 12-15 thousand dollars a year building and selling these pre-built models on Ebay.  It has become almost a second income and buisness.  Finally I asked a couple of my regular customers why they were spending such large amounts of money on these average builds.  In every case I was told that they loved the hobby, the excitment of collecting and the thrill of the bid.  They all confessed that they all lacked the skill and time to do it themselve, and I provided a cheap alternative.  So call it what you want, these people selling these builds on Ebay are providing a service.  Now how you refer to them "Pro Built" or "Museum Quality" or "Award Winning" is to be taken with a grain of salt and is in the eye of the beholder.        

While I agree with most of the sentiment so far, don't forget that there are many veterans out there who are not modelers who would like a model of the aircraft/ship/armor they served in. Not to mention family members of those veterans. I've built a couple of those for that purpose.

I the the whole "pro" usage is also comes frome the over usage of superlatives. Nothing is "nice" or "good" anymore, no, it is "great", "fantastic" or even "epic".
I also have a good laugh when I see all the "rare", "limited" or "vintage" models on Ebay. Selling of your unwanted stash is one thing, but labelling common kits as rare is silly.

I'm not laughing at people who sell their models.  I'm laughing at people who say they are pro and clearly are not.

Heck, I've thought about selling some of mine but I definitely would not list them as pro.  Award winning?  Sure.  I've got several of those.  Pro?  I don't think so.

I couldn't agree with you more about the people who don't want to put the time and effort into learning the "tricks of the trade", but I'm happy to make some money from them if I can find a home for some of my "babies". I have three bookcases of models at my parents' house in Pa; we're talking around 9 shelves each (I add shelves) with about 6-7 models on each, give or take, on probably 80% of the shelves. Then I have 1.5 bookcases up at my fiance's mom's house, and one in NC at home. I'm simply running out of room, and if I don't sell some of them, they're going to either get ruined in any move I might make eventually, or just trashed for lack of display space.

I have to comment here :

   When I see these " PRO " built models I do have a good laugh  . I have built for companies and museums . Does that make me a " PRO " .? I gues in some folks eyes , Yes . Well , I tend to disagree . I do not make a regular income from it and it's sometimes worse than a job . But , I love to build . Now if someone contacts me to build something I will consider it , if only because there,s nobody else around here that does it ! I don't compete usually in model shows because I have built for the aforementioned entities . I feel my skills may be somewhat more then these guys and gals have . Let them enjoy themselves and if judging I will be fair and non-commital about the skill level .They built it , they got satisfaction from that , and who am I to take that away ? I guess I am that  "Pro " that likes to share his skills though , that way I pay it forward .  Tanker - Builder .

Exscuse the typos, the above was done from my iPhone :)

I think problem goes deeper, with the modern mindset of a lot of people nowadays, we don't want to wait/work/earn anything. We want to whip out the plastic, charge it, and play. Instant gratification.

I personally don't see the point in the "pre builts" other than as a conversation for someone who wants a one off piece to use as a decoration.

I myself hate the mentally that has made us so dependent on a disposable life style, but that aside. I just finished building a loft bed for my son, with a desk and book case underneath, plan on building a bed for my wife and I, that will double up as storage space (although she has made it quite clear what the athstetics of it will be :) and I am now in the process of building a knock down able modeling desk/work are out of the common wood scraps in the garage to make room for that project. I could of bought all these items, for probably less than the cost of building them myway, and had it over and done with. The one thing that would be missing though, is the personal satisfaction that all those projects bring.

Much like our scale modeling, people may not understand the desire to work in miniature, risking thumbs and other digits against surgically sharp blades. But it is the escape, and the sense of completion and satisfaction that comes afterwards. And that dogged determination not to be beat by a box of styrene.

I hope to install this same bit of ethic in my son, even if he doesn't develope the same intrest in scale modeling, I can only hope he develops the same sense of personal satisfaction from working with his hands, and actually doing for himself.

subfixer

Let us know when you put "Spooked" on the market.  

Ha ha---not likely!