Has anyone priced a "complete" kit build encluding aftermarket parts and paint and glue ?

[Greg Myers]

With all the buzz on PE parts jacking up the price of new kits I was wondering what it would cost to build a kit with ALL the bells and whistles?

[Nick Winter]

Well my personal Opinion/ Experience, you usually purchase your lets say glue for more than one build, Hell I've got all kinds of different glues all purchased at different times and used on multiple builds, other supplies could be considered under the same thinking, so just how would you break down the cost of those said supplies?

Nick

[cobraman]

I myself do not "normally" add much to a kit more than maybe a pre-wired distributer or a resin hood scoop. I have also purchased and used Slixx decals. Thats not including anything i may make myself out of sheet plastic or aluminum tubing or the like. I don't see buying a 20 to 24 dollar kit and adding parts to it that cost another 20 or more. Now remember that's just me. If others want to do that, thats fine and I will love looking at what they built it's just not for me.

[Harry P.]

Impossible to say.

What does "all" the bells and whistles include?

How much aftermarket stuff? PE? Resin? Both?

How much paint? What brand/type?

Aftermarket decals?

It varies greatly from model to model, no two would be alike. Also depends on the individual's building style. Out of the box? Curbside? Full-blown detail?

As you can see, there's no way possible to come up with an answer, because the answer is different for everyone.

[martinfan5]

One of the kits that I am going to build, Tamiya Mercedes SLR Mclaren, I am doing resin wheels, plus when I get the P/E set, so to total all that up, kit I paid a little over $50, P/E set is $20, Wheels $12

Doing that once and awhile for certain kits, yes, but not all the time

[Fat Brian]

It could be as little as $5 if you use paint and glue you already had on a box stock build to potentially a hundred or more for a fully decked out contest winner.

[SteveG]

My 57 Chevy 150 OSHP model probably cost me close to $200 to build around 10 years ago using the following;

AMT 57 Chevy kit (newer tool)

AAM 150 Body and conversion parts

Modelhaus Ft bumper and hubcaps

Scale Motorsports Interior decals

Chimneyville Police Decals

MCG 57 Chevy photo etch set.

Misc Detail Master lines and photo etch

Kit bashed wheels, Air cleaner and Johan Police car parts

Plus paints, primer and glue .....

Of course I could do it a lot cheaper now with the recent Revell kit !

I'd say my average build investment is about $100 with heavy detailing ....

-Steve

[crazyjim]

'57 looks wonderful and so SHINY :) .

I spent $32.00 yesterday on a jamb spray gun at Harbor Freight and $50.00 for urathane clear. Had to get what Fatkidd told me I needed. I spent another $30.00 today for ball valves and pipe to create a manifold for the gun and AB. Spread those costs over a few builds and it doesn't seem too bad.

[Haubenschild]

An Aoshima Countach and a can of Tamiya paint cost me 100.00$........

[High octane]

Building a model car kit can get pricey when you ad on the glue, paint, BMF, flocking, aftermarket parts, photo-etched parts, decals etc.. I myself haven't calculated the cost of a build as it is a hobby and supposed to be fun and I'm thankful that I don't have to watch every penny that I put into a kit.

[mikemodeler]

Much like building a 1:1 vehicle, a model builder may have some tools and parts already on hand versus having to start from scratch. They can also use swapped parts and kits to yield the items necessary to build the vehicle without investing a big pile of money.

I might add some aftermarket pieces- wheels, engine bits- or scratchbuild a few things from sheet or shape plastic but have yet to go hog wild on P/E or billet pieces. I tend to build for myself and not the contest table and that probably is why I don't spend the extra cash on a build.

[martinfan5]

Building a model car kit can get pricey when you ad on the glue, paint, BMF, flocking, aftermarket parts, photo-etched parts, decals etc.. I myself haven't calculated the cost of a build as it is a hobby and supposed to be fun and I'm thankful that I don't have to watch every penny that I put into a kit.

I agree, but at the same time, I look at the supplys as separate cost, I rarely buy extras for a kit, the only things I do is paint for the body. Paint, glue, BMF, flocking, etc,etc, can be used for multiply projects.

[1320wayne]

I would have to agree with Harry's response in that it would be hard to answer this question as there is no level of what would/could be put into a kit. Kits like what is described do exist in all genres of model building. They are called Multi-media kits and are usually a collaboration of different companies. I believe that Scale Motorsports did some with a quality Tamiya kit with added specialty decals, photo-etch and even some resin add-ons. I don't build this type of models so I can't recollect the exact price but I'm thinking somewhere over $100.

Hasegawa has done some aircraft kits that included added decals, photo-etch and resin/white metal parts that usually retailed for somewhere between $65 and $85.

It all depends on the starting point and how much is added, and then if there is even a mass market for such kits.

[martinfan5]

Much like building a 1:1 vehicle, a model builder may have some tools and parts already on hand versus having to start from scratch. They can also use swapped parts and kits to yield the items necessary to build the vehicle without investing a big pile of money.

I might add some aftermarket pieces- wheels, engine bits- or scratchbuild a few things from sheet or shape plastic but have yet to go hog wild on P/E or billet pieces. I tend to build for myself and not the contest table and that probably is why I don't spend the extra cash on a build.

Same here, I am not going to dump what could be two,three times or more in after market parts on a kit thats not going to shows, I dont build for shows, so to me , that is a hudge waste of money, money that can get me at-least two more kits. Not being cheap, its just not a needed expense to complete a build.

[martinfan5]

I would have to agree with Harry's response in that it would be hard to answer this question as there is no level of what would/could be put into a kit. Kits like what is described do exist in all genres of model building. They are called Multi-media kits and are usually a collaboration of different companies. I believe that Scale Motorsports did some with a quality Tamiya kit with added specialty decals, photo-etch and even some resin add-ons. I don't build this type of models so I can't recollect the exact price but I'm thinking somewhere over $100.

Hasegawa has done some aircraft kits that included added decals, photo-etch and resin/white metal parts that usually retailed for somewhere between $65 and $85.

It all depends on the starting point and how much is added, and then if there is even a mass market for such kits.

I have notice with the cars kits from the Japanese company's, sometimes they include P/E sets, and the price difference between the kits w/o and with the P/E set is around $10 , sometimes a little higher, but not to much more. But the P/E sets are usually the basic sets to begin with.

[Chuck Most]

The only time I started tallying up costs was when I got into a pretty aftermarket-intensive '51 Buick project. Resin body from one maker, resin engine from another, and some side trim and other pieces from as many more manufacturers. And all of that on top of the base AMT '51 Chevy kit I started out with. So far it has about a hundred bucks in it, and it's only about 25% complete. That's kind of what's stopping me- thinking about how much I have 'invested' in it. If I end up not being happy with it, I'll basically have a big, expensive resin paperweight.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is... DON'T EVER think about how much money you have sunk into a project if it's just something you're building for your own personal enjoyment.

[martinfan5]

So I guess what I'm trying to say is... DON'T EVER think about how much money you have sunk into a project if it's just something you're building for your own personal enjoyment.

And throwing $100 worth of aftermarket parts at a kit is not going to guarantee a trophy either

Chuck , that was not aimed at you , or anyone

Edited June 5, 2012 by martinfan5

[MachinistMark]

Including.

[wisdonm]

I did once for this build.

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=39079&st=0

I was asked why more people didn't build model cars?The three most frequent answers are 1) it takes too much time, 2) they're too hard, and 3) they cost too much.

Let's take a look at my Working Lights Supporter's Project build. I know everone's situation is different. This is just an example of what I did.

Excuse #1. It takes too much time. I was on the road from Nov. 14 thru Jan. 12, so I didn't have much time to complete a build. In fact, I only had 19 days. It took 14 days from start to finish. I've heard of decent builds taking even much less time. Nobody says that you have to build the most complicated kit you can find. I knew my time restraint and used a kit I knew I could finish in the remaining time available.

Excuse #2. They're too hard. Once again, nobody says that you have to build the most complicated kit you can find. Either build something just slightly out of your comfort zone, or build within that zone and add a few extra details. I had no Idea how to work with LED lights. But I did some research, read what others were posting, and then did a little experimentation. That is how you learn and improve your skills.

Excuse #3. They cost too much. Here again, a kit's cost can be quite low if you are flexible. If you are going to modify it, rummage sale and partially started kits can be quite inexpensive. I am always looking for cheap kits. If I find something under $5, I will usually buy it, wether I think I will build it or not. You can always donate it to someone who will.

This is a list of what I used and what it cost to build my Mach 5.

Like most of us, I do have some things on hand already and won't be counted in the cost. These things I already had were, a partial can of grey primer, silver paint, flat black paint, semi-flat black paint, 4 stick pins, two-part Bondo spot putty, #400 sand paper to sand the Bondo and prep the body for primer, two emery boards - one to scrub in the tires and one to reshape parts of the body, a piece of aluminum tube, some wrapping wire (model sized spark plug wire), super glue (50 cents a tube at WallyWorld), some self sticking medical tape, and various tools.

The things purchased specifically for this build were:

Jada Mach 5 kit. On sale for $4.98.

Testors one coat lacquer in Lime Ice spray paint. Bought at Hobby Lobby with 40% discount coupon for $3.00.

Ocean Cruise acrylic paint was bought at WallyWorld for 97 cents.

Five 3-packs of LED x-mas replacement bulbs were bought at Menards for $1.19 each, for a total of $5.95.

One 9 volt battery at the dollar store for $1.

For a grand total of $15.90. About the price of seeing a movie.

In other words, a project doesn't have to take a lot of time, be overly difficult, or very expensive. Just thought I'd share these numbers with you, in case anyone was interested.

[Lunajammer]

The topic heading doesn't seem like that impossible of a question. I've done it a few times years ago, I just can't remember what it came to. It can't be to the penny, but you can estimate a percentage of the consumables you use and their costs and add it to the project specific receipts. Accuracy could be within a buck or so.

I do seem to recall the hours spent was more disheartening than the money.

[Greg Myers]

Thank you Mark, including including including including including including including including including including

[Chuck Most]

And throwing $100 worth of aftermarket parts at a kit is not going to guarantee a trophy either

Chuck , that was not aimed at you , or anyone

I don't even care about that- I refuse to enter any of my models in competitions, no matter how many times I'm pressured. The finished model is the only trophy I need. A big, gaudy, gold plated ashtray with my name engraved on the base isn't really much incentive for entering a contest, if you ask me.

[wcbrown]

i remember keeping a "loose" tally of EVERYTHING in this build at the time, i came up with about $250.00!!!

[Qwit Pushin]

I refuse to commit to print what I spend on one finished model, as doing so might get back to my wife, who while supportive of my hobby, might not be so supportive if she saw an actual dollar figure associated with it. By the way, Bill, I saw the write-up on your '37 in that 'other' mag awhile back and can say that it was worth every penny of that $250!!

[Hippie]

A guy on another form talked of this when he spent thosands on one build and he made a good point. figure out how much you spend to model per hour. Buying one revell kit, and probaly spending another few bucks on paint makes most finnished kits around 30-40 bucks. You probaly take 2 or 3 weeks to build. If you work like a hour or two a day. Ends up costing a buck or two a hour. even more if you do tamiya kits witch cost more and normaly go together faster it cost even more per hour. So even if you spend 200 bucks or more you normal spend much more time working on it so per hour it gets cheaper.For me i spend around .25 cents per hour. Besides this is still way cheaper then alot of other hobbies.