Okay my question is how does one go about and move into the next level of a hobby and make it a profession. I love to build models and would like to take my skills and use them professionally.
Does anyone have suggestions as to how one would start out.
Cheers
Thom
I read somewhere that a guy built models and sold them to his college. just a thought.
You could also ask Museums if theyare willing to payfor your work[:D] Just my thoughts
/john.
You walk in the door with your best scratch-built project and say: “Hi, I build models, you guys need any help?” Or at least that is how I did it. If you are confident you can scratch build anything and everything under the sun, read monsterous blue prints, like working under severe time and buget constraints, can work on models with other people without flipping-out and don’t mind if your hobby goes in the toilet (it will), then go for it. Hey, you are already in the right area, SoCal. Go build for the movies. If I lived there, that’s what I’d do. Good luck!
Depends on how you define professional.
Selling the occasional model to a friend or aquaintance would mean just letting people know what you do. Getting into building models full time, you’d better have a good photographer do a portfolio for you and research who buys these.
Couple things to consider. Collectors are paying about a $100-200 for a good quality replica from Franklin mint. You have to compete with that while paying for all your raw materials. I just sold the Clint Eastwood figure in the figures folder for $50 to a friend at work. That was 2/3 what I would have charged for the same figure to someone I didn’t know. At that rate, I made about $2 an hour, full cost would have been $4 an hour. On the other hand, at my work salary, I’d have had to charge somewhere near $250-300.
Second,. you’re building for someone else, not yourself. You are buidling to their specs and desires. That could be very difficult.
I was just at the home of the man who built the LAV-25 on the cover of FSM. He is the only full time pro modeller I know. He happened into the job through several years of successful modelling and was near a facility that needed the skills he has. He said he produces twelve models a year and the finished products he turns over to the facility are valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The above is soo true. If you enjoy modeling, keep it a hobby and sell a few to make space and buy new kits and supplies. If you want to earn a living at it, be resigned that it may become stessful to meet deadlines, cope with critisms, drawing up contracts, deal with not getting paid, doing all the other paperwork, beating the streets for a commission when the rent is due, building what not interests you, and all the other joys of doing something as a profession.
Sorry, but I forgot to mention you need to find a shop that builds models in the first place. Things like milling machines, laser cutters, industrial sized spray booths and a support staff are not things you are going to come up with on your own, unless you have very deep pockets and can afford these kinds of start-up costs. Besides, you can’t very well run around bidding on projects and build them at the same time.
Thanks everyone for the comments, gives one a lot of food for thought.
Cheers
Thom
[^] I thnk it’s just great that you have an interest in becoming a “professional;” but, as others have cautioned, you have to be prepared to relinquish–in the name of making a living-- many of the things you enjoyed about modeling as a hobby.[:(] Don’t attempt this in this condition:[X-)]
Oh, well…isn’t scale modeling the world’s “oldest profession”[?][:O]
Oh, wait…That’s wrong[
] There’s an older profession. It’s something that right now more women appear to do than men.[:I]
Why…
It …
Must …
Be…
[swg][8)][:D][(-D]
" TEACHING"![:-,]
“Should we prosper it shall be as is our custom…by Miracle!”[4:-)]
I´m planning on doing something similar.
I used to build a lot of plastic kits when I was a kid. I later began studying architecture and found that we built quite a few models. I enjoyed this aspect the most of my education, so when a teacher suggested I´ddo my thesis on the topic of architecturalmodels and later become “pro” it seemed like a natural transition.
I am about to present my thesis this Wednesday and I am building a model for a local architectural firm also. This summer, if I don´t find another job I´ll try to do a bit of free-lance model building for other architectural firms.
I have another project already in the works but nothing is set yet.
if you want to become an architectural model builder you should be prepared for the following:
If you are interested in this sort of thing and want to see some models you can just do a search on google for “architectural models”.
There was this all girl band called the Bangles. They’ve broken up, not because of inner turmoil, but because they realized that what they were doing was not fun anymore. Singing as a band had become a Job.
If you build for fun not profit, then keep your hobby just that. A lot of people in the world work not because they want to, but because they have to.
I’d say be prepared for the possibility that what you like to do becomes what you have to do.
Can there even be such a thing as a “professional” modeler? I mean, I think we are all professionals in the manner of how extreme we take our subjects.
I see a lot of models being built for profit that are REALLY poor quality and not even close to accurate. There is a difference between a professional modeler and one who builds for profit.
I have to laugh when I look at all the models for sale on e-Bay. The vast majority of them say: “Pro-built”, “Professionally made”, etc. Most are P.O.S.
Building models and selling them on e-Bay is not what professional modeling is about. Building architectural models, museum displays, interactive interpretive displays and prototyping, and doing this for your livelihood, this is what makes a professional modeler, not selling junk on e-Bay.
I just can’t help but wonder…“what is the exact definition of a Professional Modeler”?
I mean here in Manila, for Doctors, Teachers, Engineers, Lawyers, Drivers etc. to be considered “professional” in their respective fields, they have to pass certain examinations or qualifications test to get a license to practice their respective professions. Moreover, craftsmen or skilled workers (persons whose trades does not require a bachelor’s degree) are classified as basically “non-professionals” are not required to have licenses to practice.
Of course, others who do not pass these examinations and get their licenses can still practice their trades (to earn a living) but they would be categorized as “non-professionals” and in most cases are allowed to work as associates (except for doctors, I think.) So “non-professionals” can still do their trades for a living.
I am not saying that there should be a sort of an examination for modelers to tell whether they can be considered “professional” or not but I am just wondering if building models for money (or for a living) is the best description of a “professional modeler”.
I’m assuming that is the basis of Thom’s question, is making models for a living. If this isn’t a good definition of being a professional modeler, I’m not sure what would be. People might be great at building models, but until you can build anything from oil refineries to tunnel-boring machines and do it all from scratch, they are not really up to the mark.
Most professionals who build, at least the ones I know, have day jobs to pay the bills unless they are lucky enough to work for ILM or some other outfit that contracts them full time. They are professionals, but can’t make a full time living, so they pick up whatever commissions come along that interst them. I think this helps keep the enjoyment in it as well.
I would suggest starting by offering models as donations to museums etc. in return for tax receipts. This gives exposure, and an idea of what your work is worth since the models are valued for tax purposes by a third party. This also removes some of the deadline pressure (but not all).
This is how I intend to proceed once I hit early retirement …
Bruce
I am building models only as a hobby that’s why I am also wondering about the real description of a “professional modeler”. If building models for a living is a good description…then I guess that’s it.[;)]
I’m not sure if I qualify as being called a “professional modeller”, but have been a model maker for an aerospace firm for the last 20 years. I have built all types of wind tunnel models, as well as display, and flight test hardware for actual aircraft. I have made it my career because I love what I do. Working with all types of materials, from wood to composites, to metals, allows me to learn something new with every task that is handed me. It is the greatest feeling of satisfaction when a customer sends back photos of your work , such as a FLIR composite turret cover for the V-22, or IR suppressors for the MH-47 and OH-58 and write to your supervisor on the quality of workmanship and how pleased they are with the results. I take much pride in what I do, and feel very fortunate to have found a job that I love to go to everyday. And what could make this story even better? Having my favorite hobby when I come home and sharing the results with wonderful people like all of you!
Regards, Dan
I say if you are lucky enough to find something you are passionate about, and can make it into a living, you should go for it.
Why have a job you hate when you could have a job you love and take pride in?
I think that if you truly are passionate about something it will never really be work.