Obsessed F/X, custom paint

[Obsessive R/C]

Can I comment here...kinda parallel topic..could be a new thread maybe, but here goes.

Painting car bodies is a funny deal. Everybody wants a cool looking custom shell. They see Mike's works and fall in love with the detailed pinstriping and CF look, multi-colors, etc... Then they ask for a quote...well, it's a six color scheme, with miles of flames and pinstripes, and it takes (how long, Mike?) hours to mask and cut, and spray, and clean the airbrush between colors, etc.
and then they are shocked when a painter asks $75 for his work. Well, coming from a newb painter, I can tell you that the materials and your time add up to a whole lot more than you can get people to pay. I do see some guys who do decent jobs getting $70-90 for bodies on eBay, but face it, eBay business is a bit a hassle within itself.

Mike's work is right up there with the guys we see in the mags, and we know it because he's been in the mags. He's on the top racers. Jerry's work is fantastic also, he custom mixes and multilayers colors to achieve unique results (how many colors make up that "orange" again, Jerry?).

For anyone who thinks a multicolor, detailed body for $40 is too low, you're right! For anyone who thinks $125 for a wicked Czech maxxed out body is too high, you are wrong!

Again, speaking for my own experience, getting results like Mike and Jerry (and others) is not easy. The time it takes to learn it and do it right are valuable. Don't believe me, go out and drop $100 on your own airbrush, another $80 for 15-20 colors and liquid mask film, $50 for a compressor, and get to work painting your own shells. In about a week you will start appreciating the value of either Jerry or Mike.

+1 again....very well said Dave.

I do it for fun only...I completely lose my a$$ money/time wise. One of the reasons I don't charge more is because I don't commit to a specific time frame. They get done when they get done...it may be three days it may be a month...but that is determined upfront with whoever I'm dealing with. Also I get alot of people allowing me to do whatever I want without any real guidelines. That type of artistic license to experiment is very cool and allows me to experiment. It can also lead to delays because of creativity blocks. I am freakishly particular with my results and don't always feel comfortable charging a premium for an experimental design or color concept. If I have someone that is very specific and requests a certain intricate design that is obviously time consuming and difficult, they know what they are in for and are not shocked at a slightly higher price. The prices do not include the body, it's for the paintjob only. Friends, board members and repeat customers are always taken care of, get a good deal and are usually more than satisfied with the results.