Attention serious modelers....

[Anonymous]

Aggro

Don't be discouraged by some of the comments from experienced/serious modellers. Sure, they won't send thier stuff to you if they can do it themselves to a standard they are happy with. But there are many more modellers out there who have little confidence in their ability to weather thier won stock (and most of them do not join boards like this - you need to find them). Try it, and see just how many people come to you, and how many give you positive feedback - it's a great feeling to do a great job, but even better when someone REALLY appreciates it. Ebay and model magazines was the key to my reaching my market.

Photography outside is a must for me - pics taken inside need too much manipulation with photo software to look true.

[electrolove]

Aggro:

The best thing you can do is to weather a couple of trains and cars and just see where it takes you. You are really good so why not? And eBay is a great place for this.

[Anonymous]

Aggro, your stuff is pure art. I would love to own one of your weathered engines but on my budget I will be lucky to ever buy a decent locomotive from an online discounter. That said have you ever thought about doing some rolling stock? I might be able to swing a freight car that you weathered. Good luck in whatever path you take.

My only suggestion would be to start small. Use your profits to grow your operation. Stop as soon as it quits being fun. Again, good luck.

[Anonymous]

Aggro,

You do fantastic work, but I have to agree with some of the posts. Serious modelers will do their own weathering. The modelers without experience or time would be the market to go after, in my thinking.

I have weathered some of my own rolling stock and sold it on Ebay, barely recovered the cost of the model, let alone the time I put in on the weathering. True, they weren't "professional" quality like yours, but they looked pretty darn good.

My suggestion would be try a couple and see what happens. I did see some "professionally" weathered models on Ebay for awhile, but I don't think that he sold many. His starting prices were about $20 above the retail for the plain model.

[AggroJones]

I need to start taking pictures of my steam outside. Mabey the intense lighting will show what they look like more accurately. Cause the pictures I have now are okay, but DON'T do my fleet proper justice.

[Anonymous]

Forgot to add that, as somone else said, Ebay is a good place to promote your service. You won't get top dollar (unless you can get stock at trade/reseller rates - see listings by UK trader Making Tracks), but it is relatively cheap advertising. Within a listing include a link to a gallery of your work (which itself will include your contact details). Some people don't have internet access, so an add in a national model magazine won't hurt either.

My Ebay ID is makeamap (odd name for a model train weatherer, I know - my main business is cartography) - I have some stuff listed at the moment.

All the best

Spiff

[grandeman]

I think you can sell them on ebay.

As for me, I don't consider myself to serious a modeler, but I'd rather do my own weathering.

[Anonymous]

Hi

I provide a weathering service in the UK; have done since autumn (fall) of last year. Has been successful, with a lot of customers coming back for more. I would definately say go for it - you have a talent, so use it. The North American market must be many times larger than the UK, so if I can do it, so can you. Would you be the only person offering such a service in the US? That would be a great position to be in.

Most of my customers are serious modellers; many from model railway clubs, one is a consultant for Bachmann.

Factory weathering is becoming more common. I offer a similar level (which is only £10), plus an intermediate level and a detailed level. I don't think the levels relate to the amount of grime. A lot of grime can be appied quickly with an airbrush. The more costly option involves faded paint, body damage, rust, lime staining, etc. Some of my best weathering actually involves little grime - weathering is, after all, the effect of water, mainly, on materials such as paint and steel.

You can see sample of my work here:

www.pbase.com/craigasquith

Good luck

Spiff (Craig Asquith)

[Anonymous]

Aggro,
Nice work indeed! Where in California are you? I am in Fresno. Your original idea could work if you could get the models at dealer's cost. This should not bee too hard to do if you can get the right connections. I own Pine Canyon Scale Models.com and would be willing to give you a page on our site to help, if you would like. We can use the pics you just posted and have your phone number and email address so people could contact you for details and deal with you dirrect. I will charge nothing or receive no proffit from your endever. Just want to help. That is what some of us crazy modelers do. On another note, Last year, I found a nasty weathered PFM loco on ebay that I purchased thinking it would be a good candidate for re-paint. I was after a little 2-10-0 for peddler freight on my layout. It turned out to be one of Jim Findley's locos. He used it to operate on John Allen's layout. I had to buy another for my re-paint project. Can't destroy a treasure. Point being that people did not want that dirty loco. I love them dirty. If you want to set up the web page, contact me at [e-mail] You can then point ebay people to your page for more pics and details. We use ebay for advertising just that way. Later, if you have your own web site, you can transfer the info to your site.
Happy railroading, Keith http://www.pinecanyonscalemodels.com

[dano99a]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

My original objective was to sell stuff on ebay. The trouble with that is purchasing locomoitves at low enough price so I could resell them with reasonable profit. No dice.

As for the doing work directly for others via Fedex or whatever, sorry. This is one of those things that never came to pass. Sorry TEFFY & twhite. I don't want to pass away while still in possesion of someone else's $$$ model. [:(]

But I can give instructions and tips. Feel free to email me.

One thing I have done in the recent past is work with a seller who sells mass quanitities on ebay, he buys the locomotives (gets em' pretty darn cheap too. I bought 2 proto C&O SW9's for $20 each), I weathered them. He'd sell them, I'd get a portion of the sell price. Worked out well. I still do it from time to time, but being a new dad kinda cut into my time to do it. Now I think he has some other guy workin with him.

[Anonymous]

Fabulous!

[bow] AggroJones [bow]

I'll use you as a guide line for future projects.

[Jetrock]

Dang.

That is some NICE, NICE WORK.

Admittedly, I probably wouldn't pay you to paint my locos, but now I know what kind of level of detail I'm shooting for. Kudos to your artistry, though--and if someone asks me if I know a custom loco painter I'll know who to refer them to!

[AggroJones]

My original objective was to sell stuff on ebay. The trouble with that is purchasing locomoitves at low enough price so I could resell them with reasonable profit. No dice.

As for the doing work directly for others via Fedex or whatever, sorry. This is one of those things that never came to pass. Sorry TEFFY & twhite. I don't want to pass away while still in possesion of someone else's $$$ model. [:(]

But I can give instructions and tips. Feel free to email me.

[Anonymous]

I think it would rock. I have purchased several custom painted/weathered items on ebay over the years. They always command a premium and typically have heated bidding.

Those of us with busy lives who have trouble getting time to walk into the train room let alone paint something would love to be able to buy cars/locos pre-weathered. I see bachmann is doing teh 2-8-0 weathered but i'd be willing to bet your version would look much better.

[sparkingbolt]

Long story short, I was hired to power and weather an O scale crane for an O scale modeller. It was a success story. I wouldn't have paid someone to do this for me, cuz like so many of us here, I'd rather do it myself. But the point is someone was willing to pay. You don't need a majority response to succeed in your venture, just enough to keep you as busy as you hope to be. The real trick is how to advertise and show your capabilities, I suppose. Some of the above suggestions seem pretty worth while.

I'd think there are people who want quality work done who have the money but not the time, and for the same reason aren't on this forum.

I could have done more work for that O scaler but quite frankly, I didn't want to feel obligated to any more projects. I was glad to get that crane out of my hair. I decided when the creative juices flow I'll do my own stuff, not have to feel compelled by a certain deadline. Just something to take into considderation. Dan

[AggroJones]

Here's a little more.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NevinW

I have seen some detailed weathered locomotives that were being sold at model railroad meets like the Great Scale Train Show at Timonium. Based on what I saw, I think that there might be a market for extremely well done weathered diesels. - Nevin

I've seen someone like that selling heavily weathered modern diesels and freight cars from Athearn, MDC, and Accurail at a GATS in Sacramento. They seemed , at least to me, a bit overpriced.

[NevinW]

I have seen some detailed weathered locomotives that were being sold at model railroad meets like the Great Scale Train Show at Timonium. Based on what I saw, I think that there might be a market for extremely well done weathered diesels. - Nevin

[BRAKIE]

Well being a semi serious modeler I like my locomotives to look real..However I drawl the line at weathering except for lightly weathering the trucks and fuel tanks on locomotives and painting the trucks on my freight cars.Why? I found that a locomotive or car in mint condition and not weathered brings a better use price when I sell the car or engine.Until that market changes I will not weather my cars or engines except as noted.Also this is due in part by the limited run market that the manufacturers are using.
Now,would I buy a pre-weather car or engine? Yes..BUT only IF its not overly weathered or trash by graffiti.[:D]

[Anonymous]

Good Evening Aggro:

Send me an e-mail and lets talk. Please enclose your Phone Number.

My e-mail is [e-mail]

Have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob

[twhite]

Aggro: I'LL bite! I'm about the worst locomotive painter I've ever met. I'd love to get some of my fleet weathered. Had a neat guy here that did some for me, but unfortunately he passed away this summer. My weathering consists of standing back with a can of Floquil Grimy Black, aiming and hoping. You guessed it, most of my roster looks like it should have LIONEL LINES on the tenders.

[AggroJones]

Here are some examples.

[tstage]

I can't remember where I saw it but one of the big HO companies (BLI I think?) was offering pre-weathered locomotives as a listed item.

Correction!
Just found the ad in the Sept. 2004 MR magazine (p. 74). Bachmann's Spectrum series is offering both a weathered and non-weathered version of their 2-6-6-2 Articulated Locomotive. The ad says:

"Bachmann worked with renowned custom painter and high-detail model railroad authority Robert Hunter to create the first professionally weathered, ready-to-run locomotives for steam-era modelers..."

Non-weathered - MSRP: $349.00
Weathered - MSRP: $399.00

Tom

[on30francisco]

I think this would be a useful service for some people whether or not they're serious modelers. (Whatever the definition of a serious modeler is?) I prefer to weather my models myself even though they sometimes don't come out the way I want them to. It takes some trial and error to learn. The best technique is to practice on a model that isn't important. If it comes out unacceptable, so what! Try again using a different method. For myself this is part of the fun (and frustration sometimes) of this hobby. Eventually I get good (and sometimes great) results.

[AggroJones]

Thanks to all who responded. Once I build up enough capital, I'll get somthing, age it, and try it on Ebay. I'll put one up as a trial unit.

[Anonymous]

Suggest you contact some of the railroad historic societies and discussion groups and inquire as to wheter or not their members might be interested in custom painted and decorated rolling stock and motive power that accurately portrayed prototype equipment on that railroad. There are some railroads, such as the L & N and N. C. & St. L, as an example, that are hurting for moderate cost models, especially late steam/1st gen. diesel era rolling stock decorated for those roads. Consider offering your weathering as an option. . .

Any of the coal haulers may be good candidates since they had huge quantities of filthy equipment - hoppers especially. There isn't any way a manufacturer could offer convincing weathering of cars that would be used in large quantities in a single train, or populating a yard, because all the weathering would look alike and that would look toylike, at best. Or imagine a 30 car block of reefers all weathered the same, or perhaps a similar consist of NYC red & gray "Pacemaker" box cars with soot, grime, rust, and bird dung in exactly the same place on each car. . . What would a string of 'Rail Box'es look like with identical graffiti on each car?

Consider what Bachmann is charging for their weathering on the 2-6-6-2 as a guide for your pricing structure. Be prepared to show some of your work. The idea of featuring it in a LHS is a good one. Determine what railroads are most often modeled (and what era) in what price range in your area. Then wait and see if you get any calls and/or sales. Put a few pieces on eBay with clear pictures and again, wait and see. As an internet seller be fair in your s&h charges to make that a non- issue.

G scale may offer some opportunities since those folks usually don't wince, or if they do they get over it, at high crazy prices for everything. In my opinion, if any rolling stock or engines need improved paint, decorating, and could benefit from weathering , it is plastic G scale. Could be some opportunity for custom decorating for fictitious railroads like 'Petunia Central' and all the cutsey names made up by the wives in the garden. (they need to get back in the kitchen or do the laundry. If they insist on being in the garden they should mow the lawn while they're there.)

Good luck and don't give up on your idea.

[DSchmitt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Avondaleguy

A weathering service, where you custom-match customer's prototype photographs on the equipment they send you, might be viable. For pre-weathered equipment, I agree with the sentiment that they'd be more popular among the less-serious modelers, and for that reason I'd suggest doing the weathering to cheaper ready-to-run equipment. You could do things like body-mount Kadee couplers and add weight as well, to transform cheapo plasticville stuff into impressive models, ready-to-run. In fact, this is exactly what I am in the midst of doing to my old N-scale collection, replacing wheelsets, adding weight, and weathering the Bachmann and Model Power cars to a degree that they blend in with my newer Micro-Trains quality rolling stock.

I wouldn't buy from you, but that's because I'm a serious modeler and enjoy doing these tasks.

I've seen articles in magazines where people have weatherd a model to "match" a photo.
I have never seen one where the model really looked like the prototype, although I am usually impressed by the model and the weathering if I ignore the prototype photo.

Upgrading models is worthwhile. Many of the "cheap" models are more accurate than the look a first and can be used as the basis for a first class model.

You might want to consider "collectors value" before upgrading or weathering. Most cheap or even more expensive models don't have any, but a few do. On the other hand a hobby shop owner told me about a customer/friend of his who bought a $1300 O gauge loco (a collectors item) and immediately repainted it for his own road reducing the value to about $200. No the man was not stupid. He wanted it painted for his road and was willing to pay the cost.

[orsonroy]

From what I've seen on Ebay, the weathered cars that get sold the most are modern cars that have extensive grafitti. These cars (mostly the top of the line newer models) will command prices above $50. Everything else sits without bids, especially shake-the-box transitional era stuff.

I've done some weathering for people, and they're generally happy with it. But I show them my own cars first, so show them what a decent weathering job can do to a car. Whenever I run a weathered, authentic, steam-era train at a show (N scale or HO), I get a lot of compliments and "wow, that's realistic!" comments, but I get as many comments about how people don't like weathered cars.

So it's a crap shoot. Watch Ebay for awhile to see how consumers react to weathered cars, and put a few up for sale (realistically, Ebay is about the only place you're going to be able to sell enough to add supplemental income to your wallet). Then advance to engines, especially modern stuff that's correctly painted and detailed. Your absolute best way to sell items would be to base the weathering job on a prototype photo, showing both the prototype and the model on the auction page.

[Anonymous]

I do custom painting and customized models. I dropped my wheathering service becasue it was not all that popular, and the people that did use it were way to finicky about how their wheathering was done.

I personally feel that pre-wheathered models are overwheathered for my tastes. I will do my stuff my self.

James