Selling own build models and dioramas? Questions..

Socrates11

Socrates11

Well-Known Member
Hi I just wanted to know what your guys and girls think about this subject.
I'm not out for urning a lot of money but it would be nice to sometimes sell a few models to I can invest in other more expensive models or tools. Because this hobby hobby had cost my quite some investment.
I spend a lot of time in my models painting, lightning and building them in a diorama sense witch is also lighted.

I just want to know...
# how much could I ask for a model?
# how and where to sell it?
# your experiences?

The hundreds of hours I sometimes spend in a model and diorama will probebly never be enable to fully pay for it but it would be nice if I can make some money out of it to get my self done real resin models or like the perfect grade falcon from bandai.

I'm also thinking of maybe doing a commission build the way someone want it... But have no idea how to find someone who wants this being build for him or her.

Please helpt me out of this is something to give it a go or just leave the idea where it is now.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to read this thread at least :)



please don't take me serious I'm crazy :)
 
There is nothing more rewarding that created something with your hands and having someone prepared to pay you good money for it.

This is what I did.....

1. Find a place/market that are already selling/buying what you create. This proves there's already a market for it and people ready to buy. If you can't find a market with buyers and sellers, it could mean that your stuff is simply to specialised with a very limited audience and therefore small market. that can still work, but sales may to be low to warrant the additional work.

2. If you can find a market for what you create. Under NO circumstances get into a price war with the competition. Add value and ask more than the going rate and have that reflect in your quality service and price. I sell a well known movie replica, but recently every man and his dog bought a 3D printer and started making crud parts super cheap, at least 1/2 what I was charging....did I lower my prices????......No I simply built a more detailed sales page detailing the advantages of buying my replica props. I sell the most expensive version of this prop and sales have never dropped off. I add items like personalised ID plates and clear acrylic stands and always, always showcase your product with high end photos.

3. IMHO, commission work is poison. The expectation is too high and there is too much custom building component to warrant the additional time and effort, even if you can charge extra.

Summary:
- Find an existing marketplace.
- Charge more than the competition.
- Reflect that additional cost in quality, service and price. Add things the cheap sellers don't, like stands, personalised plates, fast guaranteed, insured tracking and shipping,
professional product photos.
- Be wary of accepting commission work.
- Never ever sell something you haven't created, even if you say that in your ad.....it always pays to have stock even if it's one.

It's very rewarding, it won't make you rich, but it's fun and there's nothing better than someone giving you sometimes a reasonably substantial price for something you created with your own two hands.

Good Luck

PS As for marketplaces, I've sold on esty and ebay, with similar success.
 
yaris said:
There is nothing more rewarding that created something with your hands and having someone prepared to pay you good money for it.

This is what I did.....

1. Find a place/market that are already selling/buying what you create. This proves there's already a market for it and people ready to buy. If you can't find a market with buyers and sellers, it could mean that your stuff is simply to specialised with a very limited audience and therefore small market. that can still work, but sales may to be low to warrant the additional work.

2. If you can find a market for what you create. Under NO circumstances get into a price war with the competition. Add value and ask more than the going rate and have that reflect in your quality service and price. I sell a well known movie replica, but recently every man and his dog bought a 3D printer and started making crud parts super cheap, at least 1/2 what I was charging....did I lower my prices????......No I simply built a more detailed sales page detailing the advantages of buying my replica props. I sell the most expensive version of this prop and sales have never dropped off. I add items like personalised ID plates and clear acrylic stands and always, always showcase your product with high end photos.

3. IMHO, commission work is poison. The expectation is too high and there is too much custom building component to warrant the additional time and effort, even if you can charge extra.

Summary:
- Find an existing marketplace.
- Charge more than the competition.
- Reflect that additional cost in quality, service and price. Add things the cheap sellers don't, like stands, personalised plates, fast guaranteed, insured tracking and shipping,
professional product photos.
- Be wary of accepting commission work.
- Never ever sell something you haven't created, even if you say that in your ad.....it always pays to have stock even if it's one.

It's very rewarding, it won't make you rich, but it's fun and there's nothing better than someone giving you sometimes a reasonably substantial price for something you created with your own two hands.

Good Luck

PS As for marketplaces, I've sold on esty and ebay, with similar success.
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot!!
That helps a lot we are both well in the Star wars sene ;) but I'm also really into building nature dioramas.

The pricing i still find hard because where is no real comparison with other people how I build thing up.
I put a lot of effort in de model but also in de base and or diorama and I'm totally into lighting it up.
Time that is in these models are a lot and they are always only one of a kind. I could remake it but it will always turn our different. I let my feelings guide me in this process.


please don't take me serious I'm crazy :)
 
there was a thread just recently where this question was asked and a fairly good guideline was given. i forgot where i saw it just in the last week. i'd search for it but i'm prepping to go out of town at the moment.
 
I had many requests to do models on Commission but I always declined, I think I could never give something up that I spend so much time, blood (oh yes, I cut myself many oh times using scalpels :p ) sweat and tears on. If I would sorta calculate what I think a model was worth after all the research, bondo, sanding , screaming, unclogging Airbushes and cursing...no one would pay me anyway :)

@Carnet...could not IGNORE your avatar.
I actually happened to watch "Twenty Years to Midnight" again like YESTERDAY!

Had to post that...ignore me :p
 
Last edited by a moderator:
CAPTAINCOX said:
I had many requests to do models on Commission but I always declined, I think I could never give something up that I spend so much time, blood (oh yes, I cut myself many oh times using scalpels [emoji14] ) sweat and tears on. If I would sorta calculate what I think a model was worth after all the research, bondo, sanding , screaming, unclogging Airbushes and cursing...no one would pay me anyway :)

@Carnet...could not IGNORE your avatar.
I actually happened to watch "Twenty Years to Midnight" again like YESTERDAY!
https://youtu.be/ds6-o4gomRc

Had to post that...ignore me :p
Click to expand...
I fully get that... Ooommgggg .. for done reason my thump is within a day just only cuts and blood sometime so bad it takes a week to heal and I can use it anymore.. lol
I also don't want to sell to sell... But I like to finance myself some bigger projects that are otherwise out of reach.



please don't take me serious I'm crazy :)
 
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