Estimate | William Murray

Get your
Online Estimate

[ bih-spohk ]

Made to individual order; custom-made.

Because of the very nature of a bespoke item, an established price list for services is just not practical. There are simply too many variables to consider, which is why the cost of each project must be estimated, based on the sum total of your requirements and expectations.

The factors which have the greatest impact on the final price of my work include:

Size

The overall dimensions of the final piece has an impact on the price in two ways.

First, the larger the final piece, the more physical material must be used.

Second, contrary to common belief, as a model becomes smaller and smaller, it actually becomes more difficult to achieve the effects required and, as a result, increases the time necessary to complete the model to the level of quality I require.

I will always look for efficiencies but I will never cut corners.

Scale

The scale of the model is one of the more critical decisions to be made and can have a tremendous impact on the time required and, therefore, the cost involved.

Scale is the ratio between the actual size of the item being represented and the final size of the model. The most common scale is that of the standard dollhouse — 1:12. This scale indicates that the model is 1/12 of the original item’s size. Simple math indicates that, in the world of the model, 1 inch = 1foot in the real world.

The smaller the scale becomes, the more difficult it is to create the level of detail desired, increasing the time spent building. On the other hand, the larger the scale becomes, the more material is necessary and a larger area is required to display the model.

Materials

The material employed in the making of your model can certainly have an impact on the overall price. Typically, dioramas and models are constructed using materials that are easy to work with, yet, capable of being transformed into a representation of the desired effect.

In instances where absolute realism and detail are required, it is sometimes necessary to employ special materials and techniques which can significantly add to the cost of the project.

Having said that, when used, these special techniques raise the level of realism to museum-quality standards. When a viewer has trouble distinguishing whether or not the photo of your model is real or manufactured, you know you have achieved the highest level of detail.

Detail

The level of detail required in your model can be one of the most significant factors when determining the expense of a project.

Extreme detail requires extreme effort, resulting in numerous hours employed to add a level of detail sufficient to create an ongoing narrative. With each viewing, your audience stands to discover something new.

At the other end of the spectrum, a model which is designed to be more representational than literal, can be executed in a fraction of the time, saving considerable expense.

If your initial estimate is higher than you were expecting, this might be an area where you have the greatest flexibility to negotiate a lower price. Ideally, seek a level of detail which is sufficient to tell your story.

Resources

Here is your opportunity to contribute to the Research and Development stage of your project and, in doing so, reduce the expense of your model by reducing my need for more R&D.

A description of your requirements is the first place to start but, the more information you provide — photos, videos, plans, etc. — the less time I spend researching these elements and, the less time I spend on the project overall.

Essentially, the more details you can provide, the better.

Deadline

Another critical component of any project is the length of time I have available to properly execute the work.

Some processes are, by their very nature, time consuming. As a result, a shorter deadline will require a commitment to additional hours which, would be charged at a premium rate.

The construction of most of my projects can be measured in months rather than weeks. This is not to say that a shorter time frame is not possible. It simply means that you will have to manage certain expectations by striking a balance between detail and cost.

WILLIAM MURRAY

Get your
Online Estimate

Size

The overall dimensions of the final piece has an impact on the price in two ways.

First, the larger the final piece, the more physical material must be used.

Second, contrary to common belief, as a model becomes smaller and smaller, it actually becomes more difficult to achieve the effects required and, as a result, increases the time necessary to complete the model to the level of quality I require.

I will always look for efficiencies but I will never cut corners.

Scale

The scale of the model is one of the more critical decisions to be made and can have a tremendous impact on the time required and, therefore, the cost involved.

The smaller the scale becomes, the more difficult it is to create the level of detail desired, increasing the time spent building. On the other hand, the larger the scale becomes, the more material is necessary and a larger area is required to display the model.

Materials

The material employed in the making of your model can certainly have an impact on the overall price. Typically, dioramas and models are constructed using materials that are easy to work with, yet, capable of being transformed into a representation of the desired effect.

In instances where absolute realism and detail are required, it is sometimes necessary to employ special materials and techniques which can significantly add to the cost of the project.

Having said that, when used, these special techniques raise the level of realism to museum-quality standards. When a viewer has trouble distinguishing whether or not the photo of your model is real or manufactured, you know you have achieved the highest level of detail.

Detail

The level of detail required in your model can be one of the most significant factors when determining the expense of a project.

Extreme detail requires extreme effort, resulting in numerous hours employed to add a level of detail sufficient to create an ongoing narrative. With each viewing, your audience stands to discover something new.

At the other end of the spectrum, a model which is designed to be more representational than literal, can be executed in a fraction of the time, saving considerable expense.

If your initial estimate is higher than you were expecting, this might be an area where you have the greatest flexibility to negotiate a lower price. Ideally, seek a level of detail which is sufficient to tell your story.

Resources

Here is your opportunity to contribute to the Research and Development stage of your project and, in doing so, reduce the expense of your model by reducing my need for more R&D.

A description of your requirements is the first place to start but, the more information you provide — photos, videos, plans, etc. — the less time I spend researching these elements and, the less time I spend on the project overall.

Essentially, the more details you can provide, the better.

Deadline

Another critical component of any project is the length of time I have available to properly execute the work.

Some processes are, by their very nature, time consuming. As a result, a shorter deadline will require a commitment to additional hours which, would be charged at a premium rate.

The construction of most of my projects can be measured in months rather than weeks. This is not to say that a shorter time frame is not possible. It simply means that you will have to manage certain expectations by striking a balance between detail and cost.

Get Your Free Estimate

Get your Online Estimate

Size

​

The overall dimensions of the final piece has an impact on the price in two ways.

​

First, the larger the final piece, the more physical material must be used.

​

Second, contrary to common belief, as a model becomes smaller and smaller, it actually becomes more difficult to achieve the effects required and, as a result, increases the time necessary to complete the model to the level of quality I require.

​

I will always look for efficiencies but I will never cut corners.

Get Your Free Estimate

Get your
Online Estimate