The main difference between professional model makers and hobbyists?
It’s not necessarily talent. Many model maker hobbyists make BEAUTIFUL models.
It’s not access to specialized, expensive equipment and tools. A hand-built model, when done right, can be very polished looking and precise.
It’s not the materials used either – anyone has access on the internet to quality supplies.
It’s not even that professional model makers get a pay check. Hobbyists have been known to make money from their projects.
The biggest division is time. Professional model makers always work under deadlines – often very tight deadlines in the corporate world. The pressure can be fairly intense. A high quality replica needs to be built accurately and quickly to meet a client’s expectations and then it’s on to the next one.