mh9162013
Well-Known Member
12/11/2023 Update: I am putting this building service on hold for now. I have accepted several requests for multiple kits to be built. These "orders" should keep me busy for the next few months. However, when I complete this builds, I plan on accepting any new requests for model kit builds. When that happens, I will update this thread/post. Thank you to those who have sent me kits to build and given me positive feedback on this thread. 
In case you didn’t know, I love building rockets. I’m sure many of you are the same way, but I enjoy building rockets a lot more than flying them. Because of this, I am at a point where I build rockets and have nowhere to put them and it might be months until I can fly them.
There’s also the cost issue, such as I can’t afford to buy all the rocket kits I want to build (I’m sure I’m not alone here!). I’m also on the lookout for a local club or whatever that may be willing to take some of my built rockets. However, I’m not aware of any organization that will do so. Also, even if there was one, I tend to build my rockets in odd ways (removable baffle and nose cone payload bays, anyone?) such that a newbie might be confused by my rocket build or not appreciate how different it is from a stock build.
I’ve been brainstorming some sort of “solution” and here’s what I have come up with so far. I would like to offer my building services to those who want a particular LPR or MPR rocket, but don’t have the time or inclination to build and finish it themselves. My charge would be the cost of the kit itself (this would include the cost of getting me the kit…more on this later) + $1 (a token payment for building supplies) + the cost to ship the completed rocket to you. So what's free is the labor and effort I put into build. Here’s how it would work.
You find a rocket kit you want built. You can either purchase it yourself and ship it to me or I can buy it myself (you’ll need to pay me for the kit before I order it, though).
I build the kit. I can build it like the directions say or I can add some modifications; I really prefer to do the latter. However, I will only add the modifications you want or are ok with. And if there’s a particular modification you want, I can probably include it as long as it doesn’t take an inordinate amount of time or supplies.
The building process can also include painting and finishing, just keep in mind painting is not my strength. I can do a decent job, but I’m no Chris Michielssen. Below are some links to some of my work.
Once the rocket is complete, I’ll ship it to you. After you get it, you can pay me for the cost of shipping the completed rocket to you.
Here’s what I get out of this arrangement:
1. I get to build for a much lower cost than if I bought the kit for myself.
2. I get to practice my building, painting and finishing skills.
3. I get to explore different kits that I might be curious about, but not willing to commit the money to purchasing.
4. I have the opportunity to document the build and post it here on TRF. I would like to do this because I feel this is a helpful resource to prospective builders and buyers of certain kits.
When I see people documenting their build for a kit I’m thinking about, it can answer a lot of questions I have about it that I could only otherwise answer if I bought the kit myself. If you ask me to build you a kit and you do not want me to document it and post it online, I won’t. Also, if the build is of a kit that already has plenty of build threads here, then I won’t post it unless there’s something especially unique that I want to share about the build process.
Any payments can be through PayPal (Friends and Family only due to accounting rules, not to save on fees) or USPS money orders.
I understand this is an odd “sale” thread and maybe there won’t be any takers. That won’t surprise me because I know most people here are like me and really enjoy the building process. But I won’t know for sure until I ask.
Feel free to ask any questions. Any constructive criticism is welcome too, either here or through PM. The above terms are subject to change depending on what suggestions I receive or how the first few transactions go.
Links to some of my work:
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-goblin-k-55-or-1255-gallery.16070/page-3#post-2447573
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/scale-bullpup-agm-12-gallery.15641/page-2#post-2483486
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-yankee-1381-gallery.19512/#post-2312926
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-yankee-1381-gallery.19512/#post-2417238
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-yankee-1381-gallery.19512/#post-2483548
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-wizard-1292-gallery.19319/page-3#post-2318394
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-wizard-1292-gallery.19319/page-3#post-2389955
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/scale-patriot-mim-104-gallery.21421/page-3#post-2365235
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/******-rocketry-patriot-missile-bt50.180323/ Not sure this URL won't properly format. If you're really curious about this Mach 1 fiberglass build, just do a search here and type, "Mach 1 Rocketry Patriot Missle BT50."
In case you didn’t know, I love building rockets. I’m sure many of you are the same way, but I enjoy building rockets a lot more than flying them. Because of this, I am at a point where I build rockets and have nowhere to put them and it might be months until I can fly them.
There’s also the cost issue, such as I can’t afford to buy all the rocket kits I want to build (I’m sure I’m not alone here!). I’m also on the lookout for a local club or whatever that may be willing to take some of my built rockets. However, I’m not aware of any organization that will do so. Also, even if there was one, I tend to build my rockets in odd ways (removable baffle and nose cone payload bays, anyone?) such that a newbie might be confused by my rocket build or not appreciate how different it is from a stock build.
I’ve been brainstorming some sort of “solution” and here’s what I have come up with so far. I would like to offer my building services to those who want a particular LPR or MPR rocket, but don’t have the time or inclination to build and finish it themselves. My charge would be the cost of the kit itself (this would include the cost of getting me the kit…more on this later) + $1 (a token payment for building supplies) + the cost to ship the completed rocket to you. So what's free is the labor and effort I put into build. Here’s how it would work.
You find a rocket kit you want built. You can either purchase it yourself and ship it to me or I can buy it myself (you’ll need to pay me for the kit before I order it, though).
I build the kit. I can build it like the directions say or I can add some modifications; I really prefer to do the latter. However, I will only add the modifications you want or are ok with. And if there’s a particular modification you want, I can probably include it as long as it doesn’t take an inordinate amount of time or supplies.
The building process can also include painting and finishing, just keep in mind painting is not my strength. I can do a decent job, but I’m no Chris Michielssen. Below are some links to some of my work.
Once the rocket is complete, I’ll ship it to you. After you get it, you can pay me for the cost of shipping the completed rocket to you.
Here’s what I get out of this arrangement:
1. I get to build for a much lower cost than if I bought the kit for myself.
2. I get to practice my building, painting and finishing skills.
3. I get to explore different kits that I might be curious about, but not willing to commit the money to purchasing.
4. I have the opportunity to document the build and post it here on TRF. I would like to do this because I feel this is a helpful resource to prospective builders and buyers of certain kits.
When I see people documenting their build for a kit I’m thinking about, it can answer a lot of questions I have about it that I could only otherwise answer if I bought the kit myself. If you ask me to build you a kit and you do not want me to document it and post it online, I won’t. Also, if the build is of a kit that already has plenty of build threads here, then I won’t post it unless there’s something especially unique that I want to share about the build process.
Any payments can be through PayPal (Friends and Family only due to accounting rules, not to save on fees) or USPS money orders.
I understand this is an odd “sale” thread and maybe there won’t be any takers. That won’t surprise me because I know most people here are like me and really enjoy the building process. But I won’t know for sure until I ask.
Feel free to ask any questions. Any constructive criticism is welcome too, either here or through PM. The above terms are subject to change depending on what suggestions I receive or how the first few transactions go.
Links to some of my work:
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-goblin-k-55-or-1255-gallery.16070/page-3#post-2447573
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/scale-bullpup-agm-12-gallery.15641/page-2#post-2483486
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-yankee-1381-gallery.19512/#post-2312926
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-yankee-1381-gallery.19512/#post-2417238
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-yankee-1381-gallery.19512/#post-2483548
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-wizard-1292-gallery.19319/page-3#post-2318394
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-wizard-1292-gallery.19319/page-3#post-2389955
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/scale-patriot-mim-104-gallery.21421/page-3#post-2365235
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/******-rocketry-patriot-missile-bt50.180323/ Not sure this URL won't properly format. If you're really curious about this Mach 1 fiberglass build, just do a search here and type, "Mach 1 Rocketry Patriot Missle BT50."
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