Potential new side hustle

[AirsoftAstronautPB]

Hi guys, first time on here and think this may be a fair thread to post in

Cut to the Chase I’m able to get some pistols at a reasonable deal and considering doing a barrel and bucking upgrade, service and custom paint job on the slide and if it’s a 1911 style the grip too (done properly not just slapped on a table and sprayed all over willy nilly)

What sort of prices would you all expect to or be happy paying for this sort of thing with an extra mag in the bundle? And for those prices based on what pistols?

Currently I’m looking at pricing by factoring in the following: 1) pistol, mags, parts and shipping costs, stensils and paint
2) upgrade and servicing cost £25
3) paint job cost £50 (minimum cost £30 if things don’t go well) of which you’re also paying for not just the paint job but care taken in doing so including a top slide pre-disassembly to protect internal parts from paint and then reassembly

Pics for paint jobs I’ve done on my DMR and Hicapa loadout, I’m looking at these colours with a digital camo look for pistols to sell, wht colour schemes are people interested in?

 

[CamboL]

Remember opinions are like arseholes - and they're not fact! Just because one person feels a certain way doesn't mean it's a good or a bad idea, so don't get disheartened if you don't get the responses you hope for!

Here's mine for what it's worth:
Whilst you've definitely done a neat job on your RIFs, I think it might be a bit niche...
If customers want an "off the shelf" upgraded RIF they would look at shops such as DCA or Eagle6 who offer a tech service with a range of parts and "configurator" options
Similarly, there are brands that offer camouflaged pistols stock (the ghastly MCam ravens come to mind)

Those that want a really nice finish tend to go down the cerakote route. Again DCA and companies such as Bespoke Airsoft do already offer this with recognised camo patterns

I think if you can hold stock of multiple upgrade options and give buyers the option to spec their RIF at purchase then you *might* be able to cut through the noise and competition. However, paint schemes are highly personal and unless you can offer real steel patterns such as ATACS, M81, M/Cam Black etc - you might find the demand is low

But I genuinely hope I'm wrong

 

[Austeyr]

Whilst it’s not a bad idea by any means, personally I wouldn’t trust anybody else but myself to do my own upgrades.

Is the paint spray paint or cerakote? If the latter there’s a lot of companies already offering cerakoting.

My opinion only but I’d be more likely to send my replica to a known company for painting than a random person on an Airsoft forum tbh

“If things don’t go well” is not reassuring in the slightest. So if I send you something for painting, you paint it and it doesn’t adhere correctly for example I still have to pay you £30 for a botched job I would be left to repair?

Lastly, looking at the pistol… again, in my opinion… looks sloppy. There’s overspray lines where the masking wasn’t fully adhered, the lines aren’t straight where they should be, there’s also paint inconsistencies and chunk of paint showing through where it either wasn’t prepped properly or applied. If I was paying £50 for a paint job, I would expect all of those mentioned issues to be corrected before I paid at all.

 

[AirsoftAstronautPB]

Whilst it’s not a bad idea by any means, personally I wouldn’t trust anybody else but myself to do my own upgrades.

Is the paint spray paint or cerakote? If the latter there’s a lot of companies already offering cerakoting.

My opinion only but I’d be more likely to send my replica to a known company for painting than a random person on an Airsoft forum tbh

“If things don’t go well” is not reassuring in the slightest. So if I send you something for painting, you paint it and it doesn’t adhere wrong for example I still have to pay you £30 for a botched job I would be left to repair?

Lastly, looking at the pistol… again, in my opinion… looks sloppy. There’s overspray lines where the masking wasn’t fully adhered, the lines aren’t straight where they should be, there’s also paint inconsistencies and chunk of paint showing through where it either wasn’t prepped properly or applied. If I was paying £50 for a paint job, I would expect all of those mentioned issues to be corrected before I paid at all.

Click to shrink...

By not go well I mean if ones not selling for a while
My pistols an old example and wasn’t using stensils on it but yes you raise some good concerns. Not ceracote no. Perhaps £50’s too high

 

[AirsoftAstronautPB]

Remember opinions are like arseholes - and they're not fact! Just because one person feels a certain way doesn't mean it's a good or a bad idea, so don't get disheartened if you don't get the responses you hope for!

Here's mine for what it's worth:
Whilst you've definitely done a neat job on your RIFs, I think it might be a bit niche...
If customers want an "off the shelf" upgraded RIF they would look at shops such as DCA or Eagle6 who offer a tech service with a range of parts and "configurator" options
Similarly, there are brands that offer camouflaged pistols stock (the ghastly MCam ravens come to mind)

Those that want a really nice finish tend to go down the cerakote route. Again DCA and companies such as Bespoke Airsoft do already offer this with recognised camo patterns

I think if you can hold stock of multiple upgrade options and give buyers the option to spec their RIF at purchase then you *might* be able to cut through the noise and competition. However, paint schemes are highly personal and unless you can offer real steel patterns such as ATACS, M81, M/Cam Black etc - you might find the demand is low

But I genuinely hope I'm wrong

Click to shrink...

I’m unlikely to hold onto much stock as it’s just off my own back but what I would be able to do is take requests for a particular pattern of camo.
I did paint these a few years back and they’ve had a lot of use.
As for Raven’s, yeah, mostly bark and no bite I’ve first hand seen a guy buy one and the hammer broke same day on a high Cappa