Whats the most you would spend on a model.?

[Drake69]

My cap for a single model is $100, never more than that.

But add-ons can cause that number to trickle up pretty quickly, like resin parts, aftermarket decals, special paints, MCG metal emblems, BMF, different wheels/tires, a dedicated spare parts kit (on rare occasion...), etc....

[Harry P.]

That may seem like a lot, but that was for a Pocher kit correct?

Yes.

[johnbuzzed]

I don't think I'd want to spend more than... $75.00 for a readily available, brand new kit, and it had better be some friggin' really special kit for me to spend that much (and I mean SPECIAL). I read the reviews in FSM for some armor or ship kits, or the new 1/350 scale (TOS) Enterprise and I laugh at the prices. But, if I ever find the JoHan '67 Fury, heck, I don't know- maybe $125.00...???

[clovis]

If you have young mouths to feed and the house if falling apart, well you probably would think $50 is way to much. Been there and done that too. I remember the days when winning a free kit at a contest raffle was a huge deal. The cost of kits is not really relevant when you have other priorities. This is a hobby. If you feel guilty about spending too much on a kit, don't! It isn't worth it. If you don't like prices, then look around. There are a lot of places to get good deals on kits. It just takes time and a little effort. Yard sales, flea markets, second hand stores, it doesn't matter and long as it gives you happiness and you feel good about spending the money. Get out from behind the computer and look around. Save some money, make new friends and feel good about the hobby all at the same time.

Very well said, sir.

[Ramfins59]

While I haven't spent more than $40 on a plastic kit, I have spent $125 on a resin kit, and $75 for a promo. The most I've ever spent at a show was $650 at the 2012 NNL East, but I got a huge bag full of stuff. I'm retired with no kids to support anymore and all the household bills are covered, so I'm free to spend whatever I want on my hobby. I still tend to try to be frugal most of the time.... no need to just piss the $$$ away.

[crazyjim]

I'm about to spend the most I've ever spent on a model - $40. I'm trying to order a '37 Chevy COE from Race Motor Replicas. I can't believe I'm willing to spend that much.

[Mike Kucaba]

I think the most expensive kit I have is $300.00 for a sealed Challenge cement mixer.(it's still sealed) I have also spent $300.00 for a Scale Dreams Indy Corvette built-up(only way they came). I have also dropped thousands at shows like Toledo. I'm considering some high end resin from MFH and such.

[Fabrux]

I don't think I'd want to spend more than... $75.00 for a readily available, brand new kit, and it had better be some friggin' really special kit for me to spend that much (and I mean SPECIAL). I read the reviews in FSM for some armor or ship kits, or the new 1/350 scale (TOS) Enterprise and I laugh at the prices. But, if I ever find the JoHan '67 Fury, heck, I don't know- maybe $125.00...???

One of my bucket list model items is to build the 1:350 scale Enterprise-A with all the detail goodies (shuttlebay, arboretum, lights, etc). I fully expect that build to cost upwards of $300 if not more.

[Agent G]

Since I mostly build 1/35 armor and 120mm figures, $50 is an average price per piece.

I have found many many good kits in the $25-$30 range which fit my automotive needs. I have spent upwards of $90 on a resin kit or two or three.......

G

[johnbuzzed]

One of my bucket list model items is to build the 1:350 scale Enterprise-A with all the detail goodies (shuttlebay, arboretum, lights, etc). I fully expect that build to cost upwards of $300 if not more.

That would be sweet; perhaps if I were a bit younger, and with some more bench area- or retired with a lotta time on my hands. There was a review of the kit and the lighting kit for it in a very recent issue of FSM.

[sjordan2]

Highest prices: $120 for 1/8 XK-E kits, and for 1/12 Ferrari 375 GTB kits. I snapped up the Ferraris before I knew what a piece of inaccurate junk they were -- don't ever buy one if you care about accuracy. But I have spent MUCH more for the reference materials behind these and other kits, aftermarket parts, plus hundreds of hours of online research, so the cost of the kits is a fraction of the overall investment.

[MikeyB08]

Never more than $20 for a kit. The only kit I have spent more than $20 on was for an Aoshima Nissan R35... Which was a regretted the buy for many reasons. The kit was curbside therefore lacking the motor. It did have working suspension but was useless. Not to mention, to my own fault, crazed the body really bad and ultimately chopped the entire build.

Do I see myself spending more at some point? -Of course. I enjoy the hobby and it's "My World".

[2000-cvpi]

The most I have ever spent on one single kit was 110.00 and I thought about it for a while before I bought it.

The most I spent at one time was 450.00 but it was for 11 unbuilt Johan kits.

[Tom Geiger]

If you have young mouths to feed and the house if falling apart, well you probably would think $50 is way to much. Been there and done that too. I remember the days when winning a free kit at a contest raffle was a huge deal. The cost of kits is not really relevant when you have other priorities. This is a hobby. If you feel guilty about spending too much on a kit, don't! It isn't worth it. If you don't like prices, then look around. There are a lot of places to get good deals on kits. It just takes time and a little effort. Yard sales, flea markets, second hand stores, it doesn't matter and long as it gives you happiness and you feel good about spending the money. Get out from behind the computer and look around. Save some money, make new friends and feel good about the hobby all at the same time.

Amen. Understand your priorities. I see too many guys spending their family income on models and hobbies that they cannot afford. I've watched guys at shows dragging around kids while buying models for themselves. I know of a guy who spent $1000 on models at a show the same weekend his wife's car was repossessed.

And there's no reason to spend more than you can afford on a model. I have eBay search agents set for kits I want to buy. I may low bid on ten of them before I finally get one at my price. It's a game for me.

And a story... there's a certain vendor who frequents east coast shows with a huge wall of great old annuals and other rare kits. The prices are HUGE but if you want it and are willing to pay, he has it. Back when he was attending NNL East, I'd have irate show goers complaining, telling me I had to 'make him' sell the kits at a 'reasonable' price. But at the end of every show there'd be guys holding those $200-300 kits. They broke down and bought the kits they wanted at prices that I'm sure some of them couldn't afford.

Edited August 15, 2013 by Tom Geiger

[george 53]

200.00 bucks. The most i EVER paid for a kit.Unbuilt 68 MPC Impala SS. Paid 160 for a 24th scale De Havalland Mosquito, the most I've ever paid for an aircraft kit.

[jaydar]

Well, there is the "most" before the big Enzo with all the aftermarket then there is the "most" before that kit and finally there is the "most" i tell my wife......

[niteowl7710]

Tamiya sold out the entire first run of the big scale Enzo, don't know how many kits were in that run, but people bought them despite the three-digit price tag.

[gtx6970]

On one single kit, I bought a sealed inside MPC 1968 Color Me Gone funny car, I paid $500, sold it a few years later for $500

I have a limelight 1970 Cuda promo I paid $600 for it. both were probably close to 10 years ago

I just bought a nice built Charlie Allen Dart AA/FC maybe 3 months back and I think it was about $150

As a general rule, if it's something I really want and I can afford it at the time,,,,,the sky is the limit.

But generally I keep it in the under $30 range for readily avail kits and/or builders/builtups. I usually look for older annuals than I so for more recent re-leases

Edited August 16, 2013 by gtx6970

[DSHWoodworks]

Since I am just getting back into it after 20+ years when I started looking at kits I had sticker shock, not to mention how hard it is to find kits stores in anymore. The most I have paid for a kit is around $26 and I think my limit would be $50 and that would have to be a very special kit. I did stop at hobbytown over the weekend and spent $50 on paint and some other supplies but to me those supplies will be used on a few models so that total 50 doesn't count toward the price of one build.

[1930fordpickup]

The old 33 Chevy Delivery for 45 bucks , 62 Ford truck 50 bucks . If the Chevy was complete if would have been out of my reach .

[Eshaver]

Although the question needs to be narrowed , well to me anyway.

Normally, I'm like a few that have already chimed in . I just won't buy an Out of production kit . Oh there have been a couple of exceptions . I bought a 61 Buick Special that had been partially assembled four years ago that was advertised at 50.00. I bargained the guy to 30.00. He was desperate and he needed gas money home . I do not under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES USE EVIL BAY OR KRAK LIST . The old kits I have bought are in person and at shows .

Now , depending upon the retail shelf price of a given kit , I try anymore to only buy at the shows and even then, only if a kit can be had at a truly better price . We lost our last "REAL " hobby store back last June . It's a free for all now . Thankfully, I'm pretty well stocked with enough Ever Green and Plastruct to do at least two more decent dioramas . After that , hummmmmmm, I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and order my Plastruct from whom ever will sell it to me .

[RancheroSteve]

Despite inflation and changing economic times, my arbitrary limit has been $100 for about 20 years now. I've come close, but I've never spent more than that. Now that I've come to the realization that I've got more models than I can build in this lifetime, it's hard to imagine breaking that barrier.

I can remember passing on a '68 Gurney Indy Eagle (that I really wanted) for $110, only to see it re-issued a couple of years later for $15.

[Ron Hamilton]

$160.00 for an unbuilt '66 Dodge Monaco on Ebay. Funny, I never built it, and sold it and broke even. I have a lot of models, but I am not going that high in price again.

[Jeremy Jon]

It really depends on the specific model and scale. I recently was willing to bid up to $100 on a 1/8 Jaguar kit, but the auction went up to $225

Generally speaking, I would say $100 tops, and that'd only be if it was an exceptional, PPE included, full detail kit, but then I am not a kit collector either

[slusher]

If you watch ebay close sooner or later you catch a break on the price on out of pruduction kits.Those 72 -80 4x4 Dodge trucks are getting hard to come by but l got one for 32 bucks last year