It really bugs me (language edited for sensitive readers)

I get all the new kit notices from all the manufacturers as I’m sure you do, so when I see a kit offered for only $59.95 that consists of a 2” x 3” box of wood and $4 worth of castings… well folks, it just chapps my A—. We have kits that look better and serve the same purpose for less than $10. What am I missing here?

Comments

[Dan H]

Barnum was right.

[Jim Gore]

In a world of Ready-To-Run, it always surprises me when a kit comes out at all. I still treat myself to one high-end item per year and wind up bashing it with cardstock and other castings, anyway. My recently completed diner is a kitbashed craftsman kit but with a cardstock interior [source: Clever Models, of course]. But then ... I am one of those weirdos who has been known to replace a craftsman kit with a cardstock version that is much more appealing. Keep up the good work, Thom and Dave ... yours are truly craftsman kits as well and much more of a challenge and a pleasure ...

[Weston Rhodenizer]

I've never had the opportunity to build one of those craftsman kits. Never seemed to be able to justify the expense. I will say that the best investment I ever made was in the Textures collection a few years back. I've had a lot of enjoyment in refurbishing plastic and other kits that others had already built, or bashed using cardstock to add interiors, roofs, siding, change doors etc. Current project is a Cornerstone firestation that is getting a full interior. Thanks for keeping your kits and discs affordable.I currently have 10 of your discs plus several download collections and kits. Use them all the time.

[Dave]

It's good to hear when builders "get it". It makes it easier to keep going in the face of seeming impossible hurdles.
I had an email back during one of our sale events. The customer was hesitant to purchase because of an impression that we were probably falsely inflating prices, (huh this logic makes no sense) and so it wasn't a real sale.
We keep prices low hoping to encourage volume. Hoping to spread development costs across a large base. To date this has not been born out. It takes years for each kit we create to break even. I'm sure many people find that surprising, but it's true. Every kit we put out starts as a deficit. Website costs, the hours spent to research and produce the art, the hours of test building. We are not getting rich doing this.
Hearing and seeing the results of what YOU DO with what we do is often the most tangible reward. I've said this before, we need you. Your support as customers, as artist/modelers, as ambassadors.
One more thing...
There are thousands of free kits on the internet. (it's a bit of a tradition) Some folks think our kits should be free. Well there is no comparison between those offerings and the quality models we slave and obsess over to make available for $10 bucks.
We will keep doing this as long as we can, but it can't go on forever. We are getting close to retirement age and shit happens.

[John]

As for me I work with card stock kits and wood craftsman kits. On rare occasions I might do a small plastic kit. Often I kit bash a card stock kit with a craftsman kit.

I first started with card stock about 30 years ago. I started with paper dolls. Some standing three and half feet tall. The complexity of the dolls can be difficult but rewarding. Gradually I moved to card stock model airplanes and boats then buildings.

The kits that Clever puts out are the best for structures. And yes I do a few modifications here and there.

As to why would anyone pay $50 or more for a wood craftsman kit over similar card stock $10.00 kit. Thom, there is something about a wood kit that a card stock kit can't match up to and why some of us are willing to pay the price. It is the feel of the wood and the odor. When you open the box of the wood craftsman kit the smell of pine or perhaps maple or maybe even cherry wood hits you. Then as you examine the contents of the box the feel of the texture of the wood has some sort of magic to it. If you will it is sort of a love affair with the wood. All this has nothing to do with the price. Yes, I know, to some this makes no sense at all.

John

[walter]

Personally I have never bought a craftsman wood kit and probably never will. I prefer working in paper. I've been building paper models for several years now and typically I will modify quite a bit, using Photoshop to modify the textures still further. The results for me are far superior to anything I can achieve in wood. I am also amazed when I see these high prices for hydrocal kits.Even though I have built several of those in the past, now I can obtain far better results in paper. AND save a lot of money.
Clever models does a great job on these kits. Sorry to hear it takes so long just to break even.

[Dan H]

I make it a point to donate for all the freebies. I appreciate them.

Speaking as someone who started in the model structures card model hobby back in the 80s (when the only kits available were Dover books or fancy architectural models with unrealistic surfaces) I appreciate everything you do.