How Many Here Profit From Your Model Car Hobby?

[Johnny K]

As with most things, I'm sure there are two camps here.

Many builders undoubtedly engage in the hobby for the sheer pleasure, joy, and sense of accomplishment it affords, willingly paying for kits, paints, equipment, and accessories with little regard for making money from it.

On the other hand, there must be as many, or more, to whom a bit of return on investment would make the hobby just a bit more enjoyable - not to mention help pay for some of those kits and supplies.

So, I'm wondering - how do others here feel about this, and how do you both enjoy the hobby and profit (or not) from it?

As for myself, I like the profit route. When I decided I wanted to build a model pickup a little over two and a half years ago, I was surprised at how prices had risen since I built as a kid. I remember getting my occasional dollar bill in the late 50's, early 60's and running out to the local 7-11-type store. I'd pick up a 98 cent kit and pay my remaining 2 cents in tax.

Reasonably, I decided to look for deals on eBay. Found a few, and inside a month had a collection of 25 kits, both current and vintage. I quickly realized (with the ever-so-loving and gentle persuasions of my wife), that I might be getting a bit carried away, so decided to resell some after I chose the ones I wanted.

To make what could become a long story shorter, I sold a few, but bought more. I soon realized I much more enjoyed buying and selling them than I did constantly building them. It was a year before I started reaching my break-even point. This weekend, I'll break the $3000 profit mark in addition to all the kits and parts I have being paid for - basically free. Not much, I know, for a year and a half, but it's not something I consider a business or career (retired) and I don't do it to make a living. It's just my way of enjoying the hobby.

[modelmike]

You have become a middel man.... you enjoy money more than the hobby... careful not to sell your soul to the wrong collector....

[Mike Kucaba]

Any time you can make a profit from your hobby is a plus in my book. I don't know where it became "a sin" to have a profit from something you enjoy.

[Austin T]

I buy at cheaply at flea markets then use it for trading material,selling,or keeping.I like flipping things to make some spare change to buy more models.

[Dan Helferich]

I'm with Mike and Austin. I love toy shows. If I think I'm getting a good deal on something I sure don't care if the other guy is making a profit.

[timc]

My boss asked me thursday night ,how much would I charge him to build a replica of his 66 Mustang?He want's to set it on a turntable on the air cleaner during car shows. My reply was, If you pay for the kit and the body color spray paint..nothing.And that price included engine wiring and detailing and all the other little goodies.If he can cover the kit and the main color paint I already have the rest of the paints and detailing supplies.So why charge him for something that I already got and enjoy doing? Just my 2 cents.bigtim

[Jeff Johnston]

I've built a few kits for pay. People who have reached out to me. I've built WAY more for people for free...models of friends cars etc. I eventually sell a lot of my build ups on ebay to make room for more. I use the money for more model stuff. I don't think that's profiting but I have gotten some ridiculously high prices for a few kits I wondered if they'd even sell...

[Chillyb1]

When I started building as an adult about six or eight years ago, I got into the hobby much as I did when I built as a kid. Soon, however, built models started accumulating despite giving some away as gifts. I decided to try to sell them through eBay just to get them out of the house; I had realized that I didn't want a collection and that I enjoyed the building more than the having. Over the last several years I've managed to sell everything I've listed, built a return-customer base and a good reputation, and seen my selling prices rise. I'm not making a living at it, but this does allow me to cover the cost of kits and supplies in a kind of perpetual-motion machine where I bring in bit of money selling built models and then spend on stuff I want or need.

I've said this here before: I'm not sentimental about my built models.

[Mike Kucaba]

My boss asked me thursday night ,how much would I charge him to build a replica of his 66 Mustang?He want's to set it on a turntable on the air cleaner during car shows. My reply was, If you pay for the kit and the body color spray paint..nothing.And that price included engine wiring and detailing and all the other little goodies.If he can cover the kit and the main color paint I already have the rest of the paints and detailing supplies.So why charge him for something that I already got and enjoy doing? Just my 2 cents.bigtim

Big of you Tim. He is your boss

[Rob McKee]

For me it is a hobby only. Building models to sell would never pay for the time and effort I would have to put into them. I have been asked to build kits for others and I do so if the provide the kit and paint. I enjoy building for others as much as I do for myself. I have a large collection of kits with mulitples of some. I still have no intention on selling them. I buy the kits to build and enjoy the hobby to much to introduce the frustration of trying to run a small business. If I did it would be no longer a fun hobby for me.

[disabled modeler]

I build to have something to do and because I enjoy it...that is all I need.

[Mark]

There's nothing wrong with making a few bucks once in a while to help offset the cost of a hobby. Half of the guys who set up at the toy shows or model contests are doing just that. Selling a few items and coming out a few dollars ahead on them pays for the table at the show, which helps the club putting on the show. Having a bigger/more crowded vendor area brings more people through the door looking for deals, which helps the club even more. In the most extreme situations, you can luck into a collection or a bunch of items at a (non-model) show, sell some of the pile for what you paid for everything, and get the stuff you keep essentially for free. When eBay was really roaring at full steam, I could manage to do that two or three times a year. When I buy something at a show, I might bargain with the seller, but what he or she paid for the item doesn't enter into the conversation. If they come out ahead, and I get something I want, that's a win-win situation for both of us.

Some guys can do builds for money, I can't. I've done a couple of them, and don't see myself doing it again. I've done okay at contests (in the distant past), but that's only because I spent a lot more time on something than the average guy. I can do decent work, but I can't do good work fast. If I charged by the job, I'd be working for pennies per hour...if I charged by the hour, nobody in their right mind would pay that much for the work!

[southpier]

.....I'll break the $3000 profit mark...

do you factor your time in the "profit" catagory?

there are probably many people who think differently, especially those who have been provided with kits they were not otherwise able to obtain, but it would make me feel like a panderer.

Edited September 1, 2012 by southpier

[Fat Brian]

I've tried building for people and I don't enjoy it. For some reason when I have a project I should be working on it becomes the absolute last thing I want to spend time on. And then there is the dealing with people part, God I hate people.

[Johnny K]

do you factor your time in the "profit" catagory?

there are probably many people who think differently, especially those who have been provided with kits they were not otherwise able to obtain, but it would make me feel like a panderer.

No, I don't factor time in, neither gas nor printing costs, or several other things. I figure that's a part of the 'Hobby' aspect, but you're right in that I used the word 'profit' quite loosely, certainly in less than its strictest sense. Perhaps you did the same with 'panderer?'

[Johnny K]

. . . And then there is the dealing with people part . . .

Tell me about it! One of the primary reasons I got out of my former 'hobby' - building and repairing computers.

[Johnny K]

. . . Your hobby is profiteering off the sales of model kits you're buying & re-selling at a higher price. That, in my book, make's your "hobby" a business . . .

You have become a middel man.... you enjoy money more than the hobby... careful not to sell your soul to the wrong collector....

I take it the both of you reside in the 'no' camp. I knew that there would be two definite sides here, with perhaps the more outspoken feelings being against. If I am, indeed, 'profiteering,' then I'm quite obviously not very good at it.

I appreciate your strong feelings on the subject. Thank you.

[Sixx]

I've sold TONS of models on eBay, not saying I've made a huge profit but I've paid some bills...put gas in my 1:1 cars. On my

" about me " page( eBay ) I show a very FEW builds that I have sold, granted, they are not all full builds...several are slot-car bodies. I build for myself mostly, I did have some regular customers that would buy from me all the time.

[CorvairJim]

I built a '77 Firebird Esprit out of a Monogram '78 Trans Am t the request of an on-line friend as a surprise gift for her father who owned the 1:1 car when he and her mother were first married. I offered to do it at cost, but she was so pleased with the result when she got the model in the mail that she paid me $50 over the agreed-upon price. Still, I got the most satisfaction out of 1) building as exact a replica of the car that I could from just a single, slight;y grainy photo and 2) seeing the look on the man's face in the photos she posted of him opening his gift.

[gtx6970]

Having flipped / resold dozens of kits over the years considering how many kits I have and/or sold at a loss . I have serious doubts I'm in the black.

If I seel a kit , as long as I'm happy withmy sale price, I could care less what the new owner does or doesn't do with it. If he thinks they can re-sell it at a profit , all the power to them.

If I'm buying and I'm happy with my purchase price, I could care less what the seller made on it.

[The Modeling Hermit]

Back in the 80s, I discovered how valuable some of my models had become, and I started selling them. Soon, every model I saw had dollar signs attached to it. My hobby became a business, and soon the fun of it left. I was lucky, finances caused me to have to sell nearly all of my collection, and when I was finally able to get things back together again, I'd discovered the hobby as a hobby again. Today I might occasionally sell a model, but I don't do it for a business. I do some projects for others, but they're done with no money attached. Be careful. There are many that can have enjoyment from both the business and the hobby, but it's way too easy for the business to take over the hobby.

[Darin Bastedo]

I wouldn't say that my hobby But the hobby has. I never really turned a profit even on models I built and sold, or any I built on commission. But I used to buy and sell models at swap meets, and still do sometimes to thin out the stash. But back in the day I made quite a bit of money doing that, and I doubt over the years I've spent as much on the hobby as I made. So I guess you could say I've profited. But the two were always separate. My buying and selling was a business, and building was my hobby. the business paid for my hobby.

[cruz]

I personally don't build to sell but once my models have gone through the show circuit and I have shown them to enough people, then I would sell them. I am very happy with the profit I make.....

[Johnny K]

Thanks for all the responses - both positive and negative. Looks like it's running a little better than 2 to 1 in favor of being able to profit from the hobby with another half part o.k. either way. Really should have done this as a poll.

Be careful. There are many that can have enjoyment from both the business and the hobby, but it's way too easy for the business to take over the hobby.

Some excellent points have been made, especially Douglas' (also mentioned by a couple others, but I think this said it best).

Any time you can make a profit from your hobby is a plus in my book. I don't know where it became "a sin" to have a profit from something you enjoy.

Pretty much the bottom line, Mike.

Great story, Jim. Thanks.

[cobraman]

I have sold some built models on ebay and have sold several painted up bodies only for use as a slot car as well. I have been asked by some people to do models for them but I don't do that. The reason I don't is because I build to please me and build they way I like. When you build for someone else you have to try and build to please them. No thanks, not for me.