RodneyBad Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 Don't ask, Don't tell. That's my story and I'm stickin to it.. I don't want to know.Reason #1:It will probably depress me because I always wanted a 1:1 '32 Ford Roadster,and I know it would have been payed for by now.Reason #2:My wife takes anti-depressants as it is and I don't want her to double the doseage amount if she had any inkling to know how much I have invested.She's cool with the hobby,but she hasn't any idea how the collection looks nowadays.She pretty much stays away from the man cave. Ditto, almost. I want a 1:1 69 GTX She don't take anti-depressant, Yet.. If she starts getting the mail before I can get to it, She will.
XJ6 Posted October 7, 2011 Author Posted October 7, 2011 I know for a fact I'm not even close to the #1 spot. Over the years I've gotten to visit, or see pictures of the stashes and hobby rooms of other modelers both on and off these forums, and I'm not even close to their level. One guy I visited last winter if I had to hazzard a guess, just off the top of my head I would value his collection at 100K or more. There is one guy i saw on here or another forum that built a whole separate building in his back yard just for model building. There are a couple of local builders who have twice what I have easy, and probably paid a lot more for it too. If it hadn't been for being in the business and being able to get the stuff on the cheap, I would never have been able to amass what I have. Here is a pic and a link to pictures of my hobby room. http://public.fotki....new-hobby-room/ That looks more like my LHS that i visit 3-4 times a week. I truly admire you Hobby Room.
Dr. Cranky Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 Like all addictions, styrene is no different. I would hate to find out, but something tells me that Harry is right. I could easily be driving a Porsche or a BMW by now, 15 or so years later. Do I regret any of it? Not one bit. Besides the resident doctor at the Lab-RAT-ory informs me that it's a good alternative for my nerves!
Darin Bastedo Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 I have a buddy, who used to give me a hard time. He'd say, why do you spend all that money just for a model car. you can buy one already assembled for $20. But then I asked him... How much did that bass boat cost you? 45k? then the trailer, truck, bait, tackle sonar etc, he has at least 100K in his bass fishing. and fish costs how much at the grocery store? I am now forbidden to discuss his hobby with his wife...lol
Nova-ss Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 I don't know how much I have invested or how manys kits,plastic or resin...I have either.but I don't worry about it.I enjoy it and sweetie don't care either.sweetie says I how were you are and that is the best.I stopped counting 20 years ago.beside my doc told me its good cause I'm pretty wound try so its a stress reliever and proble why I'm still alive.my job is a sound engineer and I love it but I come home very stressed alot.so its good for me.Thanks,Chris
LAone Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 eeehhh, i would say about 2-3k could be more, but i dont keep count of it cause its bought with money i sell my car parts with. like many that are married, it keeps us sane, home and out of trouble. the wifes like that..lols
FASTBACK340 Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 Hmmm.... Let's see. I own 2 vintage Mopar's, have a room full of Basses & amplifiers, two complete roll-around tool chests, and a basement full of models. Any further admission to how much I spend can be detrimental to my living arrangements, such as being INDOORS for the winter...... and it get's pretty cold here in NY
my name is nobody Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 it get's pretty cold here in NY thats funny. I dont know how much money I have in this hobby. probably dont want to know, either. after more than four decades, I'll bet it's pretty substantial.
Dr. Cranky Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 I tend to agree with those who say they don't want to know. But you know I also worry about the one day when Doctor Cranky gets called up for active duty in the eternal service of rust (euphemism for dying!) and my family would not have a clue about what to do with all this valuable junk! It weighs on my mind every once in a while.
Tony T Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 I've been in the hobby since I was baout 5, so about 43 years...Whatever it is worth, it is cheaper than therapy! A lot more fun, too!
Aaronw Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 In a typical year I probably spend $1000-1500 so I would conservatively estimate the tools, paint, and stash at $10,000, but if some of the ebay prices can be believed it could be as high as $100,000 maybe more. Seriously is anyone paying $50 for the 1984 GMC 4x4 (ex Fall guy truck) or $120 for the AMT Ford Interceptor police car? With the latest chop shop selling methods (selling all the parts individually) I've been seeing lately I might be able to push the stash value high enough to buy myself a helicopter. Cranky, I've thought about putting little suggested price tags with pertinant info for selling just in case. I never get around to it though because I'd have to inventory everything and it would cut even further into my limited modelling time, plus it is kind of depressing. While I have spent considerably more on some kits, if she gets an average of $10 per kit that will still be a significant chunk of money to take care of bills until the life insurance kicks in.
The Creative Explorer Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 I don't think you can call it a investment, basically it is all money down the drain. With an investment, there should be a profit noticable. Sure, some kits make a few more bucks, but add it all up and it is one big loss.... But whocares? It is a hobby and they are ment to cost money, and like someone said before, divide it by the hours one spend on it and it ain't thát spendy.
Greg Myers Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 "basically it is all money down the drain" and the sad thing is, there ain't no plumber that can get it back.
2000-cvpi Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 I was afraid to think about how much I have spent on this hobby. But last night I could not sleep, so I went to my model room and ran through a quick estimate of just the basic kit costs, paint, supplies and model magazines. The low estimate is 5000.00 not counting die casts, shelving, or my work bench.
Terry Sumner Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 Shoot...have any of you guys ever looked at the photos of my car/motorcycle garage and the woodworking shop on the second floor? Ouch! I hate to think what I have tied up in the building and the tools in it!!!
sjordan2 Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 (edited) Thousands of dollars in kits and back-up versions, including supplies, books, videos, 1:1 memorabilia, and years of additional online research. Not to mention monthly mini-storage rental costs. And I'm just now getting around to building a kit. This is all due to the fact that my interest is in vintage cars that can't be found within 300 miles of my home and often exist only in Europe. Edited October 7, 2011 by sjordan2
Greg Myers Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 So we're all in the same boat.What happens when "the time" comes? I'm sure you've all thought about that.
sjordan2 Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 So we're all in the same boat.What happens when "the time" comes? I'm sure you've all thought about that. Learn eBay or train your children to use it. I haven't done either, and "the time" is not far off.
High octane Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 You're right DoubleD, it really doesn't matter how much money one has spent on their accumulation of plastic, die-cast, tools, paints, parts, phot-etch, etc. as long as YOU enjoy your stuff, that's all that counts!
Dragline Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 Now, if we were to talk Musical gear?? I'm sitting here typing this and I see 25,000 in gear... Of course I made a decent living playing music for 18 years and between that and the garage, I did well for many years. Bob
kitbash1 Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 Well, after sitting down and going though my inventory lists I came up with this. With all the Plastic kits & Resin kits, tools , airbrushes & compressor, i figure that I've got about $25 K tied up in my obsession. P.S. Don't tell the wife, or I'm dead.
Nick Winter Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 I've spent more than that on aftermarket goodies for just one model! I guess the amount of $$$ we spend on the hobby varies a lot! Harry, I Doubled that number by May of this year, and have spent probably $400 more since then, and the year isn't out, keep in mind too that the $414 was in one year, I've been doing this now for nearly 7 years. Nick
Harry P. Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 I don't think you can call it a investment, basically it is all money down the drain. With an investment, there should be a profit noticable. The "return on investment" is the enjoyment you get from the hobby! That's the payoff!
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