what to charge for a built model

i got a question for all you car freaks! ;)

how much would you charge a person if they wanted a replica of their 1:1? in 1/24 or 1/25 scale

keeping in mind that there will be minor to no putty work involved here, basic build from the box with a few mods here and there. eg. drop, some rims, exhaust etc etc...

keep in mind that you have to buy the kit + all the paint/glue, etc to complete the job.

curbside price= $$$
with engine detail price= $$$

thanks for the imput! ;)

PS: if you're a modeler that doesnt' build for money, or doesnt' beleive in parting with your art then please dont' respond to this thread.

Hmmm thats a difficult question(for me anyway). I've built two models for other people. My dad and a friend. I didn't charge anything it was more like a gift. If you're gonna charge money I would say it's your call. Look at pre-built 1/24-25 scale models and make a decision from there. Thats the best advice i can give you.

It really depends on what your wanting to spend, you could go with straight out of the box, (ofb) with some mods, or go all out with all of the goodies. Also I dont know if anyone will go out and buy the kit plus all the goodies out of there own pocket, you may have to get the stuff yourself and then find someone that will build it and ship it to them. One more thing. If its fo your freind why not just help him build it, this way maybe he to will become a builder. Hope that came out right without sounding rude...

There was a member here a while ago that started his own website doing just this.... was it chrismcgee???

edit: it was..here's his link http://www.elitescalecars.co.uk/
probally won't help if your not in the UK

There's a few factors here. First of all, if you break this down on a per hour basis, there is no way you are ever going to be able to charge even minimum wage. To do this as a business venture is just ridiculous. You have to consider this as something you are going to do because you enjoy doing it.

For a friend, I would probably do it at cost, maybe ask for an additional $20. But seriously, what's $20 nowadays? Or you could ask him to buy you another kit instead. If you do it more or less for free, I think you will enjoy doing it, and your buddy shouldn't be hounding you to get it done.

For anybody else, I would probably say cost of parts plus about $50. That would be enough to motivate you to keep going, but not so much as to make it ridiculous for the purchaser. That should put you in the $100 to $150 or so price range, I would think.

There is another site similar to the one posted above - http://www.wardsmodelbuilder.com/

Have a look at some of the examples there and see if it says how much they would cost. Also check out the Sauber Merc C9 completely covered in carbon fibre in the gallery, amazing.

This is a difficult question, I build aircraft for a fellow aviation enthusiast and charge between £100 stirling (180 dollars US) and £150 per completed kit in 1/72 scale the price increases for larger or more complex kits, the first being a virtually scratch built kit that netted me about £300. The guy that I build for understands the amount of work involved and the fact that the finished product is unique unlike a £25.00 die cast (many of which are nonetheless excellent). At those rates I gain on the simple kits and lose on the more complex ones.

Even a straight assemble and paint job on for example the new Tamiya Impreza WRC (A flawless product) is going to take quite a few hours. What is your hour worth to you?

If you do build for someone else chances are you will someday be asked to build a kit (subject) that you have no enthusiasm for and then it becomes hard to stay focused and do your best work. I am lucky in that respect, my clients tastes (in aircraft at any rate) are similar to my own.

I hope that this is of some help to you

How do you make a million in the modelling business? Start of with 2 million and know when to quit!

It depend of a lot of thing. but a simple OOB kit whoulc go from 80$ to 200$

yea im about to have this problem also with my rx7 r1 kit im selling it for a fund raiser and i was thinking its a OOP kit so being genitle i said 40 then 5 bucks for the rims because i already had them picked for the car before i was gonna sell it and eh about 5 bucks for the custom work because i made it out of stuff i had so 50 i dont care about laber but thats just me i say charge him kit price and and custom work then laber.

well, my friend recently sold his OOB tamiya 360 spider for $500CDN at prestige autoart. that really depends on how much and how long you spend on the build.

yea im about to have this problem also with my rx7 r1 kit im selling it for a fund raiser and i was thinking its a OOP kit so being genitle i said 40 then 5 bucks for the rims because i already had them picked for the car before i was gonna sell it and eh about 5 bucks for the custom work because i made it out of stuff i had so 50 i dont care about laber but thats just me i say charge him kit price and and custom work then laber.


So I guess the , button is broken along with the .

geesh my head hurts now

About $5.00 if I built it. More than most can afford if Hiro built it..

It this a hypothetical question or do you have a job lined up?

P.S. spidereddie, there is a fullstop at the end of the post so maybe the one on the number pad still works? :dunno:

I hope you are not getting PM's from a member here that wants a kit built (Enzo)...if you are, DONTeven bother because you are probably wasting your time as this person has pissed me around.
I've had a few PM's here that want a kit built or either buy one of yours already made....ALL GOES WELL UNTILL YOU WANT SOME MONEY FROM THEM!!
Just be very careful IMO

I hope you are not getting PM's from a member here that wants a kit built (Enzo)...if you are, DONTeven bother because you are probably wasting your time as this person has pissed me around.
I've had a few PM's here that want a kit built or either buy one of yours already made....ALL GOES WELL UNTILL YOU WANT SOME MONEY FROM THEM!!
Just be very careful IMO

Same, I get a fair number of PM's asking me to build stuff, but nobody wants to pay a reasonable price for what they're asking.

This is definitely one of those tough questions. I work at a Hobby Shop and one of the things we offer is those services. I just keep track of my hours and that is how I get paid. The customer pays that, plus all kit expenses.
As for friends, I build for them because I like too. I'm older now and usually when I build something for a friend it is of one of their 1:1's, they usually reciprocate in some other way.
When I build for them I don't look for anything from them, but if they give me something or do something for me I guess it all evens out. What it boils down to is I enjoy doing it for them as I know it makes them happy to be able to look at their 1:1 in 1/24/25 scale.
Good Luck with your decision.
Chris

It all depends on what someone is willing to pay. I've never done a personal build, but have sold a few on eBay. Similar cars have gone from ~$40 to over $150. It all depends on how bad someone wants it.

I have recieved numerous emails from strangers through my website about building a car for them. I always say no. Instead of bartering with me for a price they can fight amongst themselves in an auction.

Having built and sold many cars over the years, it's different every time. I've sold a 1/12 scale Tamiya 312T4 to a very rich Gilles Villeneauve fan for quite a bit of money, and I've given a Ferrari 641/2 to a friend for nothing other than the satisfaction of knowing he will treasure it.

You should let your customer up front what the price will be, then work from there. Give the customer a deadline that you can reasonably stick too, and then STICK TO IT.

to make a long story short LOL! value your own time , look at the detail that will bee in the kit and to what time frame he is wanting ! if you already have everything to finish the kit out think of what the parts are to you and if you have to be them what will those cost ?

i do build kits for other people ,they start at 50.00 thats if they kit and it will just be a nice shelf model , basic paint ,and a presentable model!

BUT , if you want me to just do a wild paint job and not the whole build ,thay start at 50.00 and go up 150.00 thats do to the time and i use real automotive paint !

as for a complete build,i mean the works ! paint ,engine body kits,wheels, interior detail they go for over 300.00, You might think thats high ,but i build them as if i were going to use them in contest ,no short cuts ,or no half steping things, Last year a guy wanted my 49 ford thats in scale auto contest from last year on page 20 , he offerd 500.00 for it i turned him down because i loved the kit , he saw it at a chi town show and he said I LOVE IT I GOT TO HAVE IT ,being silly i told him 1200.00 ,and no joke he said i can get 1000.00 ! i replied SOLD !

come on ! it was a 15.00 kit , i had month of working on it ,and about another 15.00 in to the detail of the kit ,i didnt want to sell it and he wasnt going to let up i spoke and showed the money LOL!

so a kit has a value to who ever it apperals to , price it where your happy and i tell my customers if they ant happy i wil redo the kit tell its right ,

just my 2 cents hope all works and my it bring you more builds !

David@ Minidream Inc.

I did a custom paint and decal job once, in trade for an 83 Camaro and a Knight Rider kit, a couple jars of paint, and a hobby knife. Another time I repainted a couple Hotwheels (airbrushed bodies and brushed interiors) for $10. Best part is seeing the customers' faces when they see them, oohing and ahhing :D I've been offered as much as $100 for my kits I take to shows. I just build things I like, because if nobody buys them, I still have a real nice piece for my collection :)