Fee for a build: how much to charge?

[jmwallac]

Well, I "convinced" a friend of mine to commission a build of his car (2001 Camaro SS). He purchased the model along with a Corvette since his car has C6 rims on it. It's a Revell kit and he isn't as concerned about colors being an exact match, or having the build be overly detailed. After checking the rims on the 2 cars, I don't think it will be easy to swap them without hacking up both. Assuming I can get away with an OOB build on the SS, how much would you typically charge for something like this?

Thanks!

[freakray]

A friend? Charge him for materials you use - paint etc.

You really need to put a value on your time if you want to charge him for it - everyone is different so everyone charges differently.

[Enzoenvy1]

Originally Posted by freakray

A friend? Charge him for materials you use - paint etc.

You really need to put a value on your time if you want to charge him for it - everyone is different so everyone charges differently.

Yup, your time is the key point. Are you going to build the model like normal - added detail/attention to great body detailing/extra parts or photo etch, etc.... Or, are you just going to build it. Even an OOB (someday I will build one) can take me some time. Add the extra detail and I would charge quite a bit. Think about it, even if you asked for $10 an hour, that is not a whole lot. But, if you spend 20 hours on the model, then................. Building models for a job is not going to ever return your time and effort. If it is for a friend than I say build it. Your personal enjoyment for his/her enjoyment is well worth it.

I know that you are not looking to do this as a job. =)

[rsxse240]

If I were to build a normal kit like any of the fujimi non-enthusiast kits, R/M kits, or most of the tamiya kits (that cost under $30) I'd say $60 for anyone else, if it's for someone you know well, but not a close friend, I'd say $45 TOPPS, but if this person is someone you know well, and hang out with on a regular basis, I'd suggest having him/her come over and "help" on the build. Who knows, they may end up enjoying the hobby, and then you'd have something else to talk about, and do together. (sorry that last part sounds a bit gay, unless it's a chick/dude type friendship, then it's cool)

Any way you look at it, a friend is a friend, and I never charge good friends for my services, because it's reciprocative. haha, that last word, reciprocative, was something I thought I made up, but spell check didn't respond to it, that's funny

[73superduty]

I've done this a few times. so I speak from my experience only.
A friend of mine wanted a model of his 69 Firebird. I charged him only for what materials I used in his build. He provided the kit as well.

On some other builds I have done for "customers", I charge a flat rate of $100 for an OOB. Anything from that is negotiable and adds to the flat rate price. They also have to provide the kit. Like was mentioned, when you build something for someone for cash, it's not as fun and your time usually doesn't count.

That's how I do it.

Chris

[cyberkid]

My gf once asked me if I had considered building models as a part-time job to make a little money, I answered:
The day that I build for money is the day that modeling stops becoming a hobby. I've build quite a few OOB's for friends and I didn't charge them a penny (except when I had to buy the kit for them). Why? Because I enjoy building. I get a bit of satisfaction after every brush stroke.

It all really depends what modeling does for you and what you get out of it. Is it the completed model sitting on the shelf? Not in my case, I have less then 10 on shelf and have made over 50 models over the years.
Or is it the pure satisfaction of success after you complete a part/ the kit? ← That's my case.

As for the fee, most of what I've seen are like near what 73superduty said. Roughly 100 us for a OOB.

My
Steve

[DSM-Mark]

What might be a fun way to approach it is to have him match what he puts into it for you. He buys a kit for himself, and buys a kit for you. If you need a can of paint for his, then he buys one for you too. If he wants a detail set added, then he buys another detail set for you.

I wouldn't treat it as a job, though, or look to make money off of it. At the end of the day, even $100 will barely cover your costs and it'll be the hardest $100 you ever worked for when you consider you'll have ~20 hours into it. It won't be fun anymore.

[Enzoenvy1]

Originally Posted by DSM-Mark

I wouldn't treat it as a job, though, or look to make money off of it. At the end of the day, even $100 will barely cover your costs and it'll be the hardest $100 you ever worked for when you consider you'll have ~20 hours into it. It won't be fun anymore.

Maybe that is what I was trying to say, lol.

[brady_381need72c10]

what id do is-
if the customer supplys the model and supplies -$10 charge(your time is money in the world of landscape designing!)
......supplies the model only- add cost of supplies
......doesnt supply anything but info- add cost of model on top of that
if its a good friend- give half off discount
if its a girlfriend- free (to keep her happy!)
if its your father(mine-68 gto) free