Value

[Buffalo Jack]

Here are a few of the ships I have built over the past couple of years. I’m thinking of exhibiting some of them in a local art gallery. My guestion is how do I price them? I sold a couple about 10 years ago for some where around $600 cased in plexiglas.
I live in St Augustine Fl which is known for its art galleries.i really don’t build them for sale but I’m running out of space.
Where do I go from here?
Jack Dunbar
2243250495

 

[Dave Stevens (Lumberyard)]

that is a tough question to answer first of all what class does the model fall in?



Ship Model Classifications
Class A
Scratch-Built Model : Model built entirely from scratch materials by the builder with no commercially fabricated parts except cordage, chain and belaying pins.

Class B
Modified Scratch-Built Model : Model built from scratch, but supplemented by the use of some commercially fabricated accessories.

Class C
Modified Kit Model: Model built from materials provided in commercial kit, supplemented by other commercially fabricated parts or by scratch-built parts.

Class D
Kit Model : Model built entirely from materials provided in commercial kits.

Special
Sub Categories: Model built and/or displayed in any of the following methods:
• Antique • Waterline • Cross Section • Cut-Away • Exposed Interior • Sailing • Half Hull • Rare Materials • Diorama • Power • Mechanized • Builders’ Model • Extreme Miniature • Ship-in- a- • Shadowbox • Americana • Folk Art . Decorative • Pond Model • Production • Other

who is the builder ?

a Harold Hahn model would sell for around $70,000.00 a reproduction of a Hahn model built from his plans from scratch is around $20,000.00

here is a model by Robert Bruckshaw



the price of a Hahn or Bruckshaw or any well know builder will command a high price because their work is in museums and are well know artist

like this one

 

[Dave Stevens (Lumberyard)]

getting realistic about selling models

models built from a kit are worth nothing as a collectable item because they are a mass produced. There are thousands of the exact same model out there. The going rate is double the price of the kit. Needless to say a scratch built model is one of a kind and worth much more. People who buy models from a kit are using them as decor in a home or office. and they are not going to pay much for the model.

 

[Uwek]

But a requested price of an offer is often not the real price a deal is agreed afterwards

Especially it is hard to define the correct price value for kit models

 

[Dave Stevens (Lumberyard)]

there is no way you can make a living building and selling model ships because the sheer amout of hours involved.

To build for fun and maybe to help support your hobby might work.

first start with a price double the kit cost and depending on your skill level and the quality of your work you can jack up the price and double it again.
it also depends on the buyer if the buyer is just looking for a model as office decor and historical accuracy is of no concern as long as it looks good you may make a sale on "looks inpressive"