Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[Neil]

who cares what it costs so long as I enjoy it, and it keeps me away from the boozer, fags and classic cars which soak up the dosh!

[TheLongBuild]

who cares what it costs so long as I enjoy it, and it keeps me away from the boozer, fags and classic cars which soak up the dosh!

and what ever the cost, the stated cost to SWMBO is always 90% less than actual..

[Colin Bishop]

and what ever the cost, the stated cost to SWMBO is always 90% less than actual..

Actually, it is better to explain just how much you have saved by making the expenditure now and what an absolute bargain you have managed to get. SWMBO is always totally familiar with this concept.

[Andyn]

This hull cost more than Kens total...

[Stavros]

By the time My 5 feet Happy Hunter will be finished it will have cost in Excess of £1200 squid sctratch buiding is NOT cheap but for goodness sake dont tell the missus


Dave

[dodgy geezer]

We like to think that EeZeBilds cost about £5, not counting the paint...

[irishcarguy]

Hi Andy you pay all that cash for a sub then go to the lake & sink it. I mucky water I doubt you can see it if it is down 2 feet. Something is wrong with this picture. You guys would not lie to SWMBO would you, not half you say. Even when I buy in pounds I pretend they are dollars, quite a bit cheaper that way.Mick B.

[Stavros]

I like your style irishcarguy


Dave

[HS93 (RIP)]

Fair enough, but 3 pounds for tiller arm ?.  30p plug use the earth pin, also same plug contains fuse and fuse holder  

Buy some wheel collets and a strip of K@S brass and you have ten for a very small outlay oh and some soft solder, they also look better

Peter

[Mad_Mike]

with 30 quids worth of tools you could knock that price off by 2/3rds. Most of those parts could be made with a stanley, handful of files and some glue. Materials from the recycling bin or whatever. Some of the money you guys are spending is collosal Ive been building model boats now 2 years and currently on my 15th build, with all the builds combined i havent pushed 2 grand yet.

[Kim]

Here is another angle  for thought ...

Using the last post as a bench mark...

with 30 quids worth of tools you could knock that price off by 2/3rds. Most of those parts could be made with a stanley, handful of files and some glue. Materials from the recycling bin or whatever. Some of the money you guys are spending is collosal Ive been building model boats now 2 years and currently on my 15th build, with all the builds combined i havent pushed 2 grand yet.

7 hours per day – over 365 days = 2555 hrs
Multiplied by 2 years = 5110hrs
Divided by 15 boats = 340. 66 hrs
Divided by 200 parts = 1.70 hrs

1.70 hrs multiplied by  £6.50 per hour = £11.05 per part

£11.05 per part  x 200 parts = £2210 per boat

15 boats x £2210 = £33150

Is it just my bias opinion ? .. Perhaps British kits aren't over priced ?...

We haven't added materials yet ….. oh yeah or Vat, Paye, Insurance, promotion … you get the drift ….. Oh forgot the tools aswell lol... wouldn't get far without them  

[Bob K]

Another way of looking at it is in terms of value. 

Adding up the total costs involved in my last warship build, and then going through my build log of how many hours it took to complete, I make that around 50 Pence per hour of enjoyment. 

In those terms perhaps this hobby is not as expensive as it seems.  The regular sailing sessions since then have been a free added bonus !

[Kim]

Another way of looking at it is in terms of value. 

Adding up the total costs involved in my last warship build, and then going through my build log of how many hours it took to complete, I make that around 50 Pence per hour of enjoyment. 

In those terms perhaps this hobby is not as expensive as it seems.  The regular sailing sessions since then have been a free added bonus !

Bob as you and Neil have pointed towards ... the apparent cost does diminish with use .... its just the initial outlay that seems to grind some people !

If it was worth building it is worth showing off ...the more you show it off the more reward ... the more reward the better the enjoyment .... the less it seems expensive!
Personally i like boats with history and many enjoyable conversations i have had as a result ... some people might even pay for company .. can we deduct that from cost lol .... just thoughts 
Regards,
Kim

[essex2visuvesi]

Another way of looking at it is in terms of value. 

Adding up the total costs involved in my last warship build, and then going through my build log of how many hours it took to complete, I make that around 50 Pence per hour of enjoyment. 

In those terms perhaps this hobby is not as expensive as it seems.  The regular sailing sessions since then have been a free added bonus !

This is how I explain the expenses to the Mrs

[patternmaker]

Total cost of scratch building Wide A Wake including engine & boiler, only fitting purchased, pressure gauge
£638.00   pleasure building money cannot buy.

[essex2visuvesi]

Total cost of scratch building Wide A Wake including engine & boiler, only fitting purchased, pressure gauge
£638.00   pleasure building money cannot buy.

But how much did the tool and equipment cost to make said parts?..... quite a bit I'd wager

[pettyofficernick]

Costs for African Queen so far, and I haven't started building yet:-

TVRiA BB 303.00  inc flywheel, hex bolt kit and postage
F/G hull 97 .00 inc postage
3.5" vertical boiler and gas tank 412 .00 inc postage
various steam fittings and pipe 35 .00 inc postage
regulator 37.00 inc post
lubricator 35.00 inc post
3 x servos 25 .00inc post
2.4 gig reciever 15.00 inc post
wood 40 .00 inc post
glues various 15.00
Total so far 1014.00 GBP

[patternmaker]

But how much did the tool and equipment cost to make said parts?..... quite a bit I'd wager

Machinery & equipment I have had for many years and have paid for themselves many times over.
I have a large stock of materials, when purchased in quantity you can get some good deals.

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

To keep the costs down, the obvious thing to do is  "Have a removable electronics control centre".

After making around 20 boats the thought always crops up but I have yet to make it. This would include the following as they are always needed.

12 volt and 6 volt input sockets
Fuse bank for everything
Triple speed controls.
Electronic wizardry and gadgets yet to be invented !
Receiver
Outputs sockets for servos
Output sockets for three motors
Sound generator with Amp and built in speaker
Output supply for lights

Initially the costs would be high, but you would only need one.

[Norseman]

I am not adding up the cost of my purchases - though I wil make a decision on any particular item about value for money.
I work hard and have no expensive vices so I don't feel at all guilty about bying my boat bits (within reason that is).

My kids don't worry at all about spening my moey 

Dave

[regiment]

  and do not forget the tea or coffer

[essex2visuvesi]

To keep the costs down, the obvious thing to do is  "Have a removable electronics control centre".

After making around 20 boats the thought always crops up but I have yet to make it. This would include the following as they are always needed.

12 volt and 6 volt input sockets
Fuse bank for everything
Triple speed controls.
Electronic wizardry and gadgets yet to be invented !
Receiver
Outputs sockets for servos
Output sockets for three motors
Sound generator with Amp and built in speaker
Output supply for lights

Initially the costs would be high, but you would only need one.

A great idea but does have one small flaw...

No matter what size you make it, it will be the wrong size for one of your boats

I am not adding up the cost of my purchases - though I wil make a decision on any particular item about value for money.
I work hard and have no expensive vices so I don't feel at all guilty about bying my boat bits (within reason that is).

My kids don't worry at all about spening my moey 

Dave

Me either.... My wife is quite laid back about what I spend.... As long as bills are paid, food in the cupboard, shoes on kids then whats left is my own

Tho the kids are quite adept in extracting money from us

[unbuiltnautilus]

Manned Battleship, about £1200, including Minkota electric outboard £159, 12V 100amp leisure battery about £70, Fish Finder about £40 ( havn't caught any yet!) Colour Television Monitor and Camera about £80, Compass £5, Blu Tac for the compass £1.45, Lifejacket £25         ( previously used in the filming of Sahara, movie prop!! ), Lots of fibreglassing £100, Exterior ply £xxx, Hot Glue Sticks 3Kgs £xxx, Bespoke Trailer £300, Lots of heavy brass and copper work for the noisier parts of the model....etc etc.
Its a great place to get away from your fellow members, motor off and drift around the lake, bliss

[Martin (Admin)]

  Blu Tac for the compass £1.45

              

[Netleyned]

Special antistatic antimagnetic camo
navy blue tac
The only BluTac to be used near black
powder.

Ned