I was thinking about, how imo, getting a model kit and supplies if none are already on the bench, is the best value for money spent on a material item for a hobby. I spent $12 on a 1/72 zero by academy and already have the paints and glue etc to start and finish it. If you divide money spent on a kit and supplies etc by the time it takes to make, I can’t think of a better way to get a joy out of a hobby. It costs more to see a movie w popcorn etc lol.
Around here, it costs more than that to see the movie without the popcorn, even with a senior citizen discount.
Jim [cptn]
P.S. We sneak in our own snacks and drinks. That’s one good thing about wintertime and wearing heavy coats. [;)]
I agree,even if you spend $100 for an armor kit,or $200 for a ship kit,when you consider all the hours of entertainment provided and the finished product for display,yes it is a good value for the dollars,especially when you stack it up against some other pricier hobbies.
Agreed. Dollar spent to time enjoyed far out weighs many of the other forms of entertainment. I live in Orlando, I could spend several hundred dollars in one day at a theme park and get only a few hours out of it. The same money spent on this hobby would entertain me for a few years.
Not to mention how much I learn as I build. Facts, history and details about each subject I am building, learning new modelling skills, it is more then just the build.
not to mention the free information , learning , and friendship you get off of forum’s like this one .
steve5
It’s one reason I like to build ships. Hundreds of hours.
Plus who can forget rigging of ships and bi planes 
Hey Fox ;
Amen to that -T.B.
Me, too. I often have to swallow when I am looking at spending a hundred and fifty bucks for a big Tamiya or Trumpeter ship, but then realize how much building time I get per dollar. It is amazing, though, how that varies, with some of the newer ship model brands, like ICM and Hobby Boss. I suspect they may be buying into the market, but that is fine- we sure get a bargain on those first few offerings!
I haven’t tackled one of the big 1:200 offerings, though. With the photo etch packages, those are more than I paid for RC models back when I was doing that!
Heck yeah. It’s a great value. My other hobby is landscape photography. When you factor the travel expenses to go where I want to go… it gets expensive. And often times, it is difficult blocking out the time needed. That’s why I came back to this hobby. It fills that creative hankering and at minimal expense. It’s the gift to myself that keeps on giving.
The LHS also has railroad and r/c. I’m glad I’m into plastics. The other hobbies are very expensive.