The High Cost of the Hobby

[Nitrobarry]

Is it just me or is the hobby getting totally out of hand cost wise? Now for starters, I live in Canada and our dollar is worth BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH, but it`s just as bad everywhere. I priced out a project using a resin body, a donor kit, aftermarket decals, and wheels/tires and the total amount with shipping was well over $ 120.00 CAD! Ok, it was my decision to take on the project and I`m am aware that cottage industries need to make some kind of profit for their work and I`m greatful to have these people out there, but I`m starting to eye my stash of kits and plan on finishing some and selling the rest. I`m really considering leaving the hobby entirely and adding to my die cast collection ( another subject for another day). Also, what about younger modelers, how are they supposed to afford all of this? Opinions?

[Mark]

The military and Gundam modelers usually spend more per project on average than the car guys.  Car guys tend to have larger collections but tend to want to spend less per project.

[SfanGoch]

Just now, Mark said:

Car guys tend to have larger collections but tend to want to spend less per project.

The technical term is cheap.

[Mark]

I can go with "cheap".  I've never heard a military modeler complain about having grabbed a can of household spray paint, using it on a project without first testing it, then having problems with it damaging whatever it is they were working on...

[Impalow]

I actually had this discussion with someone at a show over the weekend....  I tend to build one complex model a year, even at an 180.00 total investment... that is 15.00 a month... less than most spend on coffee, and other means of entertainment.  

Ill get what I need to make it as perfect as I can to my vision..  and worry about the price later... Regardless its a whole lot cheaper than 1:1 building.

Now if you are building multiple custom/aftermarket and resin builds a month.. yeah it would get quite pricey... but most of us are unable to pull that off, and those that are have been stock piling supplies for years.

As for the young guys..  bring them to a show with vendors... I rarely pay more than 20.00 for kits...  most 7.00-10.00-15.00

That all said... I do think 28-32.00 for a kit is quite steep...and rarely will stretch that far for one.... but I also tend to not use much of them.. ?

[89AKurt]

When I was a kid, Bandai 1/48 scale WW2 military kits were about $2-$3 at Kmart.  Inflation is a HUGE factor.  When car manufacturers started licensing fees so their vehicles could be produced, that was tacked on.  Look at how much mailing a kit is now! ?  Foreign kits get Customs tacked on.

Friends who started a model club, also started a business as a digital storefront, so they can now order kits at wholesale cost and pass onto our club members.  They complained about the cost that Squadron charges, is why they are doing this.

No wonder kids aren't into models nowadays.  But I think video games cost money too, no?

[Richard Bartrop]

Yes, I know some people think the measure of a "serious modeler" is how much money you burn through.  In fact, it starts looking a lot like what most people would call "more money than brains".

The hobby can be expensive, but how you approach it can make a big difference.  Instead of buying the aftermarket part, can you modify an existing part, or even make it from scratch?  Are there materials you can get from some place other than the hobby store, or that online supplier?  Keeping an eye out for sales is good, and if you insist on hunting eBay, see if you can find someone in your own country who is selling what you want. 

You can model on a budget,  it just means applying a little ingenuity.  In other words, using brains instead of money.

[Snake45]

28 minutes ago, Mark said:

I can go with "cheap".  I've never heard a military modeler complain about having grabbed a can of household spray paint, using it on a project without first testing it, then having problems with it damaging whatever it is they were working on...

HAHAHAHAHAHA! True Dat! 

[Mark]

Cheap compared to something like golf (guys seem to replace their clubs every couple of years, even if they are hacks!).  Greens fees, practice range costs (last time I hit a bucket of balls, it was $6), things like that.  Having season tickets for a pro sports team?  How about an evening at the casino (HINT: they don't build them places that big and fancy by losing money!).  

I'll stick with this, thank you!

[espo]

37 minutes ago, Nitrobarry said:

Is it just me or is the hobby getting totally out of hand cost wise? Now for starters, I live in Canada and our dollar is worth BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH, but it`s just as bad everywhere. I priced out a project using a resin body, a donor kit, aftermarket decals, and wheels/tires and the total amount with shipping was well over $ 120.00 CAD! Ok, it was my decision to take on the project and I`m am aware that cottage industries need to make some kind of profit for their work and I`m greatful to have these people out there, but I`m starting to eye my stash of kits and plan on finishing some and selling the rest. I`m really considering leaving the hobby entirely and adding to my die cast collection ( another subject for another day). Also, what about younger modelers, how are they supposed to afford all of this? Opinions?

I agree, this "Hobby" can get a little pricey. As others have pointed out it all depends on how far you want to go with after market goodies. Also pointed out that its much less than the 1:1 hobby and I can vouch for that comment.  I just try and build a model the best I can and cannibalize a few kits from my stash. 

[wrenchr]

1 minute ago, Mark said:

Cheap compared to something like golf (guys seem to replace their clubs every couple of years, even if they are hacks!).  Greens fees, practice range costs (last time I hit a bucket of balls, it was $6), things like that.  Having season tickets for a pro sports team?  How about an evening at the casino (HINT: they don't build them places that big and fancy by losing money!).  

I'll stick with this, thank you!

Or booze and drugs. Ditto this is my hobby that I enjoy.  

[Snake45]

36 minutes ago, Mark said:

The military and Gundam modelers usually spend more per project on average than the car guys. 

Also True Dat. 

On a somewhat related note, I love it when some longtime military aircraft modeler shows up, announces he's starting his first car project, and asking "what aftermarket is available" for it. My favorite case was the guy who wanted to know what aftermarket was available for the old MPC '69 Camaro. I told him "You're in luck, everything you need is available in one box at a very reasonable price. This box is marked 'Revell 1969 Camaro.' " 

[Jantrix]

6 minutes ago, Richard Bartrop said:

Yes, I know some people think the measure of a "serious modeler" is how much money you burn through.  In fact, it starts looking a lot like what most people would call "more money than brains".

The hobby can be expensive, but how you approach it can make a big difference.  Instead of buying the aftermarket part, can you modify an existing part, or even make it from scratch?  Are there materials you can get from some place other than the hobby store, or that online supplier?  Keeping an eye out for sales is good, and if you insist on hunting eBay, see if you can find someone in your own country who is selling what you want. 

You can model on a budget,  it just means applying a little ingenuity.  In other words, using brains instead of money.

My thoughts exactly. Not to mention, unless you are going to take up rock stacking, you'd be hard pressed to find an artistic medium that is inexpensive. If you build a model a month at $120 per, yeah that's gonna start adding up, but very few of us build that quickly so the entertainment over time cost is much lower.

[Jim N]

First and foremost, there is no such thing as a cheap hobby.

As far as the young people, they have no problems plunking down the money for a Gundum kit as others have written.  They also have no problems plunking down about $60 - $70 for a video game.  The money is there if they are interested in building models.

[Misha]

 I tend to agree with most of the comments about how our hobby, in comparison to other endeavours, remains within the grasp of most adults. The issue with younger modelers, apart from screentimes, is that the kits are expensive for them compared to what else is available for $20-40. Growing up in the late 50s and 60s, average price in Canada was 2.50 to 3.50, certainly affordable on a typical weekly allowance. This has become an adult hobby now.

Cheers Misha 

[Tom Geiger]

7 minutes ago, Jim N said:

As far as the young people, they have no problems plunking down the money for a Gundum kit as others have written.  They also have no problems plunking down about $60 - $70 for a video game.  The money is there if they are interested in building models.

There are LEGO sets up into the hundreds of dollars, so kids not building models is just a choice. 

Most of us could build from our stashes for years, only spending money on supplies like glue and paint.

In my own building I’ve noticed I am creating things lately from cheap parts kits, stuff in my junk box and broken old built ups.  Hardly costly!

[Mark]

I seem to enjoy the parts box and rebuilding projects more.  Tearing into an old kit in mint condition is nice too, but the cheap stuff is fun too.

[Plowboy]

10 minutes ago, Tom Geiger said:

There are LEGO sets up into the hundreds of dollars, so kids not building models is just a choice. 

 

Exactly! I bought one for my son that was over  $400 with taxes. Worth every penny! About the only sets under $100 are the small vehicles. Now there's a TV show called Lego Masters! It's unreal how Legos has exploded over the last few years! 

[CapSat 6]

Pretty much every hobby or leisure time activity is an expensive one these days.

I have 4 kids, try taking them to a movie! Between tickets, drinks & popcorn, that could be $120.   

Theme parks? WOW. Trampoline parks? about $25/ hour per kid. Arcades? Same. Sports? To go to games, you're better off going to minor league games, they're usually much more economical. Concerts? Forget it. For a major act, WAY too expensive these days.

The 1:1 car hobby: since when did old cars and parts become worth their weight in gold ? And if you want to get into major restoration and rebuilds, that's a TON of money into tools & supplies, not to mention a suitable workspace.

My one Daughter is an aspiring artist. Taking her to Michael's for art supplies is never cheap (worth it, though!). Another of my Daughters plays hockey. Hockey puts a HUGE hurting on my budget!

A modeler can spread the cost of supplies over several builds. We can elect to build box stock or go crazy and kit bash & throw a bunch of aftermarket parts at a build (at least we have a choice!). The cost of kits has really escalated lately, but deals on opened, started or builder kits can still be found at hobby shows, so that helps. Not every build needs a ton of aftermarket parts, but if a certain project calls for a lot of that, then I would recommend just not keeping track of the cost.  

The only things I would really recommend to a new builder are: 1) put your time into a subject you're passionate for; 2) start out simple & small, develop your skills, and get more ambitious with time, complexity and cost down the line; and 3) network- you can end up getting a lot of inexpensive advice, assistance, and the occasional great deal on raw material from friends in the hobby.  

[iamsuperdan]

Compared to my kids' hobbies, my plastic is cheap!

Having said that, I just can't bring myself to spend the money on a lot of aftermarket parts anymore. Resin parts, wiring, flocking, photoetch, etc. It all adds up. I still do it from time to time, depending on the kit, but I don't do it on everything anymore.

Also, I'm trying to work through my stash instead of buying more kits. Trying. This plan isn;t working as well as I'd like!

[kelson]

I'm in Canada as well and it is expensive for kits here,but compared to other hobbies it's not to bad,last year when i bought a new airbrush the customer in front of me bought a new controller for his R/C vehicle and it was $788.00 dollars!!, I just about fell over!!.With this hobby you can go as expensive as you want or cheap as you want.

[CapSat 6]

20 minutes ago, Mark said:

I seem to enjoy the parts box and rebuilding projects more.  Tearing into an old kit in mint condition is nice too, but the cheap stuff is fun too.

I'm kind of with you on that. I know that you and I have had a LONG run of collecting old model kits and parts (and I think you and I both derive a lot of enjoyment out of the "archaeology" part of the old model hobby), but if I had to start all over, I would probably ignore the older stuff and simply find a few newer/ more economical kits to work with.

 

[Snake45]

1 hour ago, Mark said:

The military and Gundam modelers usually spend more per project on average than the car guys.  Car guys tend to have larger collections but tend to want to spend less per project.

Very true. Most of the airplane modelers I know think nothing of dropping $50 or more on a kit, and that much or more again in aftermarket "details," decals, and so forth, to say nothing of their paints and references. 

This thread prompted me to take a look on what I'm spending on my hobby. 

I just finished my 14th model car project of the year (I got laid off first of February, so have had plenty of time to devote to the hobby, and, even better, the motivation to do so). Six of these were glue bomb/survivor rescues/restos of rare and desirable kits. Five of them, I have about $50 each in, give or take (starting with new kits would have run me over $100 each). The sixth I paid just $3 for (though it's not particularly rare or desirable). 

The other eight are diecasts. The most I paid for any of these was $20 and the least, $5. The rest were somewhere between $10 and $15. So I basically have about $100, more or less, in those. 

So for 14 new model cars on my shelf, I've spent something over $350 but well less than $400. (And at least three of the $50 rescues were bought last year, so I paid nothing for them recently.) 

It would take me some time to figure out how many hours I have in them, but whatever, I consider it all money and time well spent. Because, like the pretty lady on TV selling expensive hair products says, "I'm worth it!" 

[Richard Bartrop]

55 minutes ago, Jantrix said:

My thoughts exactly. Not to mention, unless you are going to take up rock stacking, you'd be hard pressed to find an artistic medium that is inexpensive. If you build a model a month at $120 per, yeah that's gonna start adding up, but very few of us build that quickly so the entertainment over time cost is much lower.

 

If you're really serious about the hobby, you'll invest in a set of quality stacking rocks.   Those imported rocks from Finland are pricey, but worth it.

I draw a lot for fun and profit.  and most of the time, a $5 mechanical pencil and a block of printer paper from Staples will do me just fine.  Once in a while, something is worth breaking out the fancy media, or scanning it into the computer.

How much time you spend on a model does make a difference.  I don't spend nearly that much on models, but I also build slow.  I'm looking long and hard at that 1886 Patent Motorwagen from ICM when it comes out, but that will probably take out my model budget for the year.

[NOBLNG]

I am on the “cheap” end of the spectrum. I find it hard to spend $45.00 on a new model, more for a Tamiya or...?  So I bought just about everything at Michaels with a coupon, and frequent the flea markets. I haven’t bought much aftermarket stuff yet either.  That said it is definitely one of the more affordable hobbies if you break it down to dollars per hour, especially if you scratch build parts.