How much have you spent over the last year on your hobby?

I just payed for my first modeling expense today and that was $35 for 2 kits off ebay not including shipping which was a bit high. I got lucky and my grandma had everything I needed to get me started in the airbrushing area. Just need some paints right now so my expenses will probably go up a bit in the next couple weeks.

Anyway, total spent on the hobby so far is $35.

Suddenly I feel like a total piker. I doubt I've spent $200 in the last year. Well, maybe I'll feel better next year when I've finished my workshop in the basement.

Wife and I have a basic rule - Don't Know, Don't Wanta Know. I don't ask her what she has spent on her garden and crafts and she doesn't ask me what I spend on my hobbies. And as long as the basic bills (food, house payment, insurance etc) are paid on time, then we can pursue our hobby buying. The funny thing is that 30 years ago, when we were young, not making much money, trying to raise two young boys and haveing a really hard time making ends meet, I probably spent more per capita on modeling than I do now. Now I can walk into a hobby shop, look around and walk out without spending any money.

well, i just got started about 15 months ago and i've probably spent in upwards of $3000 on start up costs and stuff. my spending has really tapered off over the last 3 or 4 months though, i feel that i have enough kits, supplies, and AM parts to keep me busy for about 6 or 8 months easy........maybe longer with the recent events. later.

As I writie this, the wife is around the corner. If she ever reads these post I am doomed. So far this year I have spent $838 and some change and I have two more month to go.

I'm one of those anal types who keeps meticulous records - so far this year I've spent $293.05 in hobby related stuff. Probably be around $350 by the end of the year (unless Trumpeter's USS Lexington hits the stores early!

Geez trev now your making me think........................Probably about $1000.00 over the last year or so, but i could spend a lot more if the missus would let me...........Jules..........

Roughly AU$1200 this year so far, with the biggest expense being the Trumeter Su-37 Flanker!

cheers

MikeJ

It's been interesting to see the large variance in spend on this hobby by a varity of members on the forum?

Cheers Trev

I feel ashamed........only about $250-300. I bought about 6 kits and all at 50% or less of retail. Included are paints, putty, glue, Dry transfers, pe, etc. Of course Christmas is coming soon.

I try to keep it between $40 - $50 a month (Canadian $). I f I want to splurge on something big I'll save up for a couple of months or wait for Santa Clause or the Birthday Fairy ( I think I just made that up) to visit my house. My wife is very understanding and supportive but there are limits.

Also, I try real hard not to get ahead of my builds as far as acquiring new kits, though its really really really hard when your at the LHS and you see that kit and your face just goes .

Not much, maybe $100 or so. I bought a few kits the year before that I'm working on. I think I spend about average $200.00 a year, this includes my RC. I buy a lot of my models second hand or on sale.

$700, give or take

mostly from airbrush, compressor, and hood.

Toss in a few kits, paint, miscellaneous supplies, boxes and a cabinet to keep everything organized. Oh yeah, and gas to get to the hobby shop 40 miles away.

As much as I could get my hands on. Which isn't much. Probably 5-10 kits, about 5-6 detail sets, heaps of paint/supplies, and more than a few mags and books. Don't really want to guess.

Here goes a more detailed List:

New Compressor ~475USD
3 Airbrushes ~450USD
Accessories(Filters, quick fit attachements, hoses, etc) ~300USD
New Modelling Desk ~100USD
New Router ~75USD
New Spraybooth ~150USD
Plus too many kits added to the stockpile:

Quick count 5 Resin garage Kits at 150USD EACH
Plastic Models to the tune of about 800USD

Yep, it was a pricey year, but well worth it.

hmm I am guesstimating from 1000 to 2000. This is my first year back in the hobby since the early 90's... so had to get everything new:

3 airbrushes... 2 Badgers (and an Aztek that I gave away) = $150
about 40 bottles of MM and Tamiya at 2.25 average = $90
Royal Tenax and other brushes.. = $30
Thinners and such = $15
Lighting = $45
Compressor = $80 (w/tax)
Regulators and water trap = $60
Etc. (tape, tweezers, airbrush holder, sprue cutters etc..) = $200?
Dremel bits. assorted = $30
Magazines and books = $100

::drum roll::

Kits: = $638
PE/Resin/Decals = $60

Grand Total: = $1498
(I think, or it was 1458, I hit clear on the calculator too quick)

-----edit-----
Actually probably higher... was just thinking about all the stuff I get here and there at Wal Mart and stuff like the nail sanding sticks, cuticle removers etc.. and some of the little things here and there I buy... still only about 1700 probably...


Finding out my wife doesn't care I spent this much... Priceless!

Actually this was kind of eye opening for me... sitting down and figuring it out.. I didn't realize I spent this much... I'll not gripe about all the karate stuff my wife pays for (tournaments and such) again... hers is still more expensive but I am beginning to rival her.. especially when I bring up I want a HP-CR for Xmas...

lets see shall I

21 kits: $250 approx
badger 155: $100
fsm: $50
paint: $150
glues: $20
drill bits + pin vice: $25
plastic sheeting: $15

= $610

far too much

For this year I have spent about $600-$700. My purchases are as follows...

airbrush
compressor
water trap/regulator
3 detail sets
7 decal sheets
7 kits
2 FSM
1 SA
30 piece micro drill set
1 pair of tweezers
paint and supplies

I buy stuff as I need it. So if I spend a $100 or a $1000 in a year then thats just right. I don't buy stuff just for the sake of buying it. I'm a model builder, not a collector...not that there's anything wrong with collecting .

Darren

well this is the first year I have started keeping track. I have saved all of my reciepts since last January and this January I will add them all up.

I don't keep track, but would guess about $3,000. Mostly on kits, decals, PE, resin detail sets, paint, thinner, brushes, tools, magazines, reference books. I'm forgetting something.... Oh Yeah, Bandaids. I'm sorta clumsy with an X-Acto.

Regards, Rick

Hmmm, according to my spreadsheet just over a grand USD so far this year ... still have two and a half months to go including Chrismas not to mention my b-day is next week and I should be able to milk that for more than a few bucks in hobby material.

Good thing I don't have a car payment or I'd probably be walking to the LHS.

A lot, certainly... Mostly in reference mags and books, a bit less in kits, even less on supplies and barely nothing on after market stuff. Thanksfully, building patterns brings in income that supports all of the above expenses!

Probably about $600-700 Cdn. I started up again last Christmas, so there were alot of tools to buy. I also bought a compressor and airbrush too. Lots of paint, too. A few books and issues of FSM. Not many kits, though. Only 5 so far.

In my case, about $200-$250 USD over the course of the year. The biggest chunk was quite recent when I spent about $150 on 12 kits at Brookhurst.

I dont want to know, because I dont want to give the wife a hart attack

Thad

Far too much.
New compressor and airbrush (fairly cheap at $200 CAD)
kits (probably close to $1000)
paints, glue, magazines ($200-400)
Way too much!

....not nearly enough

Hmmmm. I haven't keep track, but it's somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000 USD

Don't tell the wife though.

too much. far too much. i have a 30 dollar a week allowance and it all goes to models. all. too much, far too much