professional builders

i'd contact Bill Waldorf at http://www.shipmodels.info/mwphpBB2/index.php as he has done a # of ships professionaly

If by professionally you mean as a primary source of income, I do.  I build custom models for my own clients as well as develop kits and build custom models for BlueJacket Shipcrafters.

Al Ross

 

Hi,

I too build professionally, my shop is called "Jakes Ship Shop" in Lacombe, LA. 985-882-9100 hm. or 504-271-1681 office.  jbgroby@charter.net

Jake Groby

Thanks for the comeback guys. I just build a few models here and there for other folks. Usually just charge a token fee over and above materials. People seem to be amazed at the cost of materials just for a plastic model they themselves haven't the talent or time for, and others are generous. Was looking at Bluejaackets prices for their finished models and at first glance seem outrageous then upon reflection on the time spent and the cost of materials not to mention the skill and knowledge it takes to finish say a Constitution or clipper ship, it didn't seem all that bad, and the prices are reasonable. Also if one is building  as a primary source of income, then you must have at least several projects going at once. There is also the problems of researching, if the model you are building isn't currently kitted or a decent set of plans available. Wow!!!!!. I"ve built one model I had to research from scratch and that took about 6 mo. of correspondence with a shipbuilder in Finland to come up with something I could work from. The work was for a church in Alaska I used to attend so all the work was volunteered. But man if I'd had to charge for all that a even a minimum wage the cost would've run well into the thousaands.

We are surrounded by talent!

Several of us are working on Revell's Cutty Sark and or USS Constitution. Most of us may be doing our modeling in our spare time - maybe with a one to two year production window. Using the Cutty Sark as an example, how many hours would it take to produce one of those plastic kits from start to finish? And is it normal to be working on more than one kit at a time? Thankyou for your insight into your trade.

Shipwreck,

I agree we ARE surrounded by talent, my point was that there are many who don't have time or talent and ask to have the work done for them. Keep in mind this doesn't lessen their enjoyment of the models I build for them..

What I'm looking for in this thread is, what are people who build for money doing to make there projects profitable and enjoyable?

Also I didn't mean to imply that shipmodeling is my trade,far from it, I have just built the occassional model for money. Its just that in the last year or so I have had several people ask me to build models for them and am having trouble setting a fair price.

reklein wrote:

Shipwreck, I agree we ARE surrounded by talent, my point was that there are many who don't have time or talent and ask to have the work done for them. Keep in mind this doesn't lessen their enjoyment of the models I build for them.. What I'm looking for in this thread is, what are people who build for money doing to make there projects profitable and enjoyable? Also I didn't mean to imply that shipmodeling is my trade,far from it, I have just built the occassional model for money. Its just that in the last year or so I have had several people ask me to build models for them and am having trouble setting a fair price.

I do commission type work, although I don't believe I could ever support myself, let alone my family doing it. As for what would be a "fair" price, that is a very personal thing. For the person doing the work, a fair price might seem excessive to the person requesting the work. Here's a good example:

Someone wants you to build a 1/350 scale Essex class carrier with a full compliment of aircraft on the flight deck as well as a few scattered on the hanger deck. They want it detailed with photo etched railings, radar arrays, guns, etc. If you estimate your hours to build this model to a "professional" level of quality, you might be looking at something like 200 hours of work. If you consider model building to be a skilled trade, you wouldn't be out of line wanting to get somewhere around $20.00 an hour for your time. That means you should be charging $4,000 just for your time alone, not including the cost of the kit and aftermarket stuff. This could add another $100-200 to the price. Now go back and tell the person that asked you to do the work you want $4,200 for the model. My guess is he'll pass (unless he has some mighty deep pockets. Most folks that are really determined to have a custom model built for them are willing to pay anywhere from $200 -1,000 depending on how large and detailed the model is. That same Essex class carrier done for $1,000 would yield you a net income of $700, or $3.50 per hour for your time, talent and effort. Not really a windfall, considering you could be working at a McDonalds for nearly twice that!

But it is pleasant work, which you could do in the comfort of your own home at your leisure, so it might just be worth it for you, as I said, it's a very personal thing.

Hope this helps.

 

Goshawk,

Looks like thats the way things are for part time builders. I have to claim amatuer status,really,because I don't have the background for pro status, the qualifications for which should probably be at least a bachelors in history,with a minor in art or some related field and at least an apprenticeship in pattern making in one of the major shipyards. I beleive those credentials might get you a job somewhere as an assistant curator working in the collection repair shop. I'm being a little facetious here I think but not too much. I get my little jobs through the local hobby shop owner who gets requests for built models.He knows my work and gives me references.

reklein wrote:

Was looking at Bluejaackets prices for their finished models

The "industry standard" (for lack of a better term) for a finished model of a wooden kit OOB is ten to fifteen times the price of the kit.  For a scratch-built, it is considerably more. 

There is no single formula for pricing.  For instance, I generally charge by the inch.  For a 1/192 or 1/96 scale model of a WWII naval vessel built using commercially-available fittings, I normally charge between $150 and $200 per inch.  If the customer wants everything scratched, I charge considerably more.  If I build a sailing ship, I charge a lot more than for a powered vessel.  If I assemble a plastic or resin kit, at a minimum I charge $1000.

Al Ross

 

 

The 10x to 15x figure is what I was quoted several years back by a friend who is a part-time researcher at NARA & was trying to start up a custom build service.

I've done some commission building.  It is a tried and true method of turning an enjoyable hobby into a not so enjoyable work effort.  I build for myself,  I build masters of subjects that interest me for a resin company..  I work at my own pace.  I get paid in compliments and in trade.  I'm satisfied with my current arrangement

EdGrune wrote:

I've done some commission building.  It is a tried and true method of turning an enjoyable hobby into a not so enjoyable work effort

I agree about not so enjoyable sometimes. However the obligation makes me get out in the shop and doing some work instead of just reading about it. Those little jobs provide the capital for kits and materials for projects I want to build. The "compliments and trade" comment has great weight with me plus the fact that once the project is finished I'm pretty much done with it. The build is the reward.

alross2 wrote:

The "industry standard" (for lack of a better term) for a finished model of a wooden kit OOB is ten to fifteen times the price of the kit.  For a scratch-built, it is considerably more.  There is no single formula for pricing.  For instance, I generally charge by the inch.  For a 1/192 or 1/96 scale model of a WWII naval vessel built using commercially-available fittings, I normally charge between $150 and $200 per inch.  If the customer wants everything scratched, I charge considerably more.  If I build a sailing ship, I charge a lot more than for a powered vessel.  If I assemble a plastic or resin kit, at a minimum I charge $1000. Al Ross

Al,

That is a very interesting formula you use. I'm just curious, have you ever tracked your hours and divided the amount you charged for a project by those hours to come up with an hourly rate? If so, were you happy with it?

Mind you, I'm not attempting to have you disclose this information as it is your business, but whenever I do this calculation, I find myself earning less than minimum wage! Which can be VERY discouraging to say the least. I was wondering if I'm unique or if others have experianced the same.

Tory

Goshawk, I realize your comment is directed at Mr.Ross ,However I did track my last ship model at the insistance of my loving wife who is also the family bean counter. It took me 41.25 hrs to compleat the Revell Germany 1/146 Victory. The customer agreed on $100 for the finished model. He had already purchased the kit. I had to by glue and paint masking tape etc. Came out to less than $2/hr. But, the guy was all smiles and grateful as heck to have his model. I got 41.25 hrs of enjoyment building the model. I once worked for a city in Alaska sorting recyles for $30. I'd still rather build models. I also have to say I'm retired now and that job I had sorting recycles subsidizes my hobby.

Experience in time estimation was also valuable and I now know better what to expect time wise and am able to let a customer know better what would be a fair price.

I agree that the reaction of the recipient can certainly be rewarding in and of itself. In addition to building models on commission, I've done quite a few as gifts. Seeing the expression on the person for whom the model was built was FAR more rewarding than any compensation I've ever received for a commissioned job. One good friend was even brought to tears stating it was the most thoughtful gift he had ever received.

There are many aspects of building professionally that can come into play. Are you interested in the subject you are being asked to build? Is the kit fairly easy to build? Is the person requesting that the model be built within a certain time frame? Like anything else, how you approach the project has a lot to do with how much you actually enjoy doing it. I've run the full gamut from projects I hated (but still had to finish regardless) to ones I thoroughly enjoyed, and everything in between. But from a purely business point of view, I can't see how anyone is going to get rich building scale models professionally.

And since I am a LONG way off from retirement, my spare time is worth a lot more than $2-3.00/hour.

Tory