"I thought that I would let you paint them and put them together for me..."

[clovis]

A few months ago, I ran into a guy that I know, and we got to talking about models. I happened to bump into him again recently, and was a little taken aback by what he said:

"I was thinking about all of the cars that I would have liked to have owned in my life. I am thinking about buying the top 10 on my list, and letting you paint them and put them together for me. Now there was a 1963 Chevy that I always wanted in black, and a...."

His thought was that he would be doing me a giant favor by allowing me to paint and build all of those models, for free, as if I needed something else to build.

I just smiled and nodded the whole time, but I don't think that he has a clue to the time or expense that is spent on a model.

I sincerely doubt that any of this comes to fruition, and would be shocked if it even one kit was ever purchased. Those ten kits would gather plenty of dust, since I am averaging about 1 1/2 kits a year, LOL.

I was honored that he thinks my builds are great, my skills are not good enough to build like you guys do. And while my model supply stash is growing, it seems that I can't ever leave the LHS without dropping $20 on paint. I think he would be utterly shocked to know how much is spent on paint for a build.

Thoughts?

[Russell C]

In my day from what I remember, diecasts were few in number and not all that impressive, whereas nowadays a guy can go into a Walgreens and buy a pretty impressive 24th or so scale car that looks really quite nice overall for $20 bucks.............. and this sort of thing is what causes non-model car folks to dismiss the value of a quality built model. Might work (or might not) for you to hold up a dashboard out of one of your models and ask your pal how much time and paint it would take to replicate the appearance of a full size equivalent if he was to do it - and then walk him through the steps involved in such a process: the mere initial process of of cleaning the parting lines and other manufacturing flaws in the plastic piece (filling in shrink spots, etc); assembling the steering wheel or other separate parts; the consideration of substituting something like the old-style radio knobs (blobs of plastic, basically) with something more realistic such as flat head needle pins, or a polished aluminum rod end for the glove box door lock; then there's the paint, which is at least one or two shades of a particular flat color; and what to do with the gauges - pure black? or the raised lettering dusted with white and the needles painted orange? or drill 'em out and replace the gauge faces with killer decals having a clear plastic lens over 'em? Bare metal foil on the stainless steel / chrome trim bits? Photo etched air vent vanes? And the research to make sure the dash is correct for the year of the desired car?

Do the math on whatever the length of time for the effort here, quick & nice or museum-quality level, then place a wage level on it. If a person can bash out a nice dash in an hour and charges $15 per hour for that (low, perhaps, yes?), then how much is the same effort for all the other efforts on the rest of the model. For a museum-quality dash, now you're looking at a piece that costs, say $60 all by itself. Stay at that level and you have a complete show winner model potentially at a conservative replacement value of $1500. Fall in love with a tremendously unique highly detailed model that qualifies as a work of art, and you are looking at who knows how much. You better have a Jay Leno-sized budget.

Such is the disconnect the non-modelers have with our hobby.....

[pharoah]

If he's a good frind of yours,you could tell him that there is a lot of time (and expense) involved in building. Have him pick one that he really likes and offer to build it for a small fee.

I've built models for free for a couple of good friends and coworkers of mine. Just a few models-not 10. They liked my builds,and they liked building models,but didn't have the time or place to do it. I didn't mind doing it,and it really paid off later when another coworker gave me a huge box full of models and kits that her son didn't want any more. I took one of those kits and built it for her son. A Plum Crazy Cuda. He loved it.

[slusher]

When I started back building a few family members wanted a model or 2 I had built and wanted me to build cars for them. I just had to tell them with work and life I hardly got time for myself. I never could part with my builds. Now finally I am retired due to disability no one asks but I find it like work building models to give away unless its my sons I build for..

[blunc]

the only model I've built and given to a "friend" was used by that person as an entry at a World of Wheels model contest to get into the show for free, the build which was a Datsun pickup with a Trans-Am front end on it placed third in it's class.

the guy (for some reason) thought he should get to keep the 3rd place award.

Edited July 19, 2014 by blunc

[southpier]

he's probably just trying to show enthusiasm & interest in your hobby.

if he does give you the kits, start one. when he asks for a progress update, show him what got done and tell him the hours it took getting there. he'll soon tire and move on to other things, giving you a good stash of kits.

of course every time he sees you for the rest of your life he'll remind you of how generous he was, and you should be indebted to him for this generosity, so in effect you will be paying for the kits with pain & suffering!

but it doesn't sound like he's a friend, else he'd know how much time & effort (not work! - it's a hobby) goes into creative endeavors, or that you see him too often, so it might be worth the risk.

Edited July 19, 2014 by southpier

[dragcarz]

I agreed one time to build a model for a friend to give his father in law as a Christmas present, it was to replicate a car he once owned.he wanted it by Christmas, so now there's a deadline . He purchased the kit and paint that was supposed to be the correct color of the original car. The first paint job didn't turn out, no problem I tossed it into the purple pond, a day later the paint was gone but the body was melted. I went to the store purchased another kit just for the body, painted it with the same paint that was supposed to match and when my friend saw it he informed me it was the wrong color and it needed to be painted the correct color. At this point I'm wanting at least a photo of the car to go by, but it's supposed to be a surprise so no photo as it might give it away. I started doing research on original colors available on this car and the color wasn't even close. I purchased the correct color, tried sanding the body as I knew the purple stuff wouldn't work and repainted the body only to have the paint react badly with the previous paint. I returned to the store and purchased a third kit, painted the body and finally had success, only problem is now it's past Christmas. So go ahead and finish it we'll give it to him for another occasion. What color is the interior .....aaaa I don't know , I'll get back with you. Long story short 3 years, maybe 4 years have gone by still not finished, I purchased two kits and paint and reimbursement wasn't offered. I only build for me now!

[Dan Helferich]

I used to work at a Hobby Shop part time and had several people ask me if I wanted to build a model for them. Most thought buying the model and giving me $10 would be fair. I told them that one of my customers (Mike Kollver) built for other people and that he was a master builder. When they asked what he charged I said "$125 plus expenses." I never had anyone pass out but there was a lot of grumbling. This is the definition of clueless.

[Daddyfink]

I just politely tell them that I only build for myself and that I barely even do that!

[Harry P.]

It's completely understandable that someone not familiar with building models wouldn't realize the time and effort that goes into it. Just like any of us who are unfamiliar with what someone else does, either as a job or as a hobby. I'm sure most people would look at a piece of furniture that a woodworker designed and built in his shop and have no clue as to how much time, effort, skill, and money were invested in that piece of furniture. If they've never built a piece of furniture, how could they know?

All you have to do is tell your buddy that you're flattered, but you can't possibly take the time to build ten of them... let alone for free, given that it takes X amount of $$$ and X amount of hours of work per kit.

I'm sure that once you point out what it takes to build a model, both time and $$$ wise, he'd understand.

[DavidChampagne]

Take your friend shopping with you.

Let him pay for everthing.

If he does and is in no hurry, think I would do it, for a friend.

[Tom Geiger]

Yea, the public is absolutely clueless about our craft.

My wife's family has seen my models for 26 years, and sometimes compliment me on my work. One time my wife's brother was over for dinner and I took him up into the model room. He looked enthusiastic, but then asked, "Can we build one before dinner?" So I opened a box and showed him what was inside... his face fell. He thought all the parts were prefinished and all we'd have to do was snap a few pieces together.

Another time a guy we know asked about bringing his two young sons to NNL East. I hesitated because his sons were holy terrors who broke every toy you gave them within minutes. Then he gave is interpretation of what a model show was... he thought we put all the models on the floor and there were a bunch of kids who played with them. Uh, no!

[Ace-Garageguy]

I've encountered similar cluelessness in a variety of areas...people saying to me "since you're so good at (fill in the blank), you can do this for me...

Lucky me. Never a realization that maybe the reason I'm good at something is because I MADE THE EFFORT to GET GOOD AT IT.

[Tom Geiger]

It's completely understandable that someone not familiar with building models wouldn't realize the time and effort that goes into it. Just like any of us who are unfamiliar with what someone else does, either as a job or as a hobby. I'm sure most people would look at a piece of furniture that a woodworker designed and built in his shop and have no clue as to how much time, effort, skill, and money were invested in that piece of furniture. If they've never built a piece of furniture, how could they know?

I think you are right, but I think that someone who does a craft, whether it be wood work, painting, jewelry making or sculpture has a basic understanding of what we've accomplished in our builds. They can appreciate the artistic content, and the workmanship. I once had a friend who was a watercolor artist go absolutely nuts over one of my weathered trucks. He called it a 'multi-media sculpture' and loved the texture and paint work. It wasn't unlike water color.

On the other hand, we know a lot of couch surfers who have no idea of what it takes to do anything. I had a lazy relative look at my model room and works in progress on my bench and he was beside himself why anyone would do "WORK" in their off time. He saw my building as work, as if I had a part time job there.

Edited July 19, 2014 by Tom Geiger

[Ace-Garageguy]

. I'm sure most people would look at a piece of furniture that a woodworker designed and built in his shop and have no clue as to how much time, effort, skill, and money were invested in that piece of furniture. If they've never built a piece of furniture, how could they know?

Kinda like my girl who thought everything in the malls "was just there". How could she know??

[ERIK88]

A few months ago, I ran into a guy that I know, and we got to talking about models. I happened to bump into him again recently, and was a little taken aback by what he said:

"I was thinking about all of the cars that I would have liked to have owned in my life. I am thinking about buying the top 10 on my list, and letting you paint them and put them together for me. Now there was a 1963 Chevy that I always wanted in black, and a...."

His thought was that he would be doing me a giant favor by allowing me to paint and build all of those models, for free, as if I needed something else to build.

I just smiled and nodded the whole time, but I don't think that he has a clue to the time or expense that is spent on a model.

I sincerely doubt that any of this comes to fruition, and would be shocked if it even one kit was ever purchased. Those ten kits would gather plenty of dust, since I am averaging about 1 1/2 kits a year, LOL.

I was honored that he thinks my builds are great, my skills are not good enough to build like you guys do. And while my model supply stash is growing, it seems that I can't ever leave the LHS without dropping $20 on paint. I think he would be utterly shocked to know how much is spent on paint for a build.

Thoughts?

I think much of society has the wrong idea of what building models really involve lol. My dad actually requested me to build a truck for him, (AMT 1957 Cameo). He summoned me to build this car to test how far iv'e come skillwise. He has recently asked me how the truck is coming along, I am not even halfway complete !. It takes patience, time and $$ to build a decent model kit. Besides the initial model car purchase, i think I spend a total of an additional $20-30 for resources utilized to build a decent, not super detailed model kit. Sometimes there are setbacks that can make your current project seem like a chore, when this happens, its best to take a break and work on another model that is currently in a different stage. One model kit on average takes me 3 weeks. If I was asked to build several cars for a stranger or a distant friend,I would almost get insulted lol. I would feel insulted because of the time, patience, determination, resources, and hard work it takes to build a nice kit to just give it away! and not be able to look at your beauty in a display case as many times as you may want!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited July 19, 2014 by ERIK88

[ERIK88]

Building models for a friend especially 10 or more would feel like I am a machine, or production line worker lol jk. If I was building for a loved one or significant other, then I would definitely put all I have into it and make sure I make the best kit possible!!!!!!!!1

Edited July 19, 2014 by ERIK88

[Tom Geiger]

ah, another funny story. Many years ago I was at a flea market and saw the blue plastic of an AMT '53 Ford pickup kit on a table. It was the worst glue bomb, nothing painted, just blue plastic with glue prints, and a $25 price tag on it. So I told the vendor that it wasn't rare, that the kit was then currently available for $15. His reply, "This one is worth more since you don't have to build it." Um, no!

[ERIK88]

I agreed one time to build a model for a friend to give his father in law as a Christmas present, it was to replicate a car he once owned.he wanted it by Christmas, so now there's a deadline . He purchased the kit and paint that was supposed to be the correct color of the original car. The first paint job didn't turn out, no problem I tossed it into the purple pond, a day later the paint was gone but the body was melted. I went to the store purchased another kit just for the body, painted it with the same paint that was supposed to match and when my friend saw it he informed me it was the wrong color and it needed to be painted the correct color. At this point I'm wanting at least a photo of the car to go by, but it's supposed to be a surprise so no photo as it might give it away. I started doing research on original colors available on this car and the color wasn't even close. I purchased the correct color, tried sanding the body as I knew the purple stuff wouldn't work and repainted the body only to have the paint react badly with the previous paint. I returned to the store and purchased a third kit, painted the body and finally had success, only problem is now it's past Christmas. So go ahead and finish it we'll give it to him for another occasion. What color is the interior .....aaaa I don't know , I'll get back with you. Long story short 3 years, maybe 4 years have gone by still not finished, I purchased two kits and paint and reimbursement wasn't offered. I only build for me now!

What a nightmare!!!!!! This is what i would def be afraid of !

[ERIK88]

ah, another funny story. Many years ago I was at a flea market and saw the blue plastic of an AMT '53 Ford pickup kit on a table. It was the worst glue bomb, nothing painted, just blue plastic with glue prints, and a $25 price tag on it. So I told the vendor that it wasn't rare, that the kit was then currently available for $15. His reply, "This one is worth more since you don't have to build it." Um, no!

HAHA wow funny!

[ERIK88]

Lets see for me on average $25 per build on resources 10 kits= $250 lol now if he wants super detail, we are talking several hundreds $$

[Guest]

If he mentions it again, just say, "I get $10 per hour for building a model and I usually spend 30-40 hours on a build. More if there's detail involved. Just let me know when you want to do it." I doubt if he will want to "let" you build them for him then.

[Jantrix]

If he mentions it again, just say, "I get $10 per hour for building a model and I usually spend 30-40 hours on a build. More if there's detail involved. Just let me know when you want to do it." I doubt if he will want to "let" you build them for him then.

Yep, that's the best way to handle it. I've been asked several times and that has ended the conversation right there, each time.

I have done work for two customers before, and in both cases the model didn't last a month. They don't seem to place the same value on them as we would after they are done, even after they paid me. In both cases, I'd rather have the models back on my shelf than have their money.

[Lownslow]

I built a FC rx7 model for my brother for his Bday i went out of my way opened trunk, tons of ACCs, one off wheels. when he got the car my relatives saw it and thought if i could build them one for 20$, I started laughing and told them i had about 150$ into it, Their reply, im a rip off and they can get it at walmart for less.i have yet to see them present me a car thats better than my little brothers.

[Jordan 191]

Some hobbies like quilting and knitting seem to have a big component of giving the finished product to others. It doesn't surprise me, and I wouldn't be offended.