cost of the hobby

Right on, Tenchi!

I'm 19 and I'm getting back into building models.

I've been seeing more and more people my age that are getting into model building with those gundam things, and as always, cars cars cars.

Those aren't my thing, but it's good to see that the hobby lives on

Hi dans1120, What do you like to build?

QUOTE: Originally posted by Woody Hi dans1120, What do you like to build?

Just about anything with a prop! Especially radial engined aircraft like wildcats and texans.

Yeah I always liked the radial engine airplanes. I have a Curtis-Wright Demon that I want to build and a Wildcatfish to kitbash. Try Engines & Things, for really nice resin radial engines! Best regards Woody

I like to think of the offset value of all that plastic 'loft insulation' which means I'm saving loads on my heating bills!

I suppose it comes down to how much you want to put into the finished product. I know that I buy a lot of kits that definitely don't merit an etched metal detail set, as the kit detail is so limited that it's just a waste.

On the other hand I do find myself increasingly reliant on after market decals to acheive an acceptable and often unique model.

I try to bargain shop. Buy boxes of figures on sale and learn how to use natural stuff (like dirt and packaging styrofoam) in dioramas. Yes it is expensive and getting more so. But don't settle for retail. It took 2 months, but I picked up the 350 scale Enterprise new in box for $100 instead of the onsale price at the hobby store of $170

QUOTE: Originally posted by renarts Hey Tenchi, I'm glad you're part of that younger minority that has a clue and one day I'd love to discuss revisionist history with you, but they just rang the dinner bell down at the retirement home and me and the rest of the residents gotta eat our porridge, if we're late we'll miss out on the jello........ ;-)

Well, if you ever wanna discuss something, my hotmail account is MattMeyr@hotmail.com or my MSN Instant Messenger account is TenchiMuyo86@hotmail.com
Other than that, don't bother trying not to miss the jello, it's the green color tonight! And hey, save the caramel pudding for me! And you can have my porridge, I'll stick to grits or starve!

Beleive me, I know what you mean about the cost. But my biggest thrill of the day is when I walk into my office/model room, and look at my work and I realize as I take a closer look that was pretty darn good work. Money well spent.

Plastic is not the only expensive hobby, My wife got a very nice bonus recently and bought me a traxxas t-maxx r/c truck. to make this short, 1 t-maxx 40 mph plus one inmovable object hit at full throttle = cost of about 4 revell glue kits + father in law now has upper hand in the " I can't beleive you hit that" contest. was a humbling experiance and fun right up to " oh $%^^% where did that truck come from"

Cost is relative I think. We will pay unmindfully for whatever makes us happy, regardless of the price. And thats the way it should be. Considering the amount of satisfaction and enjoyment we get from this hobby (the key word being hobby, an indulgence, something that we do not need to survive, an activity to while away hours of leisure time) each of you still goes out and buys more kits to add to those still sitting in boxes waiting to be built. Lets face it, we are plastic ravens. Fascinated with anything that catches our eye and will seemingly feed that need for our own personal indulgence.

Griping about the cost of a kit is only a justification for when we feel guilty that the $100 for the kit should have gone to fix the lawnmower, paint the house etc. "I can't belive I went to buy this new plane kit and it cost me umpteen dollars..." As bad as the hobby may get economicly, I don't think that to date a hobbystore owner or internet mail order house has shoved a large caliber gun in your eye and emptied your pockets (despite popular belief of the industry...) to pay for it. And you still bought it! We come up with the money when we need to get our cars fixed, find it to go to a concert or movie. We work for our money and spend where we are most happy or find the most satisfaction. Sure there is always a gripe, but ultimately you must ask, are you happy? Does your indulgence make you happy? Do you like what you do? Are you satisfied?

I find it hard to sympathize with guys that gripe about cost and yet pridefully point at the "kit horde" in their closet. (Myself included)

Do you know of anyone in this hobby that has taken a step back and said "Oh my god, I've wasted my life building kits!" ?

Enjoy it now, work to live, don't live to work. Have fun with your hard earned cash. Spend it where it makes you happiest, because you won't have it for long and you can't take it with you.

Pricing is a victim of its time. Separate start up costs from just about any other leisure activity or hobby and I think you'll find a comparative gripe with alot of folks out there.

Mike

damn dude u dont need that much shit. since i can afford only 13$ 70's piece-o-shit models u leard to detail yourself.

Yep I do agree with J-Hulk. Shopping for model kits is part of the fun. Well, Fabio we're in the same boat. Here in Malaysia the exchange rate is $1.00 to RM3.80. I've seen Tamiya Dragon Tank Transporter cost more than RM 600. Picture the figure in dollars, you'll get the picture.