ship model for sale- not mine--just look at the quality!!!

Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:54 am • Post subject:

Jim,
I feel that the value is largely dicated by the buyer and what he sees. Earlier this year, I sold a model that I had completed many years ago in order to gain space. I had improved considerably since when I built it. When buyer collected it, he remarked on the low price. I said I had improved since then and showed him my latest that I wanted to sell for three times the price. He looked at it and said that they were all superb and he couldn't see any difference! Although it was undoubtedly meant as a compiment, I wondered if it was worth bothering trying to improve if general views couldn't tell the difference! Fortunately, I did get three times the price for the latest the following week, so I was restored to striving for better.
Bob

PS
Off to North West Model Shipwrights mow, see you later.

Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:29 am • Post subject:

When I was working as a professional model maker I was commisioned to make models of almost anything, for commercial organisations, film & TV companies AND private individuals.

I always quoted a price to the commercial entities based ONLY on the hours needed to complete the project.

When it came to building for private individuals or selling an existing model I could almost never charge a reasonable hourly rate - so the price was a compromise between how appreciative of the work and skill required the buyer was, how much I enjoyed making the model, and of course their budget.

Very often I obtained higher prices for a relatively 'simple' build of a popular subject rather than a model that took far longer to build and displayed more 'skill'.

I used to think that I should make it a condition of sale that the customer sat through ALL of the build so that they knew just what was involved!

Stuart

Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:35 pm • Post subject:

Rich. Managed to find the author of that quote. He was a fellow countryman of yours called Forest E. Witcraft, a Scholar, Teacher and Scout Leader, 1894-1967.
Aitch

Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:17 pm • Post subject:

Hey, how about that! Thanks, nice bit of research. I used the quote for years as a tag line on a web site I ran for a kids' charity. Nice to know the thoughtful person who wrote it.