Building a 4x12 Layout for Operating Sessions

[TAS]

Getting back into the hobby after 40 years.  The new technology is amazing.  I am looking at building a layout very similar to the Milwaukee Road's Beer Line 4x12 featured in Model Railroader Jan 2009.  I like the concept of Operating Sessions, sectional layout, and transportable.  I would like to make the layout much simpler than the MRR version, just a couple of small industries; gravel station, fruit packing warehouse, engine servicing station and a small rural passenger station and small town freight station.  The problem is I have neither the time or desire to build the layout.  I am trying to find someone who is willing to make this layout for me for $25 hour, I figure the 6 modules built to NMRA standards would each take about 12 hours each.  Anyone have any recommendations?

[MPRR]

12 hours to complete 1 NMRA standard module??? I know if I could do this I'd be doing it full time. Of course if thats all you devoted your time to, then i suppose its possible. But to me it seems pretty tough to do.. Building the benchwork might happen in 12 hours. But when you figure in dry times for paints and adhesives, and plasters, the timeframe increases to 24-48 hours.

 There are plenty of custom model builders out there that will build what you want for you.. But I can just imagine what they charge for their services.

Good luck

[Swayin]

I'd have to agree - I think you're drastically underestimating the build times, unless you're just talking about benchwork.

[ratled]

I would bet you would get at least $6,000 - $10,000 bid for an all inclusive layout as you proposed.  You might want to look at this thread.   Might be more in line for what you are looking for. 

http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/171337.aspx

ratled

[TAS]

I have contacted a couple of professional layout building companies. I have gotten estimates of $200 to $400 per square foot for a museum quality complete layout. First of all those layouts are mainly to look at, and secondly I would be paying for all of their overhead as well. My objective is to find a decent modeler who is retired or one who wants to make a few extra bucks. I may have been a little short on the time estimates but when you add up all those small segments of time working on a 6 feet square section of the layout it turns out to be around twelve hours actual hands on time. When you get a job done by the hour its hands on time that counts, not drying time. I probably would buy the Woodland Scenics Mod-U-Rail kits for each module. So anyone up to the challenge?

[Allegheny2-6-6-6]

 Find a local club that runs operations it will be a lot cheaper then what your proposing. Your not going to find a modeler worth his salt that will work that cheap.

[Anonymous]

 Tas,

draw your track plan and have a carpenter built your modules or dominoes accordingly, put a 2" thick Styrofoam board on top of them and lay the track, using snap track. On the basis of a ready built benchwork, you will have your trains up and running within a few days. Hey you might even like building and detailing it yourself - it´s part of the fun of model railroading, you know!

[UncBob]

 You can buy the bench work material all precut in 3x4 sections so you would need 4 sections here

http://www.sieversbenchwork.com/

Then lay your own foam  or plywood and homosote -lay the trackwork and then have somebody do the balasting and scenery

[Doc in CT]

 What is the necessary requirement that it meet anyone's module construction standards? (Someone asked me that way back when I first posted my layout design approach)

Modular components are over-engineered to allow for moving them on a regular basis.  Also, they modules must be compatible with each other for easy connectivity.

The Sievers products mentioned above are  just well constructed box grids, at a somewhat premium price for the labor involved (hopefully they use really good pine.  One might have expected plywood instead).

[rrebell]

Sievers is the best I have seen of that type project, but expensive. That being said you could get your plan together and order the benchwork and a few extra legs (so that you could build it with easy break points for 4 parts 2'x6').  Cover in foam and use WS incline sets. At this point you could get a local in to do your track and roadbed and basic landforms (this would only take two days). Wiring on a layout this size would take a day  (remember Sievers comes pre drilled for running wires). If you use the plaster cloth methods it would take a couple of days to do scenery (except for buildings and such details). I would have to say that a layout this size with the benchwork built and basic foam base installed would only take 1 work week (40 hours) to complete, not counting dry times. If you use one of the modular tracks like Kato it might take even less because with Kato you could build it without even breaking out a soldering gun!

[cuyama]

TAS

I am looking at building a layout very similar to the Milwaukee Road's Beer Line 4x12 featured in Model Railroader Jan 2009. 

I'd suggest that you do yourself a favor and plan on overall dimensions of 54" or 60" wide rather than 48". Since you are building in sections anyway, you're not limited by the 4' width of a standard plywood sheet.

This will allow you a bit broader radius and won't force the main track through the curved side of SnapSwitches, as was the case on the original design.

TAS

 I am trying to find someone who is willing to make this layout for me for $25 hour, I figure the 6 modules built to NMRA standards would each take about 12 hours each. 

As others have noted, your expectations are probably low for both hourly rate and (substantially) for time to complete, especially if you hope for quality and reliability in the finished product.

There are some excellent custom builders such as Lance Mindheim and Rick Fortin, but I don't think your cost and time expectations are realistic for work of their caliber.

As others have said, you can purchase benchwork in nearly ready-to-use condition, and laying track with one of the "click" track systems such as Kato Unitrack can go pretty quickly. Pay yourself and save!

Best of luck.

Byron

[rrebell]

I don't think he is that low as some of the real pro's will work at $50. One has to remember though that any other cost like hotels and travel are not included and are extra, and if you want to yak it is at the same per hour. You can get a pro retired person at $25.00 but you have to find them and check out the quality of the work. A lot of the companies that build layouts do a bad job so you have to be careful and make sure your standards are theirs.

[pastorbob]

Have built several layouts, but I wouldn't touch your's for anything.  Just doesn't fit the image of a model railroader to have someone build everything for you and then you just sit and run it.  That will get old and boring quickly, you won't be able to diagnose problems since you don't know how it is built, and on and on.  This is a hobby and all that is implied by that.  Something to exercise your thinking process, test your building abilities. challenge your scenery building ability and most of all excite your creative juices.

I have the NMRA MMR award, I am quite capable of doing what you want, but I just won't touch it.  I am in the hobby for the love of trains, not to  build layouts for people who won't appreciate the time and effort involved.  There isn't enough money to tempt or interest me.

Bob

[steemtrayn]

TAS

 I am trying to find someone who is willing to make this layout for me for $25 hour, I figure the 6 modules built to NMRA standards would each take about 12 hours each.  Anyone have any recommendations?

Does that include overtime after 8 hours?

[rrebell]

pastorbob

Have built several layouts, but I wouldn't touch your's for anything.  Just doesn't fit the image of a model railroader to have someone build everything for you and then you just sit and run it.  That will get old and boring quickly, you won't be able to diagnose problems since you don't know how it is built, and on and on.  This is a hobby and all that is implied by that.  Something to exercise your thinking process, test your building abilities. challenge your scenery building ability and most of all excite your creative juices.

I have the NMRA MMR award, I am quite capable of doing what you want, but I just won't touch it.  I am in the hobby for the love of trains, not to  build layouts for people who won't appreciate the time and effort involved.  There isn't enough money to tempt or interest me.

Bob

The hobby is many things to many people, there are many with more money than time. If I was very rich I would have had somebody build mine (I would rather restore old  wood rolling stock ).

[Swayin]

It's true ... what is joy to one hobbyist is anathema to another. Some folks just like to run trains without all that bothersome building process ... others just love to look at their little worlds they built blade of grass by blade of grass. To each his own!

[TAS]

You guys are great, I love the comments. Basically speaking there are three types of modelers; the technicians, the builders and the operators. The technicians are in the hobby for the desire to put together plans, diagrams, blogs and give advice on the hobby. The builders are in the hobby for the joy of making a miniature 1/87th scale representation of something real, complete with figurines, grass and trees, etc. The operators are in the hobby for the excitement of running a representation of a mighty train as realistically as possible. I guess you could compare in to racing automobiles. You have the track designers, the pit crew, and the driver. I being a driver, know just enough about the track and what makes the car run to be able to win races. Without all three none of us would have a hobby.

[rrebell]

As always I live up to my moniker as I do all three, been a while since I operated though as I am building a new layout but saving the best of the old,

[Anonymous]

TAS

Basically speaking there are three types of modelers; the technicians, the builders and the operators. The technicians are in the hobby for the desire to put together plans, diagrams, blogs and give advice on the hobby. The builders are in the hobby for the joy of making a miniature 1/87th scale representation of something real, complete with figurines, grass and trees, etc. The operators are in the hobby for the excitement of running a representation of a mighty train as realistically as possible.

 

Interesting comment - I never thought of it that way. Looking at myself, I am one of your technicians, with a trace of operator. It is not that I hate building my layouts (I have done 6 so far), but I know my limitations. I am pretty good at designing benchwork, but need help when building it. I am lousy at soldering and wiring, but I am acceptable, when it comes to creating scenery and scenes. That´s why I don´t build basement filling empires, but small switching (= operation) layouts.

If your interest in model railroading is focussed on operation, wouldn´ t it be better to join a club?

[steinjr]

TAS

The operators are in the hobby for the excitement of running a representation of a mighty train as realistically as possible.

 

 Not sure how much of a realistic representation of "running a mighty train" you would get from having someone build you a 4x12 foot copy of the Beer Line layout. It is an urban switching layout with sharp (18" radius) curves, not a representation of mainline trains.

 The Beer Line layout was a project layout to introduce the concept of modular layouts (where each module could be combined in various ways).

 As several others have suggested - if what you like is running trains (rather than building layouts), one good idea might be to find a club to join - they will be more likely to have a layout of such a size that you will get to "run mighty trains".

  And even if you need to build something to become a member of the club, the right club for you might be a  club that builds N-trak or Freemo modules or some such thing.

 You might be able to hire someone to make one module for you (or one module up to the point of tracks being functional, leaving scenery to you), or you might be able to buy one ready made module (built to the same standard ...)  from someone else, and then you either leave your module at the club layout, or transport it with you to club meets.

 In either case, good luck with your model railroading.

 Smile,
 Stein

 

[odave]

steinjr

 Not sure how much of a realistic representation of "running a mighty train" you would get from having someone build you a 4x12 foot copy of the Beer Line layout. It is an urban switching layout with sharp (18" radius) curves, not a representation of mainline trains.

Well, even a FM H-10-44 switcher is "mighty" when compared to my Honda Civic

But Stein is correct in advising you to consider the "style" of operations you'll get with a switching centered layout vs. one that features long coal drags and the like.

TAS

...Basically speaking there are three types of modelers; the technicians, the builders and the operators.

I would add "artists" to that list.  As mentioned by others, some of us are in the hobby for all of its aspects

[Lee 1234]

Call MR up and ask if the Beer Line is for sale. They are done with it. It wouldn't be the first project railroad that was sold.