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 The Modeller’s Stand 

Robert Terwilliger has recently taken early retirement after spending all his working life as a toolmaker with the same employer – Szyslak and Krustofski Toolmakers Ltd. A year before finishing work, Robert spent some time designing and building a one-off gift for the company's most valued client whose hobby was building model boats.

As the company's owners had no further interest in the 'modeller's stand', they agreed that when Robert left he could take with him the plans and patent for the stand (Robert has subsequently trademarked the term ‘modeller’s stand’).

The actual product consists of a number of multi-adjustable ‘arms’ that can be locked in place to support a model boat whilst it is under-construction. So adaptable is the stand that models from 25cm up to over 200cm can be held securely yet without the problem of damage being caused to even the most fragile models. 

Still active, and with a large garage-workshop and tools, Robert has decided to make more of the stands and sell them – although he considers it a hobby that will give him some pocket money rather than a commercial enterprise.

Robert intends to use only the Internet to sell the stands with a selling price of £150 each, with the buyer being responsible for any shipping costs. He considers that making one per week is his capacity. His total manufacturing costs are £50 per unit, but this does not include his labour.