Impressive

[Xingu]

Saw this while browsing eBay. Here

[MrObsessive]

That's one of Paul Hettick's masterpieces and you can best believe the price may double before the auction's through! 

He routinely gets hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars for his builds, but he's been at it for quite a long time.

[landman]

Who pays that much for a model?

[MrObsessive]

Who pays that much for a model?

Those that can afford and appreciate high quality!

[426-Hemi]

Its a nice model, but I can't see $440 in it... 

[MrObsessive]

Well hang on to your hats! I've found one of his recent auctions here, and you'll be floored what someone paid for it. I'm not against what he makes on his builds. If someone is willing to spend that kind of coin for what are truly one of kind cars, more power to 'em!

I couldn't do what he does because it would suddenly become work and no longer a hobby. Not to mention when I spend that much time meticulously sweating the details, it would be mighty hard to part with it afterwards. 

[Richard Bartrop]

Its a nice model, but I can't see $440 in it... 

Figure out how long it would take to build a model to that level of finish, and multiply it by any kind of reasonable rate for labor of that quality.  I think you'll find it easily enough

[Xingu]

I would like to sit and watch someone who does this kind of work. I mean sit and watch from start to finish.

[martinfan5]

I would like to sit and watch someone who does this kind of work. I mean sit and watch from start to finish.

That would be worth $400

[Chuck Most]

I can almost smell the soft Corinthian leather...

[RichCostello]

I'd expect the engine to be wired for that kind of $$$.

[CometMan]

I couldn't do what he does because it would suddenly become work and no longer a hobby. Not to mention when I spend that much time meticulously sweating the details, it would be mighty hard to part with it afterwards. 

Well said, Bill. After watching some of your builds, you are definitely one of the ones here that could match Paul's work!

[ChrisBcritter]

It's not just what someone would pay for it, it's how many affluent folks are willing to fight over it to say "I have a Paul Hettick original". It's fun if you make a game out of it - There are about six bidders who go for the big money (I root for the underdog "r***u" - he's always in there plugging, and he's won a couple, but keeps getting outdistanced ).

At the very least, it shows what a well-mastered resin kit that is. I wonder if they'll do a '79 Chrysler 300 someday?

[slusher]

Almost every thing i have followed went over a thousand easy...

[peteski]

I don't know. Some people pay millions of dollars for Picasso's scribblings, why not pay a thousand for an extremely well-built model of a rare kit?

[426-Hemi]

Figure out how long it would take to build a model to that level of finish, and multiply it by any kind of reasonable rate for labor of that quality.  I think you'll find it easily enough

I'm sorry, 1. I would NEVER sell my models, and 2. I just can't justify that for someone elses work when I'd rather enjoy building it myself!

[peteski]

I'm sorry, 1. I would NEVER sell my models, and 2. I just can't justify that for someone elses work when I'd rather enjoy building it myself!

You think like a modeler!

Consider that there are plenty of collectors out there who don't have the skills, patience, or time to build beautiful models for a kit. Some of them buy diecast or resin models which are factory-assembled. But some of them can afford the pricier custom-handbuilt models.   I'm pretty sure they enjoy their models as much as you do.

Going back to my Picasso analogy, there are people that have no artistic abilities to paint paintings but they gladly pay for someone else's work.

[oldnslow]

All of the models I've seen him sell were box stock , paint detail only , or curbside.

[iamsuperdan]

 

I couldn't do what he does because it would suddenly become work and no longer a hobby. Not to mention when I spend that much time meticulously sweating the details, it would be mighty hard to part with it afterwards. 

I think it would be fantastic to have the skills to turn this hobby into my job! If it weren't for my pesky day job, I could finish way more kits in a year!

 

I like that he does this amazing work, but hasn't hyper detailed this kit. I love looking at those insanely detailed kits, but this one shows you can do awesome work without going nuts on the details. 

[Art Anderson]

Frankly, I don't understand why anyone should denigrate someone such as Paul Hettick for doing what he does, nor should anyone diss the person who wins his latest auction!    Sir Gerald Wingrove, over in the UK, during his yeas as a professional scratchbuilding modeler, reached the point where there were collectors more than willing to pay well over $10,000 for one of his incredible 1/15 scale models that were scratchbuilt down to the last detail.

If it's jealously, then go look at the lyrics of that late 60's song, Desiderata--"Do not compare yourself with others, as there will always be those greater or lesser than you....."  If it's a mater of your not wanting to sell off anything you build--well that's a right we all have--but why criticize someone else, because they do?  

What is the true $$ of anything we have ourselves (either bought or something we ourselves ave created)?   It's really quite simple actually:  It's what two willing individuals decide on as a fair price--not something for any of the rest of us think it should be.

When last I spoke with Paul Hettick--I think at NNL-West in either 1998 or 1999, he was at best semi-disabled, due IIRC, a work-related back injury that never could be fixed completely.  So, he gets busy, figures out how to turn his abilities as a model car builder into something that at least supplements whatever disability income he has, and some other modelers take issue with that?  I thought that in My Country, the USA in which I grew up, such initiative was to be honored, not shamed--or has something changed that I missed out on hearing about?

Art

[Ace-Garageguy]

I'm GLAD to see somebody getting paid decent money for what is absolutely first-class work.

If I live to be 120, I seriously doubt I'll ever be in this tier, but if I had the bucks, I'd happily buy at least one piece of his, just to have something that rates "best".

[FordRodnKustom]

Frankly, I don't understand why anyone should denigrate someone such as Paul Hettick for doing what he does, nor should anyone diss the person who wins his latest auction!    Sir Gerald Wingrove, over in the UK, during his yeas as a professional scratchbuilding modeler, reached the point where there were collectors more than willing to pay well over $10,000 for one of his incredible 1/15 scale models that were scratchbuilt down to the last detail.

If it's jealously, then go look at the lyrics of that late 60's song, Desiderata--"Do not compare yourself with others, as there will always be those greater or lesser than you....."  If it's a mater of your not wanting to sell off anything you build--well that's a right we all have--but why criticize someone else, because they do?  

What is the true $$ of anything we have ourselves (either bought or something we ourselves ave created)?   It's really quite simple actually:  It's what two willing individuals decide on as a fair price--not something for any of the rest of us think it should be.

When last I spoke with Paul Hettick--I think at NNL-West in either 1998 or 1999, he was at best semi-disabled, due IIRC, a work-related back injury that never could be fixed completely.  So, he gets busy, figures out how to turn his abilities as a model car builder into something that at least supplements whatever disability income he has, and some other modelers take issue with that?  I thought that in My Country, the USA in which I grew up, such initiative was to be honored, not shamed--or has something changed that I missed out on hearing about?

Art

Well said Sir. I agree. His models are exquisite and are usually subjects that were not kitted.Thanks for that perspective and yes, I think something has changed.......I missed it too.

[MrObsessive]

If it's jealously, then go look at the lyrics of that late 60's song, Desiderata--"Do not compare yourself with others, as there will always be those greater or lesser than you....."  If it's a mater of your not wanting to sell off anything you build--well that's a right we all have--but why criticize someone else, because they do?  

Jealousy I believe is the root of why folks (not necessarily those on this board) sniff at Paul's ability to make what he does on his models. What some folks don't understand is that Paul's been doing this a LONG TIME, and he didn't suddenly start making these "big bucks" when he began.

He had to EARN a reputation for building top notch stuff, and then earn a good reputation for shipping said models to whoever won safe and sound. I talked to Paul once years ago as I wanted some advice on packing something and he told me how he does it, and he's never received a complaint about a busted model. I see what I would call "copycats" on the 'Bay that try the same thing as Paul as I follow their auctions as well, and most of their items end up with no bids or for very little compared to what Paul gets.

In all fairness, once again these guys are relative newcomers, and they'll have to earn their stripes just like Paul did.

I applaud him for taking a hobby and making money at it! I personally couldn't do it because as I mentioned before, it would become a job and I already have that!

However, someday when I retire..................

[unclescott58]

The guy builds beautiful models. To rich for my blood. But, I have no problem with him selling them for what he gets. It's up to person who buys the model to determine what it's worth. And since his stuff sells, they must be worth the price. At least to someone.

 

[unclescott58]

It's not just what someone would pay for it, it's how many affluent folks are willing to fight over it to say "I have a Paul Hettick original". It's fun if you make a game out of it - There are about six bidders who go for the big money (I root for the underdog "r***u" - he's always in there plugging, and he's won a couple, but keeps getting outdistanced ).

At the very least, it shows what a well-mastered resin kit that is. I wonder if they'll do a '79 Chrysler 300 someday?

I too would like a '79 300 someday. It's the only version of the Córdoba that I ever really liked.