Thinking about prices...................

[Dave Ward]

I had a conversation with my brother - he'd bought a Tamiya Subaru Impreza WRC earlier this year, and he said the price had shot up in the month or so since he bought it. I know that prices are rising rapidly & certain makers aren't going to be producing models for a long time, if ever.
I decided that I would buy a couple of the cheapest models I could find, current listing, new, from SMS to see what you can actually get for not a lot of cash. I spent £15.57 for two models ( including delivery ). I'll try to make them OOB, and see what I can do - obviously I have the paints etc already, but I'll try not to use the airbrush too much, and I'm not going to add AM or do any scratchbuilding ( however much I'm tempted! ). I'm just wondering about what the effect high prices has, on those with tight budgets, and whether cheaper alternatives can be found without going down the e-bay, or pre-owned routes.
I'll update this when the models arrive.................
Dave

[Guest]

Dave can understand what you say , I've been looking a 1/72 thinking that may be the way . But some of those are pricey. Can see the Chinese making a killing when stocks from the Ukrainian producers dry up , esp Mini Art .

[Tworrs]

I too have noticed prices slowly creeping up, all it means is that I have to be very cautious as to what I buy.
Also it makes me take longer building each one to stretch out the enjoyment of the build.

[outrunner]

Dave can understand what you say , I've been looking a 1/72 thinking that may be the way . But some of those are pricey. Can see the Chinese making a killing when stocks from the Ukrainian producers dry up , esp Mini Art .

I know what you mean John, I have been doing a lot of research into 1/72 in the last few weeks and there are some real crackers out there, for me at least, being more of a truck and oddball model type of person. In fact I have been building a 1/72 model this week alongside the fork lift but I will not blog it at the moment as I fear the brand is not too popular at this time.

Andy.

[PaulTRose]

well ive just had an add up in the stash......if i never buy another kit (yeah right lol) and i built one a month theres enough to last about 22+ years......i will be well into my 80s by then, and i dont think i will get that far, so im more concerned about the price of paint and glue going up lol

[Lee Drennen]

Glad I stocked up over the years

[SteveH]

Glad I stocked up over the years

Me too!
I always looked at some kits as collateral to buy all the consumables as time marched on.
I have a fairly broad range of kits in the stash for an armour modeller, and some of them will fall out of favour and can become plastic dollars at some point in the future.
I shall hang onto those kits for as long as possible and continue to trawl for cheap kits, but they are getting thinner and thinner on the ground, not surprisingly.
Happy bidding to one and all
Regards
Steve H

[Geoffers]

I don’t, unfortunately have a large stash so am not future proofed against price rises :sad-face:

I have started to switch from 1/48 to 1/72 though mainly due to cost of new 1/48 kits.

Maybe I have reached that age in life when I unrealistically compare prices now to when I was younger but I can’t really justify spending (to myself) the prices of newer 1/48 releases.

Looking forward to seeing what you managed to get Dave.

Geoff.

[rtfoe]

I build from my stash collection and only purchase the odd kit that I don't have or feel like an easy build than to correct an old one. Prices have gone threefold and escalates if you're not an OOB builder. If you couldn't afford them as a kid then just bite the bullet and get it now before you miss the chance...it will never come down unless its a present. The other thing is to try to build as you buy and not get ahead of yourself as many of us have....sometimes scared to build the old kit because it might be the only one in existence.
What a dilemma.

Cheers,
Ruchard

[Dave Ward]

It's probably alright for us elderly established modellers, but my main concern is how are youngsters going to be introduced to the hobby? I've been concentrating recently on the cheap end of the market, looking at what retailers are stocking. The HobbyBoss Easy Assembly models are well priced & very good value, Starter sets are a good introduction to model aircraft - but making 1/35 tanks, the most common scale, is another matter, aside from the Tamiya early models ( ie Panzer II ) the prices rise steeply.
With the price of oil & transport rising, and the gap caused by the present events, I'm afraid that the hobby is being priced into a niche consumer group. The choice & range of models has never been greater, but I reckon that availability is going to decline, as costs rise. I can't see retailers holding large stocks of expensive models ( if they can get them! ). Imagine a car showroom - all BMWs & Mercs, with very few entry level wheels, people may look, but few will be able to buy.
( rant over! not enough benchtime makes me overthink these things! )
Dave

[Jim R]

I suppose we just have to accept that everything is going to cost more. Gas, electricity, petrol, diesel, food etc. and model kits. The list goes on and on.
One thing I have noticed is that all the local take aways and cafés seem to be doing ok and I still see a lot of, mostly young people, walking around with expensive phones in their hands.
Maybe nothing has really changed :smiling:
Jim (a cynical old fart)

[Guest]

Me too!
I always looked at some kits as collateral to buy all the consumables as time marched on.
I have a fairly broad range of kits in the stash for an armour modeller, and some of them will fall out of favour and can become plastic dollars at some point in the future.
I shall hang onto those kits for as long as possible and continue to trawl for cheap kits, but they are getting thinner and thinner on the ground, not surprisingly.
Happy bidding to one and all
Regards
Steve H

No doubt you have this catalogued as well Stephen, going to show this to management to convince her my stash is not great :smiling3:

[stillp]

No doubt you have this catalogued as well Stephen, going to show this to management to convince her my stash is not great :smiling3:

Good luck with that!
Pete

[Ian M]

I have a fairly broad range of kits in the stash for an armour modeller

You have more kits in your stash than my (not so) local hobby shop!

The main drive, excuse the pun, behind the sharp price rise is the cost of fuel. Everyone is taking a hit. The Manufacture of the raw plastic, the firm that delivers it to the model manufactures, The delivery trucks to the wholesaler, then to the retail, then to us the end user.
Its not just our hobby either. A trip to the supermarket makes that clear. Almost every thing rose by about 10p per item in the first week. Yesterday things have risen by between 30 and 50p.
I paid £92 to put petrol in the car the other day. Its gone up again since.

[The Smythe Meister]

Please allow me this little,(non modelling related),rant,it is related to the core subject in a way though as I do like to munch on them whilst at the bench ......
How is it,that a box of my favourite biscuits,(Ritz crackers),cost me £1 last Thursday,then, on the Sunday,the SAME store wanted £1:50 for them..... The thing is,they hadn't had a delivery in the intervening few days,so the Sunday box cost THEM no more than the Thursday box?!!!.....
Surely that's just plain profiteering?
OK I'll get back in my box,rant over
Andy