Would You Use The Services of a Custom Layout Builder?

[darth9x9]

Would I use a custom layout builder? NO
Would I use a custom layout planner? YES

I am in the beginning stages of planning my model railroad empire. Because of the complexity of the layout, I will seek the services of a CLP to work on the weak areas.

[Anonymous]

Don,

You're right. I don't know if I could give it up after building it either!

[mikebonellisr]

I think that I would hire someone to help me do some things to ensure getting it right the first time, ex.. installing a turntable with indexing.I sort of do that now,If I buy a expensive brass engine,I usually farm that out to be painted.

[DonaldAgne]

Nah, I'd never hire one myself, even if I had the bucks. But there's a market for their services, for sure. Just like there's a market for custom chopper builders and car builders and house painters. Some guys (with money) want a layout or a bike or car or want their house painted but don't have the time and/or talent to do themselves. Nothing wrong with that. I'd love to be a custom layout builder, except that when I finished a layout, it wouldn't be mine and I wouldn't be able to play with it whenever I wanted. That would be hard to take, I think.

[Anonymous]

The fun is in building the layout. While I enjoy operating, the construction has been a blast so far!

[Anonymous]

No way !!!
I have never heard anything positive about a custom model railroad I hear disaster stories of layouts with constan derailments and unhappiness.
I would rather do it myself at least then I know who to blame for any problems

[tstage]

NO!...because it would ALWAYS be someone ELSE'S layout. The joy is designing...learning...researching...trying out ideas...learning...putting things together...learning,...and, eventually coming up with something that you can enjoy because you did the work yourself. [:D]

To have someone else do all that? Phhh! It just wouldn't be the same! Besides, what would I have to pass along to anyone who showed interested in getting into the hobby? "Oh, here's the number for MY layout designer. Tell him I sent you and he'll cut you a break." No, thanks. I'll pocket the savings and pour a small sum of it into my layout. [:)]

Tom

[BRAKIE]

If I lack the skills needed and had the cash I would have my layout custom built.Of course the builder would need to follow my instructions to a "T" and dot the "Is" in the process.[}:)]

[Anonymous]

I would ONLY use them for the help with the track planning I know what I want just cant move it from my head to the pencil. Everything else would be all me. Except putting a Decoder in my loco when it comes time I just dont trust myself yet. I will probly have to have someone do it for me.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I need to rent myself out. I love building benchwork and doing DC wiring! It's scenery that kicks my butt!! I would seriously love to hire that Hayden guy to do my scenery and Selios (sp?) to do my structures!! But, even if I had all the money in the world I think I'd rather hire those two geniuses to teach me how to do it myself.

Bottom line: I don't hold a grudge against anyone. Used to be a time when you had to make boxcars out of stripwood and shim stock metal. Now we have RTR cars. Same with engines, computers (only wimps bought already assembled machines) and practically anything else. If a guys whole interest in the hobby is operation, and he can afford it - why not have someone build him a layout. My measurement of success in this hobby is how big is the smile on the owner/operators face.

[Anonymous]

"Would You Use The Services of a Custom Layout Builder?"

That is for silver spoons muthas who don't have time to do stuff themselves. They have all the money in the world, but no time.

I don't have money to pay some one else to do anything for me. ANY layout related work is done by me and me alone. I'd prefer to do it myself anyway.

[Anonymous]

Only if I hit LOTTO!

[Anonymous]

I probably would. I would most likely work along with them. I think of it this way, it would be like having your friends over to help you build the layout but it would be the profesional builders. Since I model by myself,a lot of the menial tasks just take to long. And of course if money were no object it would be a mamoth layout.
Andrew

[on30francisco]

No way! For myself, building and designing the layout is the best part of the hobby. This includes the baseboards, trackage and especially the structures and scenery. If money were no object I'd like to have much more space than I now have (and in the SF Bay Area it would have to be a lot of $$).

[Anonymous]

I for one plan to begin a layout in a couple of years. I have never designed one and don't really know where to begin. I have a basic idea in my mind but haven't really established much beyond that. From that perspective, for someone to get me set in the right direction is interesting, but I'll probably just learn more and look at ideas and go from there. I've got to finish my basement first , so in the meantime I'm workin on my locos, rolling stock and my models.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rsn48


Layouts are unbelievably labour intensive. So $50,000 for a large layout wouldn't surprise me at all, especially if he wants a high level of detail.

Especially if your having someone build a layout that might normally take 5-10 years to completion in less than 6 months ( I assume these custom layouts are completed in only a couple of months ).

[Anonymous]

The people I know that build layouts here aren't making a lot of money at it. The reason is that to charge what you are really worth drives up the price of a layout. What should I charge an hour as a custom layout designer and builder. First figure out how long it took me to get good at all the skills required, then factor in all the time required. So what would you value as your hourly rate?

As anyone who has built a layout will tell you, everything seems to take about 4 times longer than you thought. And there is more work required than you originally thought. Layouts are unbelievably labour intensive. So $50,000 for a large layout wouldn't surprise me at all, especially if he wants a high level of detail.

[vsmith]

Dont get me wrong, if your doing this Custon Layout Service for a living thats great!

Its great you can make a living doing something you love to do, especially in this sour economy. It just that short of me hitting the Lotto, I'll never be able to even consider the $$'s it sound like these services require. So for me and it sounds like a lot of others here its really a non-issue. We are too poor and will always have Hydrocal dust in our clothes and wood splinters in our hands.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831

Just to put the question in better perspective as to costs, our local PBS channel ran a show a couple of weeks back that profiled a well known custom builder located a little north of Albany, NY. When asked what they charge for a "nice, complete layout", the answer was,"things start at a basic $50,000 and go up from there." They indicated that they have built at least one $300,000 private layout now in the mid west. My guess is that you could get some Hollywood special effects company that would do it better for less!

CNJ831

5 to 1 it was for some corporate exec or music/entertainer type whos too busy to spend the time doing it himself so it get some one to grind out a pike for him. then The owner can impress all his friend with "his" layout.

The only way I would even consider something like this would be IF (thats a BIG if) I ever decided to build a large 20' x 20' or larger room sized layout with full blown DCC and computerized switching and control systems. Then I could see to need for help with all the miles of electrical spagetti wiring issues and maybe help in doing the benchwork and maybe basic tracklaying.

But I would never let them design the plan for me nor would I ever let them design the scenery for me. Those are too personal. They would always be more or less the "hired help"

[AggroJones]

No. Anything they can do, I can do just as well. I wanted to be a custom builder and model man but fear I could not make enough money.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ebriley

Response to 4884bigboy:

Who told you DCC wiring is more complex than DC? Don't listen to him! I can run three engines independently on the same track (more if I had more throttles) and I have two wires between the power supply & the booster and two wires from the booster to the tracks. The same functions with DC would require three seperate electrical blocks and their associated switches.

The defense rests.

What's an electrical block? See, I know NOTHING about wiring.

[leighant]

If I had lots of disposable income shoirt of time and already had the dream train palace as a layout space, I would consider hiring someone to build the trackwork and wiring
But my ego, personality and idosyncracies are such that no one could DESIGN a layout for my tastes and desires to compare with my own design. Refine it maybe. Pick it apart for bugs. But the designer would have to start with MY design and end up with something pretty close to it. I just pretty much know what I want, and have been researching it for years and years.
And I would want to build the scenery and structures myself.
I would appreciate some help RUNNING it.

[Anonymous]

Being a carpenter by trade I would build my own benchwork definatly. Wait a minute maybe I should place an ad? unfortunatly I could build elaborate bench work but the rest "if I had the money" i would pay someone to do.

carpenter matt

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831

Just to put the question in better perspective as to costs, our local PBS channel ran a show a couple of weeks back that profiled a well known custom builder located a little north of Albany, NY. When asked what they charge for a "nice, complete layout", the answer was,"things start at a basic $50,000 and go up from there." They indicated that they have built at least one $300,000 private layout now in the mid west. My guess is that you could get some Hollywood special effects company that would do it better for less!

CNJ831

$50K? I think someone's a bit greedy just north of Albany.[:(] I mean, what qualifies as "nice and complete?" Is the layout heavy on the scenery? Lighted structures? What size are we talking here? I think some of the local boys would be more than willing to erect benchwork, etc. for far less just to make some extra cash. I haven't seen a layout to date that I would fork over $300K to have a replica of, either.

[Anonymous]

As a person into building custom layouts I use my services on a daily basis.

see my website http://w3.trib.com/~mrljim.

Sorry I am booked with custom painting orders for a year and a half yet. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GerFust

SuperChiefFan:

Nope, I wouldn't use them. If I had a large enough layout, I might use a design consultant, if there is such a thing, to review my design and tell me what I might have missed. But then again, isn't that what you all are for?

-Jer

I am a design consultant, so we do exist, only I'm an architect professionally so I don't usually evaluate layout design (for pay). Still, there are plenty of us whose professional lives are design-oriented, and certainly many model railroaders who like layout design most of all, so be sure that there are those whose services might be available. I doubt, though, that there is anyone who performs exclusively this service for profit, and I bet the custom builders would charge too much to just look at a design.

So, as you say, that's what we hobbyists are for. Personally, I always evaluate track plans (my favorite aspect of layout articles in MR) when I look at them, questioning why a crossover is missing here or there, or why the aisles are so narrow, or spotting what seems like missed opportunities. This forum doesn't allow posting of images, but if you could find a way to upload your track plan onto your own web server (check with your ISP), you could share a link here and get lots of feedback.

[Anonymous]

Response to 4884bigboy:

Who told you DCC wiring is more complex than DC? Don't listen to him! I can run three engines independently on the same track (more if I had more throttles) and I have two wires between the power supply & the booster and two wires from the booster to the tracks. The same functions with DC would require three seperate electrical blocks and their associated switches.

The defense rests.

[CNJ831]

Just to put the question in better perspective as to costs, our local PBS channel ran a show a couple of weeks back that profiled a well known custom builder located a little north of Albany, NY. When asked what they charge for a "nice, complete layout", the answer was,"things start at a basic $50,000 and go up from there." They indicated that they have built at least one $300,000 private layout now in the mid west. My guess is that you could get some Hollywood special effects company that would do it better for less!

CNJ831

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by HighIron2003ar

Ok.

Let's say thee has a layout built for a average 10 x 8 room.

HOW MUCH? to have them put in benchwork, plans etc... is there some kind of pricing or is it between you and the designer?

I recall speaking with a custom layout builder years ago and remember being told it was a matter of size and design. Obviously the more elaborate, the greater the fee. Fair enough. I remember, too, feeling that most of this man's business came from well-to-do customers whom had little desire to build anything, yet loved to see trains run--and had lots of room (basements) available for large designs. To this day I wonder if small layouts are of interest to custom builders, given the "let's make some big bucks" mentality so pervasive in our society.