Starting a online shop

[John]

I have been thinking about starting to sell models for a long time, I don't expect to be able to give up my full time job, I was thinking about doing more to help with the running cost of the forum but also make a little profit as I'm sure it would take up a lot of my time.

So, would you buy? what would you buy? do you think it's worth stocking paints, glue, masking tape, tools etc.

The plan I to price models inc postage at roughly what you would pay in a shop. any input would be good.

[Guest]

Nice idea john and yes i'd buy from the forum as for what well armour in 1/35 is my main thing aircraft is a sideline at present, however i think selling paint is a good idea just say someone orders a kit well then you can offer the paint colours to complete that kit. As for glue, masking tape and tools i personally don't think so as most folks have these already... maybe even a pack of starter tools for the newbie. As for the pricing yes that sounds well good, i hope this has been useful.

scott

[Guest]

Selling paints, masking tapes etc is great idea, especially if you were able to demonstarte on screen how these can be used (ie linked to tips for newbies like me).

Also if you were to keep the costs of postage and packing down it would be a great marketing tool. I recently bought a conversion kit weighing a few grams from a large supplier in the UK and I was charged over £5 p/p. I took it to a post office and they said it would have cost £1.20 second class (which is how it was sent). I never use that organisation unless I have to because they rip us off on postage costs. Again, a second class postage charge of over £5 for a couple of pots of Xtracrylix is outrageous - so I'd bear in mind these charges but it's a great idea - hope you run with it and that it succeeds.

Aidan

[Guest]

HI John,

I would buy glues, masking tape and paint, great idea mate.

Joolz.

[Guest]

It is a great idea John and I am sure you have thought through a business case for doing this. I take it you would be not just selling to the forum? That would mean, I suppose, either a commercial website or an ebay shop. Either way you will have to consider either carrying stock requiring a substantial investment with slow return. Or, getting a really good supplier(s) who will enable you to obtain the items ordered from you quickly to provide a reasonable service in delivery time to the customer. Doing it this way would inevitably cut the margins as you will not, I would assume, be able to by single items at wholesale at the same price as multiple items.

I have no doubt that most people on the forum would support the venture, especially as part of the reason is to fund the forum itself. However, if funding the forum is a prime issue, maybe you should be looking at it becoming a reasonable subscription for members.

It would be an interesting idea but one, I am sure you are aware, requires much thought.

As far as what would people buy? For myself, I rarely know what I am going to buy. Very often it is on impulse sometimes it is something I have been thinking about for some time and then the opportunity presents itself, case in point being the Japanese WWII Aircraft Carrier. I have had this at the back of my mind for some months and two things came together. One was the Group Build on Promodeller and the other was actually seeing the kit I wanted while visiting a shop while on holiday. Had I not seen it in the shop would I have ordered it online? Maybe not for a long time if ever.

Paints etc are always wanted by all modellers, it never ceases to amaze me that no matter what stock of paint I have, I still have to buy something new for each kit. Trouble is, you do a straw poll of members as to what brand of paints they use and you will cover just about every make. Is it possible to stock that sort of amount? Bringing us back to the question I started with. Stock or supply on demand. If you can get suppliers to enable you to work like that, it is the way to go. Minimal outlay for a lower return but not a load of dead money sat on shelves gathering dust.... sounds like a stash to me lol.

If you can do it, go for it. You never know, it could lead to a living.

[Ian M]

Sounds like a solid idea. As one of the non-UK members I would expect to pay FAIR postage and have at times been put off ordering small items due to minimum postage charges.

I would suggest that you focus on some of the more hard to get things; Like Gator glue!

A problem I could envisage is what to stock and what not to stock.

I think we are all agreed that tamiya masking tape is the best at its job, so thats a good one to have.

Paints could ba a tricky one as all have there favorits. I'm sure if you went with say Vallejo model color and Humbrol Enamels, you would have the to top sellers...Some one will surely come with an other option.

As to stocking actual kits? That would be nice, but are you thinking full blown shop or a service to Forum members? Some of the other non-UK residents could be tempted to use a middle man. I often see "Post free in the Uk" or some such. Flea bay is another place were seldom seen kits are offered up for sale, but the seller will not send out side the UK.

Nuff speculation; Things I would buy: Good quality craft knife blades, there are so many Chinese tin can blades that only stay sharp while in the box!

Good quality paint brushes! Suited to acrylic or enamel paints. Tamiya Masking tape. (BOOKS! Now theres an idea!) Decal paper for the DIY decal folk.

HArd to say really untill you find that you need something!

If you do it, I will be suportive and buy some thing !

Ian M

[John]

However, if funding the forum is a prime issue, maybe you should be looking at it becoming a reasonable subscription for members.

That will never happen I've always been totally against that, I don't know if you have noticed but there is minimal advertising on the site, I have done that because I don't want adverts to take over the site like you find on others, and I would never ask anyone for money to be a member of the site, they are here because they like is and want to stay here, yet are free to move on at any time and not stay here until their monthly subscription has ran out.

However I have thought about this for a long time, and still not sure about it, I would have a large layout at first and I could be stuck with that stock for quite some time, I would set up another site which would probably be scale-models.net and I have looked at ebay but they take that much commission now it doesn't seem worth it.

Maybe the smaller things like glue, paint etc but then if I did that, what supplier paint would I stock, and what colours would I stock, I know there's a lot to think about that's why this is still at the early stages and I am really looking for feedback then I can look in to it further.

[Ian M]

Paint could be solved by a poll on the forum. Post a list with all the brands you can get hold of, and poll the question which paint do you normally buy. Job done.

Coulours? All of them! But a compleat range then you have the start up. just top up the ones that sell most. (does paint have a shelf life).

The out lay will only be as big as you let it.. Start small and go from there.

Ian M

[John]

Good point Ian this sort of feedback is what I'm looking for.

But as for paint what do people use and what do you pay? The more I think about it the best way to get it going is starting off with small items like paint that cost next to nothing to post and may be build it up like that, but it would take a while.

[Guest]

Definitely the way to go John.

As for what pain s used? Well, I use Tamiya as my main type. However, I also use Games Workshop for my metallic, they are superb as is their Skull white. Some of the strongest pigments available and airbrush and hairy brush very well.

I also use a small amount of Vallejo Model Air. I was in two minds as to moving over to them totally but I was put off a bit by the fact that they have some errors in their colour descriptions and I ended up with a few bottles of paint that bear no resemblance to what I thought they would be. A good example is the 70920 German Uniform colour. That is the paint I used for the dark green on my Spitfire and Mustang... certainly not a German Uniform colour I have ever come across. Some of the greys have the same problem too. Nothing wrong with the paint, it just isn't what you may expect it to be.

Gunz are supposed to be accurate colours as is Xtracrylics. On the Promeodellers Video build of a FW190, the green Grey camo was done using Xtracrylics whereas the same RLM code for the Vallejo Model Air gave the brown colour instead of the green.

I personally will no longer buy enamel paint or Humbrol acrylics as I have nothing but trouble with the airbrush blocking up, no such problems with Tamiya. Never tried Revell Aqua but they do appear to have a decent range of 'named' German colours but how accurate they are I don't know. I have my eye on a 1/72 FW190 Revel Starter pack that comes with the three main named colours for the camo. It will be an ideal opportunity to see how they airbrush and test the colours.

Glues are a popular stock item although I bought my current stock three months ago and have not dented it yet. However, I cannot seem to get hold of a thick superglue with kicker in the shops around here.

Tamiya masking tape, Evergreen plastic card/rod/strip, Lead wire, and maybe even some of the better scenic scatter materials could also be considered.

Tools I am not sure about. Most people once they have their tools will probably not buy any more. Clamps and clamping devices may be a different matter though as I for one never have enough, especially self clamping tweezers, I really need more of those.

[Guest]

I think it's a good idea John & I would support you, if the pricing structure was much the same as other online retailers I currently use.

With regard to stock, I agree with the previous comments about starting small & working your way up. I'd like to see scenic materials, especially the one's more suited to diorama modelling. Many shops cater more for railway guys & their stuff isn't quite 'in scale' for 1/35 stuff. Things like Plus Model products or the 'sea-foam' used for trees & bushes would be great as these are quite hard to find (just try searching for sea foam on ebay!).

If you hunted around for up-&-coming suppliers, that would help keep your prices down & I'm sure that we'd all share the leads we find in our quest for modelling perfection!

Patrick

[spanner570]

John, all the points I could comment on have been well covered, so suffice to say you would have my backing and support for this excellent idea both morally and through my purse!

Ron

[John]

I have been looking at prices and to stock for example all Tamiya and all vallejo paints it would cost over £1000, so I was thinking maybe starting with the kits like these

Model Air Set - RLM Set 3 13.50

Model Air Set - RLM Set 1 (6 x RLM, Matt Varnish & Thinner) 13.50

Model Air Set - RLM Set 2 (6 x RLM, Matt Varnish & Thinner) 13.50

Model Air Set - Ultra Airbrush + 10 Basic Colors 79.99

Model Air Set - Ultra Airbrush + 10 Camo Colors 79.99

Model Air Basic Range Box Set (72 colours + 3 brushes + carry case) 134.99

Model Air - Basic Colors & Airbrush Set 134.99

Model Air - Military Colours & Airbrush Set 134.99

Model Air Set - Basic Colors (x8) 13.50

Model Air Set - WWII German Starter Set 13.50

Model Air Set - Metallic Colors 13.50

Model Air Set - Panzer Colors (x8) 13.50

Model Air Set - Basic Colors (x16 colours) 26.99

Model Air Set - WWII German (x16 colours) 26.99

Model Air Set - WWII Allies (x16 colours) 26.99

Model Air Set - Metallic Effects (x16 colours) 26.99

Model Air Set - Extreme Modelling Tank Set (x16 colours) 26.99

Model Air Set - Railway Colors Europe (x16) 26.99

Model Air Set - Building Set 26.99

Model Air Set - RLM Complete Set (15 x RLM + Matt Varnish) 26.99

Not all of them but it gives you an idea of how much they would sell for, and I think at those prices (but don't quote me) there would be no P&P

Also a few other bits that would be worth stocking

Tamiya Masking Tape - 6mm 4.25

Tamiya Masking Tape - 10mm 4.50

Tamiya Masking Tape - 18mm 6.25

Mig Pigments - Wet Effects and Damp Earth Mixture 7.50

Mig Washes - Oil and Grease Stain Mixture (x6) 7.50

Mig Washes - Stand Rust Effects (x6) 7.50

Mig Washes - Light Rust Effects (x6) 7.50

Mig Pigments - Primer Red (x6) 3.99

Mig Pigments - Track Brown (x6) 3.99

Mig Pigments - Light European Earth 3.99

Mig Pigments - Fresh Rust 3.99

Mig Washes - Rainmark Effects 7.50

Mig Pigments - Ashes White 3.99

Mig Pigments - Black Smoke 3.99

Mig Pigments - Light Rust 3.99

Mig Pigments - Standard Rust 3.99

Mig Pigments - Concrete 3.99

Mig Pigments - Light Dust 3.99

Mig Pigments - Europe Dust 3.99

Mig Pigments - Brick Dust 3.99

Mig Pigments - Beach Sand 3.99

Mig Pigments - Vietnam Earth 3.99

Mig Pigments - Acrylic Resin 3.99

Mig Pigments - Dark Mud 3.99

Mig Pigments - Russian Earth 3.99

Mig Pigments - Panzer Grey 3.99

Mig Pigments - Allied Green 3.99

Mig Pigments - Gulf War Sand 3.99

Mig Pigments - African Earth 3.99

Mig Pigments - Industrial City Dirt 3.99

Mig Washes - Dark Wash (x6) 7.50

Mig Washes - Brown Wash (x6) 7.50

Mig Washes - Neutral Wash (x6) 7.50

Mig Pigments - Fresh Mud Pigment Set 21.50

Mig Pigments - Rust & Smoke Pigment Set 23.50

Mig Pigments - Sand & Earth Pigment Set 23.50

Mig Pigments - Old Rust 3.99

Mig Pigments - Gun Metal 4.99

Mig Pigments - Dry Mud 3.99

Mig Pigments - Urban Combat Set 21.50

Mig Pigments - Rubble Dust 3.99

Mig Pigments - Thinner for Washes 5.75

And maybe a selection of models to start

Eduard Kits 1:48 - Fw 190A-6 25.50

Eduard Kits 1:48 - Fw 190A-8 24.99

Eduard Kits 1:48 - Fw 190A-5 25.50

Eduard Kits 1:48 - Fw 190A-8/R-2 25.50

Eduard Kits 1:48 - Fw 190F-8 25.50

Dragon 1:35 - 'Achtung-Jabo!' Panzer Crew France 8.99

Dragon 1:35 - Sturmgeschutze Crew Reloading Russia 12.50

Dragon 1:35 - German Halftrack Crewmen 8.99

Dragon 1:35 - Soviet Infantry Tank Riders 13.99

Dragon 1:35 - US Army Support Weapon Teams 13.99

Hasegawa 1:48 - Kawanishi N1K1-Ja Shiden (George) Type 11 KOH 'Yokosuka Flying Group' 22.99

Hasegawa 1:48 - Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero Fighter Type 21 '3rd Flying Group' 21.99

Hasegawa 1:48 - F/A-18E Super Hornet 'VFA-27 Royal Maces' 47.99

Hasegawa 1:48 - Messerschmitt Bf109E 'Galland' w/figure 24.99

Italeri 1:48 - JAS 39A Gripen 18.99

Italeri 1:48 - Fiat CR42 Falco 26.50

Italeri 1:48 - C-130 J Hercules 54.99

Italeri 1:48 - TBF-1 Avenger 21.50

Italeri 1:48 - ACH-47A Chinook 41.50

Italeri 1:48 - MiG-23 MF Flogger 18.99

Italeri 1:48 - B-25 Mitchell 52.50

Italeri 1:48 - Spitfire Mk.IX 14.99

Italeri 1:48 - T-6G Texan 15.99

I've just picked the above kits at random to give you some idea of price.

[stona]

I can't give much different specific input but I'd definitely buy anything you had that I needed. I'd see it as killing two birds with one stone;I get what I need and support the site at the same time.

I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

I know I have probably said this before but If you want paint that is accurate and with the correct finnish there is only one real palyer in the game. White Ensign Colourcoats. The paint is matched where possible to original paint chips from the original manufactures. I use them for my boats, and am starting to buy them for aircraft to.

Otherwise I am starting to use Vallejo Model color. Rich in pigment, No smell and All the colours are matt. if you need gloss you can add a gloss additive in them.

Tools: There are a lot of tools you only need to buy once, then you have them forever, until you lose, bend or brake them! Drill bits! They dont hold for ever and are often worn or bent when you need them. Good range from 0.25mm up to 4 - 5mm should cover it. Smoothing/polishing sticks are an other thing that gets used up.

Pin vices, you can always use more than you have.

A thing to consider when chosing and buying stock is do you go for quality and buy less or Cheap and buy more. I know which way I would go...

Is there not some thing about a workman is only as good as the tools he uses?

Ian M