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Forum 18
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Topic starter
12/04/2020 8:55 am
Does anyone customize cars for compensation? I did a poll on FB. The poll revealed...
... some interesting results.
The question I posed in the poll is how much should a custom modifier charge per hour to customize a diecast model car?
According to the results of the poll, the average hourly fee that most feel should be charged is just under $23.00/hr.
I was curious if I were to build my Maynard Rupp Chevoom, which at 300 hours is the most time-intensive modification I've ever done, how much should I charge?
The modification required three models. Two '66 Chevelles and one '66 Biscayne. I don't remember how much I paid for all of them but I did a best guess estimate.
2 1966 Chevelles: $250
1 1966 Biscayne: $75
1 Blown Chrysler Hemi: $50
1 Set Cragar wheels: $45
1 Set Drag Slick tires: $25
Various metal tubes for chassis: $25
Various plastic for fabrication: $25
Paint: $100
Sub-Total: = $595.00
Labor: = $6,900.00
Total: = $7,495.00
I'm betting checks are being mailed to me as we speak! LOL! :))
photo no longer available
photo no longer available
12/04/2020 9:57 am
12/04/2020 11:04 am
I sent you a check Marlowe. Unfortunately I forgot to sign it ...lol
12/04/2020 11:38 am
You can only look at it as a labor of love...
I always plunk in minimum wage when I'm done with a project and realize I could never make a living doing that stuff.
12/04/2020 12:14 pm
The value is for you .... not me.
Topic starter
12/04/2020 12:39 pm
Not to worry. There are lots of forgery experts out there. I'll keep an eye out for it!
:))
Topic starter
12/04/2020 12:40 pm
Absolutely! Just make sure the gift is worth $7,500!
Topic starter
12/04/2020 12:41 pm
Yeah, I know, right? It's a financial challenge, for sure!
12/04/2020 2:12 pm
Ha-ha...lol
12/04/2020 8:23 pm
I've wondered what a few of my projects might fetch if offered for sale but I build for myself.
And I build "cheap," repurposing as much as possible while often utilizing "house-hold junk." Low overhead and minimal material costs are key. My labor is free and I'll limit (or try to) working hours to just a few each day...but I'm very efficient; I work fast.
12/04/2020 8:24 pm
Oh yeah... I WANT that Chevoom!
13/04/2020 1:12 am
Wink - Wink
13/04/2020 3:55 pm
Not much recently. I did do several FM 427 Cobra mods. I had a couple customers who liked the cars, and would order a model built in a particular configuration and color. Maybe a street version, a particular race version, different engine details and exhaust layouts. I did so many the costs were easy to estimate for each. If they agreed to the estimate we were off and running. I generally charged 500 to 850 depending on the time involved,plus the cost of the base model. I enjoyed doing them; not a big money maker but some. I still have orders for 3 more cars, but my daughter is working from home and has taken over my modeling table for her accounting work. There is a about a 3/4 complete British Green Cobra in the pile of stuff she moved.....I'm hopeful I can find all the parts and finish it!photo no longer available
13/04/2020 4:19 pm
Wow ! Is that in USD ?
14/04/2020 3:56 am
LOL, yes USD. Its a niche market I guess. I work on them when I feel like it, the buyers are patient and don't bug me. I've told them the cars would be just as nice and far less expensive if we did them in plastic from the classic Monogram 1/24 plastic kits. Nope, gotta be FM diecast. So be it!
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