The High Cost of the Hobby

[Rodent]

I remember when kit prices went up to $2.25 from $2.00. I had to raise my price-per-lawn to compensate.

[oldnslow]

The first I remember about kit prices , was the Revell Double "parts pack" kits , were $1.25 at the local hobby store in Augusta , Ga. I was 12 , I think they came out in '63 and was bummed because my allowance was only $1 . Model prices are just what they are and we have to decide if it's something we want to do as  a hobby . A decision we make every day about everything we purchase . Do I really want to spend this on that ? Looking at all the other venues for our money , it's not that bad , just do what you're comfortable with and enjoy .

[peteski]

14 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

There are at least 3 different facets to this hobby. Building is the one I enjoy the most. Collecting is one I don’t  indulge in. If I don’t intend to build it I don’t buy it.

But, but, but . . . I intend on building all the models I collected! Seriously.

[slusher]

11 minutes ago, peteski said:

But, but, but . . . I intend on building all the models I collected! Seriously.

If I am blessed to live long enough"..

[lordairgtar]

I don't think model stuff is all that expensive actually. I don't have a high paying job ($12.50 per hour) I do not however spend my nights in the bar except for that rare Karaoke night once every couple of months. I cut fast food and even when I buy a can of soda from the vending machine at work, I put an equal amount in a Pringles can. When that gets filled with change it's about $90 to $120. Wrap them in rolls, take to bank and then off to the hobby shop. Once had a club member who was complaining about this very thing, and noticing the smell of stale cigarettes on him I asked how much he spent on cigs every month. He told me and I said, there is your model funds. He looked at me like I killed his children. Priorities I guess.

Edited March 11, 2020 by lordairgtar

[89AKurt]

2 minutes ago, lordairgtar said:

[...] I do not however spend my nights in the bar except for that rare Karaoke night once every couple of months. [...]  Priorities I guess.

So I'm not the only one! ??  Just a few years ago, decided to stop playing pool tournaments, and torturing songs.  There was a spell that I was only being a barfly, no model building.  So now I can stay up until 2AM, and not feel like ? the next day.  Seem to have money to buy whatever models I want now, funny how that worked.  I've switched other priorities too, won't divulge in public, but this hobby makes me happy, think well being is super important.

[lordairgtar]

1 minute ago, 89AKurt said:

 I've switched other priorities too, won't divulge in public, but this hobby makes me happy, think well being is super important.

Hmmmm, Oh I could make some crude remark about what you switched, but I understand. I made some decisions a long time ago that really changed my financial wherewithal.

[89AKurt]

4 minutes ago, lordairgtar said:

Hmmmm, Oh I could make some crude remark about what you switched, but I understand. I made some decisions a long time ago that really changed my financial wherewithal.

Didn't come out right..... I was recovering from a divorce.  I had over 60 songs under my belt, Rush - Red Barchetta is a favorite.  Anyway, glad to be out of that lifestyle, for sure.

[Pete J.]

7 hours ago, OldTrucker said:

I remember having to mow three lawns to buy a kit and paint for it when I was a kid!

Even when I was first married it cost an hours pay for for a new kit.

Relatively speaking, my gardener charges me $180 a month for two people to come by and keep my yard spotless.  That is $135 for three lawnmowings!  About the same price for a kit. ?

[Dave Ambrose]

I've come to the conclusion that buying model kits and building them are two different hobbies. I'm much better at the former than the latter.

My other hobbies are astronomy and scuba diving. Diving, in particular, is pretty spendy, even after buying your gear. Relatively speaking, model cars are pretty reasonable, especially now that I have this stash of kits. Even if I were buying new kits, it would still be pretty cheap with one build costing less than a local boat dive. 

Don't even get me started with fly fishing. (my wife's hobby)

[Pete J.]

36 minutes ago, Dave Ambrose said:

I've come to the conclusion that buying model kits and building them are two different hobbies. I'm much better at the former than the latter.

My other hobbies are astronomy and scuba diving. Diving, in particular, is pretty spendy, even after buying your gear. Relatively speaking, model cars are pretty reasonable, especially now that I have this stash of kits. Even if I were buying new kits, it would still be pretty cheap with one build costing less than a local boat dive. 

Don't even get me started with fly fishing. (my wife's hobby)

I have an uncle in Montana that made a good living manufacturing and selling fly tying equipment.  He had a patent on a bobbin and hair stacker.  Yup, fly tiers are as crazy as model builders when it comes to tools!  Got to have one of everything! 

[cobraman]

Model building/buying is my cheap hobby.

[Mark]

Though some of us spend much more than others, over the years I have found that pretty much everyone I ever met or spoke to in this particular hobby tends to live within their means.  They all seem to have their priorities in order too; that is, they aren't spending money on this stuff that should go to the mortgage payment, or have huge credit card balances or other debt.  Maybe on average our vehicles aren't as new as others', or we don't go on vacations as often (and stay out of the casinos too).  Is it that the type of person we are in those respects, is the type who gravitates to hobbies?

[Roadrunner]

4 hours ago, Dave Ambrose said:

I've come to the conclusion that buying model kits and building them are two different hobbies. I'm much better at the former than the latter.

My other hobbies are astronomy and scuba diving. Diving, in particular, is pretty spendy, even after buying your gear. Relatively speaking, model cars are pretty reasonable, especially now that I have this stash of kits. Even if I were buying new kits, it would still be pretty cheap with one build costing less than a local boat dive. 

Don't even get me started with fly fishing. (my wife's hobby)

Astronomy? What sort of telescope do you have? I got a Meade 102mm two years ago and absolutely love it, though I'd eventually like to bump up to an 8" Refractor.

[Dave Ambrose]

33 minutes ago, Roadrunner said:

Astronomy? What sort of telescope do you have? I got a Meade 102mm two years ago and absolutely love it, though I'd eventually like to bump up to an 8" Refractor.

We've accumulated a few scopes over the years. Our main scope is an 8-inch, f/20 Cassegrain that my wife and I built a long time ago. We also have a 5 inch refractor that we can swap in place of the Cass. To top things off, there is a 4 inch refractor on an old Super-Polaris mount. That is a very nice scope we use for moon or planetary. 

[Roadrunner]

5 minutes ago, Dave Ambrose said:

We've accumulated a few scopes over the years. Our main scope is an 8-inch, f/20 Cassegrain that my wife and I built a long time ago. We also have a 5 inch refractor that we can swap in place of the Cass. To top things off, there is a 4 inch refractor on an old Super-Polaris mount. That is a very nice scope we use for moon or planetary. 

Excellent. Any photos of your scopes? I'm actually rather stunned at how clearly I can see the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. And for the moon, the 102m is just great, crystal clear and sharp as a razor.

[peteski]

6 minutes ago, Roadrunner said:

Excellent. Any photos of your scopes? I'm actually rather stunned at how clearly I can see the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. And for the moon, the 102m is just great, crystal clear and sharp as a razor.

Kind of makes you step back, and think about just how fuzzy those moons might have looked like viewed through Gallileo's original  telescope.

[Roadrunner]

22 minutes ago, peteski said:

Kind of makes you step back, and think about just how fuzzy those moons might have looked like viewed through Gallileo's original  telescope.

I'd imagine the optics of his day were a far cry from what we have available now, that's for sure. What I really wish, is that the light pollution here locally (probably Bortle 9, or worse), was as low as when Messier cataloged all of his stuff in Paris. Now that would be outstanding.

[Brudda]

On 3/9/2020 at 7:21 PM, peteski said:

I have chuckle at people who compare today's prices of the hobby to the "good old days" 40 or 50 years ago.  Sure when you compare the price of a model kit now, to the '60s prices (when a kit cost $2 or less, little bottle of Testors paint was 20 cents, and a spray can was probably around a dollar), then yes, the price is really high.  But back then you could also buy a new car for just few thousands of dollars, and average house cost probably around $20k.   Those days are long gone and never to return.

But if you compare the cost of this hobby to other contemporary hobbies, then it is not very high cost at all.

I agree

[Brudda]

On 3/9/2020 at 9:38 PM, slusher said:

Totally agree!!

Yes

[Dave Ambrose]

On 3/11/2020 at 1:27 PM, Roadrunner said:

Excellent. Any photos of your scopes? I'm actually rather stunned at how clearly I can see the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. And for the moon, the 102m is just great, crystal clear and sharp as a razor.

Not at the moment. I need to assemble the Cass as it was originally designed and take a few pictures. There's a lot to be said for a good refractor. 

[Pete J.]

I have to agree with Dave about the cost of other hobbies.  They can be way more costly.  I just upgraded my camera from one of the first digital nikons(at least 15 years old) to a one generation behind Sony.  It a a 7II body with an 80-120 lens and I got it "cheap"  through the exchange for just under a grand.  The current 7IIIs are selling in the $2,000 just for the body and another grand for a decent lens.   The Nikon was getting very long in the tooth and the new camera is like going from a 32 ford to an S class Mercedes.  The darned owners manual is over 300 pages.  This will undoubtedly be the last camera I will ever buy(well if you don't count cell phone cameras).  

  After this, a couple of hundred for a kit seems like a bargin!

Edited March 12, 2020 by Pete J.

[mikemodeler]

To sum up this post, I think it is safe to say that:

A. The Canadians pay more for this hobby than us Americans do.

B. You can spend as little or as much as your heart and wallet allow.

C. There are other hobbies that are more expensive.

D. It's not gonna get any cheaper.

[Roadrunner]

1 hour ago, Dave Ambrose said:

Not at the moment. I need to assemble the Cass as it was originally designed and take a few pictures. There's a lot to be said for a good refractor. 

I also belong to a great astronomy forum, and have seen many, many cool telescope designs there; everything from 60mm to 24".

[goldfinger]

You can model on a budget. I get coupons for 40,50, and even 60% off from Michaels and Hobby Lobby,. The other day i bought a revell Bronco for 11.00! Likewise, shopping on the internet will find you bargains. It can be expensive, but with a little effort and innovation it really doesnt have to be super expensive.