Building kits to sell: Price?

Bones-coa

Member since
April 2003
From: Savannah, GA USA

Building kits to sell: Price?

Posted by Bones-coa on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 10:45 PM

Modelers, I built the Academy F-18 kit and donated it to the local hobby shop. I wanted to build the kit but didn't really have a place to put it so the hobby shop was perfect.

As a result, I've been informed that a gentlemen came into the shop, saw my model, and now what's me to build him an F-16. I haven't spoke with him so I don't know what scale or anything. The guy at the shop has his card and I'll get it this weekend to call him.

I had always said in the past that one stipulation in bulding a kit for someone is that there would be no timeframe. I deal with deadlines at work and don't want to for something I enjoy. However, if this guy is serious and wants me to build a kit for him, I have no idea what to charge him and what terms are fair. In addition, would he supply or pay for the kit and all required paints, tools, etc? I guess that's something we would work out between us, but I still don't know what kind of price would be fair.

Give me some ideas on this, guys.

Thanks

Dana F On the bench: Tamiya DO335B-2 with LOTS of Aires stuff (On Hold) Trumpeter A-10 with LOTS and LOTS of aftermarket goodies! (On Hold) Tamiya 240ZG (In work)

Reply

rebelreenactor

Member since
October 2003
From: Clovis, Calif

Posted by rebelreenactor on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 11:50 PM

I would tack on the kit cost and then maybe how long it took to build and try and even it out.

John

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 9, 2004 12:00 AM

hmmm.. i would just phone the guy and ask him what he wants. Let us know how it worked out!

Reply
Edit

diggeraone

Member since
July 2003
From: Ozarks of Arkansas

Posted by diggeraone on Thursday, September 9, 2004 12:36 AM

I would charge for the cost of the kit and materals this would enclude the cost of electiricit.Then I would figure the amount of time on avg.that it takes to build a kit and charge by the hour probablily at $10.00 an hour.This is how I would do it because I am not cheap.Also on the other hand you could have him by the kit and materals need.Then charge an hourly rate that you and him can agree on untill word spreads about your work.Then you can start charging what you want.Digger

Put all your trust in the Lord,do not put confidence in man.PSALM 118:8 We are in the buisness to do the impossible..G.S.Patton

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 9, 2004 1:34 AM

Your best bet would be to charge the kit cost X 2 (to cover material cost) and then charge a flat hourly rate like the mentioned $10 an hour. I would also offer to provide my cliente with a log book to show material cost that his is charged for and time spent so he can monitor houlry cost. You would provide him with the security from those log books that you are working diligently and might stave off any problems in the future. I also would work under contract (generic contracts are easily bought at Officemax) for your security and his. Its a win win situation.
-Jeff

Reply
Edit

Swanny

Member since
February 2003
From: Sandusky Ohio, USA

Posted by Swanny on Thursday, September 9, 2004 6:24 AM

Remember, on this job you are an artist so deadlines cannot exist. On that same idea you want to retain artistic control, let your customer tell you what aircraft and unit if he wishes then the rest is all in your hands. For a 1/48 twin engine job with all the bells and whistles I charge around $500.00, for a single engine job with limited extras like custom decals or a single resin upgrade $200.00. Rareness of subject and variations in materials cost will influence this.

Swanny's Models

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 9, 2004 6:52 AM

i have a similar question. i have sold several kits in the past, all for really a steal. i sold my subaru (u can seepictures of it in the car forums) for 30 singapore. thats about 17 bucks US. if i wish to sell kits in the future, but not on commision or anything, how should i price them ? i really dont care much about the money, all i like is people to have my models in their office/display case. would the cost of the kit X 2 ruin the market price ? or should i just sell at what i think is right? my builds are all OOB, and my skills arent fantasic. what kind of prices would you suggest are reasonable ?

Reply
Edit

scottrc

Member since
December 2003
From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W

Posted by scottrc on Thursday, September 9, 2004 8:16 AM

For a base, pay for the kit and all the materials, then I add a mark-up multiplier of between 1.5 and 2.

I also research ebay to see what pre-fab models are going for.

For labor, I use that as an adjuster to keep within what the market, or what the client will pay.

Reply

Bones-coa

Member since
April 2003
From: Savannah, GA USA

Posted by Bones-coa on Thursday, September 9, 2004 6:27 PM

Thanks for the advice, guys. Since I don't consider myself a great model builder, and since this is the first time I build a kit for money, It'll probably be a steal for him. The 1.5 to 2 times the kit price plus a little more seems fair. I'm not quite confident enough yet that I can produce a really good model everytime. While the F-18 he saw was definatly one of my better and most impressive models, alot of that is owed to the fact that that is just a great kit. It tends to make a model builder like me look much better than I really am.

Thanks again for the advice, gentlemen.

Dana F On the bench: Tamiya DO335B-2 with LOTS of Aires stuff (On Hold) Trumpeter A-10 with LOTS and LOTS of aftermarket goodies! (On Hold) Tamiya 240ZG (In work)

Reply

THE MAGAZINE

CONTACT US

RECENT ARTICLES

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT REVIEWS

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT REVIEWS

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT VIDEOS

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT THREADS

CATEGORIES

NEW PRODUCTS

OUR STORE

CURRENT ISSUE

SEARCH FINESCALE.COM