Do you guys ever sell your completed models?

It would be very difficult to sell if you were trying to realize any sort of profit. Years ago, my mother attempted to make some extra cash by selling hand crochet dolls and other crafts. The problem was, buyers were only willing to pay what a factory produced item would sell for. It made no difference to them that the items were hand made. People were just cheap. The other problem is that once you turn it into a business, it becomes just that-it's no longer enjoyable as a hobby and spare time becomes production time.

I have had a few friends that wanted to pay me to build models of their cars for them.I declined for a couple of reasons, the first being the reasons above and the fact that though I have done a few cars, planes are my first and formost choice.

Over the past 10-12 years I've built and sold a few models. Primarily to folk who wished to give them to a relative who had either served aboard a particular sub or ship or who had flown or worked on a plane or chopper. One of the last ones I did was of a TN ANG RF-84F which had been purchased by an individual who had flown them back in the '50s and had retired as a Maj. Gen. in charge of the TN ANG. He is up in years and I could see that he would not be able to complete the kit and have it look like much, Parkinson's is setting in. He is a good friend and I did it for nothing. Fortunately, he had pics of his personal bird and I was able to print out decals to replicate it.

For those models I have been contracted to build, as a rule it all depends upon 1) cost of the model, 2) complexity of the build - straight out of the box or a personal bird/ship/sub where unique decals have to be made, 3) whether a diorama is involved, 4) what kind of base is desired, and 5) whether a acrylic case to cover the subject is wanted. I usually throw in a brass plaque describing the subject and the name of the recipient which I have a local trophy shop make. As a rule of thumb I have charged anywhere from $100 up. I was paid $1000 for the most expensive one I did. That one involved a CH-47A in a fairly large diorama and took nearly a year to complete. (Around 1500 1/48th scale sandbags were involved.) Once I got it done, and delivered, I broke out the calculator and figuring I worked a minimum two hours a day, five days a week on it, I came out making under a $1.00 an hour. 

There is some regret in parting with a model which you have spent a bit of time on, but it is outweighed by the pleasure and awe expressed by the recipient. I've had customers choke up and have tears flow when I deliver a model of a subject they served on or flew. Cases like that give me a lot of job satisfaction especially when I know that the model I've built up will be handed down from one generation to another.

I've never sold a model, but I have been given some kits to build for display at a local hobby shop.  It actually cost me money when I factored in the cost of paint, glue, etc. but I was flattered to be asked and it was fun.

I have gotten some offers to buy a couple of my models at local shows, but have always declined.

Mark 

Yes I have. That was 10 years ago.  Not recently though.  Rule of thumb back then was 10 X price of kit, for OTB.  Worked pretty well.  Don't like to do it anymore, this is a hobby, not a business for me.

Doug

tankboy51 wrote:

Yes I have. That was 10 years ago.  Not recently though.  Rule of thumb back then was 10 X price of kit, for OTB.  Worked pretty well.  Don't like to do it anymore, this is a hobby, not a business for me. Doug

That price seems like a good guideline. The thing that is hard to find a price for, is the amount of time it takes. What I mean is building a model isn't so much "work" that you could charge for, it is more or less "relaxation" and "enjoyment". The poster above broke it down to himself making $1.00 an hour. But that $1.00 an hour also provided him with a lot of enjoyment and leisure.

It would be like me paying you to go and catch me a largemouth bass. You would be doing the work to catch the fish, but it is fun work, and something you do for free all the time anyway.

Making a livelihood making models it difficult at best. I think the last commission build I did I was working for far below minimum wage. I've sold a few and the worst part of the whole process was dealing with the customer. On the outset they are very easy to work with, at the end they are anything but in many cases. The agreed upon price seems to shrivel away the closer you get to completion even with a signed contract. If they have to ask what it will cost, tell them they can't afford it.

Building for publication. Sure! I will tell you it is hard to find someone who is both a good modeler and a wordsmith. If you can do both equally well you shouldn't have any problem getting published. Each magazine has information about doing so.

HawkeyeHobbies wrote:

Making a livelihood making models it difficult at best. I think the last commission build I did I was working for far below minimum wage. I've sold a few and the worst part of the whole process was dealing with the customer. On the outset they are very easy to work with, at the end they are anything but in many cases. The agreed upon price seems to shrivel away the closer you get to completion even with a signed contract. If they have to ask what it will cost, tell them they can't afford it. Building for publication. Sure! I will tell you it is hard to find someone who is both a good modeler and a wordsmith. If you can do both equally well you shouldn't have any problem getting published. Each magazine has information about doing so.

My original post wasn't meant to ask if people could make a living selling their models. I know that is simply impossible to do, given the amount of time it takes to build each one. I was just wondering how many guys have actually sold them.

Haven't people at least OFFERED to buy any of the models you guys have built? I would guess that they have many times.

The only models I have sold have been ships or aircraft built on request - the giver or recipient either served on it or flew it. In every case I built them for the cost of the kit plus supplies, because for me it's more about the joy of the journey and the end result than anything else.

While no one has asked to buy one of my completed kits, at least one museum wants to borrow a few of them for a long term loan and I am considering that.

Never have sold a model and I have never done one for a request. Once in college I was asked by a shop owner to build an aircraft kit for another customer. I was the only aircraft builder he knew well enough to ask. He was a RC guy. Anyway I declined beliving my skills were not good enough to build for some one else. After college in a different city I had a couple of models on display at a well know hobby shop and the owner told me some one had offered to buy one or both of the models. I really liked the models and had a lot of pride in them...so I threw out a good sum...the owner thought it was a fair price so I went with it. Never heard another word after that. Oh well.

Would I have sold the models if the guy had offered to pay...yes. I have thought about selling models but never have. Someday I might try selling models on ebay or the like just to clear space. I wouldn't do it to make a living or anything of the sort. Just money to put back into the hobby. The problem I have with selling on ebay is how do you get the model to the buyer with out it arriving in seveal different pieces. I see shipping as a nightmare because no matter how well you package the model...something is going to break.

I don't see myself building to spec for people. Dead lines and demands....who needs that hassle? My day job is stressful enough.I might build for a friend but that would be as a gift and not for money.

In my opnion, you might as well ask me to sell my child, or my doog.

These models ARE my "children". They stay right here.

I only get paid for commision builds.. As for selling one that I built for me, sure... I got no emotional ties to 'em... 90% of my builds get torn down after a year or so, some sooner, some later...Depends on how long it takes me to get sick of looking at it and dwindling display space. But eventually they'll wind up in the "bone yard" and parted out for the spares box, becoming paint-hulks or landfill...  Even the collection of jets (F-84, F-86, F-100, and F-4)  that my Dad flew during his career "went West"... I'd given them to him way back when, and after he died, they didn't mean much... Plus, I can start over now, having gained another 20 years experience and more time to do another set for my kids...

Naw..   I have many models I'll keep in my collection forever, but some I've built that I don't really care much for, or that the build didn't come out like i envisioned. ,  I take a pervese pleasure in taking my hammer to em and smashing them into very very small peices. ..  then I have room in my display case for new ones..  

Delbert