One of the most important things to learn as a commission painter (or freelancer in general) is how to, and when to, say 'no'.
Not 'no problem - I can finish that custom Battlesuit diorama by the end of the week', but 'no. I can't take that on right now'
Sometimes you need to employ the same methodology with yourself. This week I had the usual newsletter from Wonderland Models, telling me about their massive discounts on stashable plastic. I usually scroll through and hit delete.
In this missive, however, something caught my eye: Dragon's 1:35 Patriot SAM Launching Station (PAC-3) - down from £84.99 to £29.99
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cB47xEJwV3w/WQQnMM018rI/AAAAAAAAwGc/c4uqQVsp0nsuoUgPsqGjuJBi3CmZmsEzQCHM/FA23CA81-ED96-44D3-AB3E-B923DF29F027-5991-00000973D7D13808.jpg)
I did some extra digging to figure out just why this would be a near-£100 kit. I'm not an armour expert, and the only previous experience I have of this price range is Games Workshop's medium-sized robot-suits, like the £90 Tau Stormsurge.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lI9vW9Q3Ou8/WQQnMIfNdjI/AAAAAAAAwGU/n-Ud93OIFewgC76oHSnAwos99jjfGkQrACHM/10252121-313E-464B-B1C9-6D5B798E3485-5991-0000096F43CAABF6.jpg?imgmax=9999)
Look at this! Detail, size, poseability! £90!
Now look at this:
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LkNdGS55Hxo/WQQnMNUyM8I/AAAAAAAAwGg/jI20RAN3LYUQb33ORcnDthO1it0FcXNmwCHM/A537CE21-5532-4AF9-A00C-BAA5611999BA-5991-00000973124F2DF4.jpg)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RejReSRJt1g/WQQnMADoBSI/AAAAAAAAwGY/lXcljFInTosHsSX1BbQs1SeK84RG88fSQCHM/6BDAEDDD-216F-490B-8CAE-BF609ACE34BA-5991-00000973CBBEF3CD.jpg)
Detail. Size. Poseability. £90. No - now it's £30.
I
MUST
HAVE
THIS
KIT
(To be fair, I'm not trying to belittle GW's product - it's made for playing a game, and is way more durable than Dragon's display model. But it is pricey)
My internet trawling tripped me up a few times, as Dragon has a larger kit with the tractor vehicle as well as the missile launching trailer. Trumpeter has a similar giant kit for about £80, but has photoetch parts as well as plastic sprues.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nTIW32LuvAM/WQQ7h8nzR8I/AAAAAAAAwGw/QFTQBz8M4bY8dN2lN0NWFB-sOaMiP0R8QCHM/9072F4A1-FBAE-4A3C-BA7F-8A9EE683CA82-5991-0000096DE5BAD5A0.jpg?imgmax=9999)
Fancy.
This kit, though is just the trailer. Still a lot of kit for £30. Very tempting.
But I must resist. It's taken me a good day away from a computer or phone to get some perspective. Shortage of funds, limited storage, other projects - all of this is saying I have to spend my money elsewhere.
Like finishing my new workshop/shed - that £30 will go a long way to buy gravel and sand, so the ground and the shed are level!
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nlKDvmdKeAY/WQQ7iQIl9TI/AAAAAAAAwG0/3gimdxEZDEE9YH0n9ifruKbnAzSryqe5QCHM/IMG_2885.jpg?imgmax=9999)
And this is where I realise that I need to say 'no' to myself, too. I can't take on this project at the moment, and even if it looks like a great deal, the model isnt something I'm desperate to have in my stash.
When Wonderland has another sale on a big kit, I'll consider it - but only if my shed is done...