New Studio Scale X-Wing Revisited
- Thread starter Rodmart85
- Start date
See with an EFX Model I understand why you are paying more than a $1000 dollars, its built, painted, and lighted, ready for display some people don't have the time to dedicate to building a kit like this or the painting skills to bring it to life, a kit is for people that have the time and want the challenge of building it up at a LOWER price than a finished replica and I understand the amount of time putting into making a kit from scratch I'm on my 5 th month on one. But at some point you have to realize that you are paying way more for something then what it is worth, once you have the molds its just pour the resin, interms of actual materials maybe $50 or less in resin will be used per kit and yes I understand there has to be profit and factor in the man hours but the numbers don't add up in plain english its overpriced, the Most I would consider would be $500 and thats pushing it.Just wanted to add - at this price point one can get EFX x-wing. And that is professionally finished model with lights, not a kit! Of course, if I only like the process itself, I'd buy a kit instead, doesn't matter if it is more expensive
I think it's very poor form to keep criticizing the price.
I bought a 2011 Subaru Outback - the mid-range 4 cylinder. Sure, I would have liked to have bought the top of the line with larger engine and higher trim/features, but did you see me complaining about the price just because I could not afford it? There is a perceived value in things. It's okay to not agree. But don't belabor the point, and don't junk up the fellas thread with opinions about what you feel you can afford, and draw comparisons to the Efx product that was mass produced in China with over-sized inaccurate parts and a mid-level paint job.
You look really cheap and unprofessional arguing the point. We get it. You feel that $750 is too expensive. I do not. I think you are paying for what look to be perfectly cast parts (which no one else in this hobby offers, outside of Japanese garage kits), from a South American Country. Do you know how expensive resin is there, compared to domestic prices? $50 is a BS number you made up, and I can tell you it's too low. Are you factoring in mold costs? The fact that they also mastered the thing from scratch and are perhaps also amortizing that cost into the final price? Maybe their cost of materials is higher in their Country. Maybe they are doing what no one else does, and are reimbursing themselves for their free time at a rate above minimum wage? Because lets face it - most garage kitters do themselves a disservice by not charging for the time they spend making the things you buy.
Have some class, people. It's bush league, Ed.
I bought a 2011 Subaru Outback - the mid-range 4 cylinder. Sure, I would have liked to have bought the top of the line with larger engine and higher trim/features, but did you see me complaining about the price just because I could not afford it? There is a perceived value in things. It's okay to not agree. But don't belabor the point, and don't junk up the fellas thread with opinions about what you feel you can afford, and draw comparisons to the Efx product that was mass produced in China with over-sized inaccurate parts and a mid-level paint job.
You look really cheap and unprofessional arguing the point. We get it. You feel that $750 is too expensive. I do not. I think you are paying for what look to be perfectly cast parts (which no one else in this hobby offers, outside of Japanese garage kits), from a South American Country. Do you know how expensive resin is there, compared to domestic prices? $50 is a BS number you made up, and I can tell you it's too low. Are you factoring in mold costs? The fact that they also mastered the thing from scratch and are perhaps also amortizing that cost into the final price? Maybe their cost of materials is higher in their Country. Maybe they are doing what no one else does, and are reimbursing themselves for their free time at a rate above minimum wage? Because lets face it - most garage kitters do themselves a disservice by not charging for the time they spend making the things you buy.
Have some class, people. It's bush league, Ed.
Jason I have to say that in no way did I mean to make this sound like I was arguing with anyone, I was just expressing an opinion like many others who feel the same but probably wouldn't say it because they are worried about backlash and let me say I am a big fan of your work you are very talented, if someone said something I was selling was to much I wouldn't get upset with them because its their opinion and I respect that. Maybe my point of the amount of resin was off and your right when you mention were they are from and the shipping and what not, but I feel you still have the right to an opinion without people calling you cheap and unprofessional, it would be okay if we were running against each other for President Lol, so once again I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers and I'll continue being a fan of your work Jason,
Ray.
I don't mean to sound harsh either, but it's usually viewed as poor form to bash the price in the thread of the kit's maker. You do indeed have the right to you opinion - I was just voicing mine too... thanks for not getting aggressive and I'm glad we can be genteel about it!
I paid $400 for my first X-Wing from Scott. It was chock a block full of resin bubbles. Scott replaced some parts for me and it turned out in the end but the TIME I had to put into that kit was a NIGHTMARE.
I would have gladly paid another $350 just to not have to deal with a kit that did not want to go together.
Lets go through this logically:
Three sets of molds
One mold did not catalyze
they are in Chile and who knows how much resin and rubber are there
the parts - pristine
the detail - amazing
THE PRICE???? The price is perfect for this level of detail and quality!!!!
What are you complaining about. This is the single best X-Wing ever produced.
Greg
I would have gladly paid another $350 just to not have to deal with a kit that did not want to go together.
Lets go through this logically:
Three sets of molds
One mold did not catalyze
they are in Chile and who knows how much resin and rubber are there
the parts - pristine
the detail - amazing
THE PRICE???? The price is perfect for this level of detail and quality!!!!
What are you complaining about. This is the single best X-Wing ever produced.
Greg
MonsieurTox
Master Member
Jason made a good point. Those guys are not North America based and the materials cost probably a lot more than in the US.
That's why I never intented to produce a kit, here in France, I pay the material almost twice the price you can get it in the US. I'm speaking about resin, RTV, kits or Tamiya stuff (paint, glue, twice the price here !!).
$50 of resin ? Well maybe if you use low cost resin ! Not for quality resin.
My only complaint about this kit is that it's not 100% screen accurate (well I'm mean it was overdetailled), but these details can be removed easily. The quality of the castings, the fact they've captured the shape of the fuse so well (it's way better than the EFX fuse IMHO) etc...
And don't forget that once the molds are made, they won't be useable for ever... You need to make new set of molds very often to get crisp castings. We still can argue about the price of the resin, but RTV is not cheap and you need a lot for a X-Wing kit (I'm molding my hero fuse).
That's why I never intented to produce a kit, here in France, I pay the material almost twice the price you can get it in the US. I'm speaking about resin, RTV, kits or Tamiya stuff (paint, glue, twice the price here !!).
$50 of resin ? Well maybe if you use low cost resin ! Not for quality resin.
My only complaint about this kit is that it's not 100% screen accurate (well I'm mean it was overdetailled), but these details can be removed easily. The quality of the castings, the fact they've captured the shape of the fuse so well (it's way better than the EFX fuse IMHO) etc...
And don't forget that once the molds are made, they won't be useable for ever... You need to make new set of molds very often to get crisp castings. We still can argue about the price of the resin, but RTV is not cheap and you need a lot for a X-Wing kit (I'm molding my hero fuse).
I apprecaite that Jason an I'm man enough to admit you were right after listening to your facts and you are someone that I look up to in this hobbiy and listen to because you have been doing this longer than I have and on a professional level which I hope I could achieve one day compared to you I'm a hubcap being a big wheel, and maybe if I could cut corners I could still get one the kids don't need lunch money they say breakfeast is the most important meal of the day 'here's soome toast kids don't miss your bus" Lol! Just joking its all good brother take care , now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Ray.
vaderdarth
Master Member
Hey do all the work: research, development and production of a kit this impressive and see what price you have to put on the kit. Things cost more today than when the V3 came out. Go to the grocery and buy a gallon of milk and you'll understand. Everything costs more. Fuel costs more and it drives up the price of EVERYTHING people. Silicon moulds and resin both fall in line with fuel costs. it just ain't gonna get cheaper to produce nice kits. The days of $350 kits are long gone!!!!
I Would like how accurate this is the ILM's model, For instant the sea lab parts on the underneath of the wings, I am looking to buy a closest model I can to the oringinal.
valdi
Active Member
The kit is absolutely top notch, no doubt about that. Whether people think the price is to high or just fine is subject to ones own frame of reference. Having worked in the modelmaking business I know that 'high' (fair) price tends to upset people. I for one would love to have your kit, but can't justify buying one with my present income. (working freelance sure is hard now a days)
I wish you the best of luck selling the model and envy those who can afford one.
I wish you the best of luck selling the model and envy those who can afford one.
Shizman
Well-Known Member
That logic doesn't make sense. Using the same logic, if it takes me years to create a robust software product (which it does), then I can charge whatever I want, regardless of competiting products or the current market's ability to afford my asking price.
They can charge whatever they like, I agree. That's their right and it's their product and it's arguably the best X-Wing out there now. What other people are saying though is that there's a point that you will lose customers by charging too much. If you take it out of their hands then you make less money overall as opposed to lowering the price, and making MORE sales and making MORE money overall.
What's the right price? That's a hard question and it's a very difficult one to determine.
I'd love this kit and agree that it's beautiful. I would jump all over it if it were priced a little lower. However, it's their choice and their right to ask what they're asking.
They can charge whatever they like, I agree. That's their right and it's their product and it's arguably the best X-Wing out there now. What other people are saying though is that there's a point that you will lose customers by charging too much. If you take it out of their hands then you make less money overall as opposed to lowering the price, and making MORE sales and making MORE money overall.
What's the right price? That's a hard question and it's a very difficult one to determine.
I'd love this kit and agree that it's beautiful. I would jump all over it if it were priced a little lower. However, it's their choice and their right to ask what they're asking.
HAHAHHA
I love it.
If you most folks had ANY idea what goes into making a kit, they would be shocked.
Trust me. I know a thing or two about kit making...
Flawed there is no competing product. Mike is not selling the v3, v3.5 or v16 whatever it is these days.
That is the great thing about it, the market will bear the price. If they are too high they wont sell and will be forced to lower thier price. If they aren't then all the complaining about the price is moot.
If I still built I would buy thier kit in a heartbeat.
Knowing a thing or two about this subject :$ , I would have killed to have one of these back in the day.
I think it's appropriate to indicate why one is not buying a kit that one would normally be interested in. That's the kind of thing a maker would like to know; otherwise, *if* sales are low, they aren't left wondering if it was quality, subject matter, price, or what.
Of course, one shouldn't express the reason as criticism. "I'm sure it's worth every cent, but unfortunately I can't swing that much at the moment." Like that.
Of course, one shouldn't express the reason as criticism. "I'm sure it's worth every cent, but unfortunately I can't swing that much at the moment." Like that.
Shizman
Well-Known Member
Well we all agree. It's a fantastically beautiful kit. Some will part with the money to buy it and some won't. That's life. I think it's somewhat irrelevant to continue to point out how much work is involved as many things in life are a tremendous amount of work. I think most garage kit makers charge too little based on effort, but that's the market.
The best thing to do really is to build something you love. If people buy it, then it's win-win. If they don't, then you did it for yourself anyways.
I will have to live vicariously through those that decide to purchase it.
The best thing to do really is to build something you love. If people buy it, then it's win-win. If they don't, then you did it for yourself anyways.
I will have to live vicariously through those that decide to purchase it.
