Tag: finances
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Do You Budget?

No, that wasn’t a typo. And yes, I know I’m writing to scale modellers. But do you? Is your hobby under control? Can you say that it does not take the bread out of your children’s mouths? Or out of your own? Or does the bank have a jug of red ink with your name…
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Well, It’s Not Gonna Buy Itself, Now Is It?

If you have any money, or a birthday coming up, or know where the household emergency cash is kept, you’re ready for a hobby shopping trip. But like every worthwhile and/or criminal activity, there are rules, and you’ll need to learn them. a. Do not shop on an empty stomach. When you try to concentrate…
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How To Make A Small Fortune At The Big Local Model Exhibition

Start with a large fortune and go there to sell model goods. Well, you knew that punchline was coming when you started reading. You should have stopped then. Too late, you have to finish reading this article now. Going to the Big Local Model Exhibition at Cannington Central with goods to sell is a sure-fire…
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” Why Would You Bother…”

Passing remarks should be allowed to pass – after all flatus is allowed to exit the body freely as long as there is a strong breeze to carry it away. So with many opinions. One that I heard of recently ( note the phrase ” heard of ” rather than ” heard “…that defining border…
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If You Don’t Build It, Who Will?

The topic of the most expensive kit…or the rarest kit…or the best bargain kit…has been raised on the Flory forum recently and the team assessed their experiences with these categories. They have had access to far more than any of us, yet they speak about kits that seem somewhat pedestrian. It is most noticeable when…
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When To Close The Doors Of The Hobby Shop

A. Never. Hobbies can occupy 25 hours per day and enthusiasts need things ASAP. This means selling paint at 3:00AM. Use cheap staff and chain them to the till. b. At the end of the day. 5:00 is the accepted end of the day unless you want to go to 6:00 in case there might…
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Stein’s Air World – We’re Hiring Now

I have been called to account by the Commitee of Scale Righteousness for the paint jobs on the aircraft that appear in Stein’s Air World. Several of the senior members have pointed out that there are glaring inconsistencies in the shade, hue, intensity, and reflectance of the various aircraft. I have been told that there…
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Grumman Martlet Mk IV – Part Three – A Long Way

It is said to be a long way to Tipperary but it cannot be much further than the distance between the modern Airfix kit and the 50¢ baggie of my childhood. Today’s work on the Grumman Martlet emphasised this to me as I undertook the delicate job of closing the fuselage. It required the subtle…
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Hobby Money – Part Six – Setting Up.

You’ve seen my figures before on setting up for re-enactment or radio-controlled aircraft or amateur photography but I’ll give them a brief reprise: a. Reenactment – $ 200 to stand around home as a medieval, $500 more if you wish to slay dragons. Add $ 1000 if you wish to camp out and another $…
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Hobby Money – Part One – The Price Of The Hobby Versus…

Versus the value of the hobby – an eternal debate in many fields. Whenever we engage in an activity that does not immediately yield food, shelter, or sex, there has to be some calculation as to the worth of the time and money spent. In most cases the good stuff takes a considerable amount of…
