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What would you pay?

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JasonB02/10/2010 07:48:39
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25215 forum posts
3105 photos
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I have just sen this e-bay item on another forum, incredible workmanship but what would you pay for it?
 
I think its just for the one engine but there are pictures of another two when you go through all of them, make sure you click the enlarge button to see it at its best.
 
Shame about the grub screw hole in the flywheel rim, cap head screws and slotted screws holding the handwheels on otherwise I would have snapped it up
 
Enjoy, Jason
 
PS no connection with sale or purchase for that matter

Edited By JasonB on 02/10/2010 07:54:24

michael cole02/10/2010 08:03:18
166 forum posts
I would pay up to £50 as it not really my cup of tea. I would hate to steam it and that will be a big
lwaste of a model.
 
Mike
Nicholas Farr02/10/2010 08:46:31
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3988 forum posts
1799 photos
Hi Jason, it does say that to auction is for pics 1-8. However it looks a bit commercial to me. Not really my cup of tea either, might have stretched to £80 to £100 if I had some spare pocket money.
Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 02/10/2010 08:46:52

ady02/10/2010 09:12:50
612 forum posts
50 photos
Free postage though!
Steve Garnett02/10/2010 09:13:38
837 forum posts
27 photos
Well, we've got a spare space in the toilet where we could display something like that - so I'd probably run to about £25, I think... maybe £30?
 
 

NJH02/10/2010 09:24:03
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2314 forum posts
139 photos
An interesting question which gets to the heart of MODEL engineering as a hobby. I've attended lots of ME exhibitions over many years and am always amazed at the variety and quality of some of the exhibits. The thing is though, with the possible exception of clocks, surely none of the items has any use? The whole hobby is about the making of models. That is learning and developing skills, researching, planning and producing your chosen project. Sure a well equipped workshop is also capable of making or repairing  pretty much anything but that is an added bonus!
In terms of value then my poor and feeble attempts are worth very little to you but to me they are priceless (ie not for sale!) as they represent my personal achivement in the hobby.
 
$105,000 (about £66,000) for the item advertised ? How long would it take to produce an item of that quality ? Well at £15 per hour that would be 2 years work excluding any overhead costs - it would take me much much longer than that to produce a very poor copy! What would I pay for it ? Nothing. The doing is important  - the owning of other folks efforts is not. I would like to see it however as seeing what CAN be achieved I always find inspirational.
 
Regards
 
Norman
 
 
 
ady02/10/2010 09:33:55
612 forum posts
50 photos
Some are makers and some are collectors.
Some are both.
 
Ebay has been a tremendous conduit for making these things available to all.
 
 
I look at fancy cars selling for $200,000 and consider people who buy them as barking.
If I won one in a competition I'd sell it and get an astravan which is far more versatile and useful.
 
Most things in life are in the eye of the beholder.

Edited By ady on 02/10/2010 09:35:00

NJH02/10/2010 11:45:53
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2314 forum posts
139 photos
Ah -- when I read the ad properly (always a good idea!) I see that this took a Tool / Watchmaker  4 years to make. If that's all he was making that works out at about £7.50 per hour!
I seem to recall that 4-5 years is about the time Cherry Hill takes on one of her masterpieces - goodness knows what they might be "worth"
 
Steve if you are going to keep it in your toilet, unless you have more than one, don't  Invite me round as I would probably lock myself in there for some time!
 
Going out now to buy some fine emery paper!
 
 
Steve Garnett02/10/2010 13:02:45
837 forum posts
27 photos
Posted by NJH on 02/10/2010 11:45:53:
Steve if you are going to keep it in your toilet, unless you have more than one, don't  Invite me round as I would probably lock myself in there for some time!
 
Going out now to buy some fine emery paper!
 
 

Don't worry - we have three. I'm not so sure about using the emery paper in them though. Can't you get something a little softer?

NJH02/10/2010 14:33:50
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2314 forum posts
139 photos
Arggggggggggggh  Steve !
 
Your comment brought tears (of laughter) to my eyes . I don't really want to think about it much more but you should know I have cancelled the trip to get emery paper!
 
Regards
(Still laughing)
 
Norman
KWIL02/10/2010 16:35:29
3681 forum posts
70 photos
My question is why would you need spare parts and so many drawers full?
Tigermoth02/10/2010 16:40:16
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33 forum posts
If you're bidding on this item and win it, you'll probably be taken for VAT when it arrives. Items arriving from the US seem to be attracting the attention of HM Customs and excise!
On the other hand, if you can afford to bid on this item a little VAT isn't going to put you off.
Nice item but I think I'll give it a miss!
Bob
NEIL SMITH 102/10/2010 17:32:29
26 forum posts
No need to worry about VAT as the seller only  ships to USA from Switzerland.I wonder if he would take $20 for just the drawers? They would be usefull for keeping the emery cloth clean.Although the engine is described as being handmade, it has a CNC look about it to me,as do the spares.
Steve Garnett02/10/2010 21:12:40
837 forum posts
27 photos
So what sort of market is there for selling models? Is somewhere between £7.50 and £15.00 per hour a sort-of reasonable rate? I've never really looked into this before - I'm slightly intrigued now. Is this guy seriously likely to get the sort of money he wants for this engine - any past experience here?
JasonB03/10/2010 07:39:18
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25215 forum posts
3105 photos
1 articles
I don't think thats a reasonable rate.
 
Lets look at say a Stuart 10V, basic casting set costs £73, ready to run costs £502 both plus VAT. I know of someone who regularly makes small engines for clients and can do a 10 V or H in about 9hrs so lets say 10hrs to make thats £42/hr and his machine shop hourly rate is higher than that.
 
Different if you are just doing it as a hobby or are retired and just want some pocket money but if its your living and you have overheads its a different matter.
 
Jason
KWIL03/10/2010 08:57:02
3681 forum posts
70 photos
I would not charge out at anything less than £25/hr for a hobby job, I have too much to do of my own to work for anything less.

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