Model Railroading > Professional model RR services needed

The only way I am going to get my model railroads up and running is to purchase the professional services I need.  I have put two ads in the Model Railroading section of TO's classified ads.  So far, I have not gotten any inquiries. 

Thank you very much.

John

Try contacting San Juan Car Company as they sell the Bragdon scenic products and know that he and probably a crew did one localy years back.  They may be able to put you onto who would do it the people here by Train Mountain  are private so no go on that. I am taking what I was told some years back about it. Best I can do.

Buy a Model RR magazine and in the back are 4-5 companies who advertise who just build layouts professionally.

Bruce

DocJohn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The only way I am going to get my model railroads
> up and running is to purchase the professional
> services I need.  I have put two ads in the Model
> Railroading section of TO's classified ads.  So
> far, I have not gotten any inquiries. 
>
> Thank you very much.
>
> John

Here are two to check into:

https://affordablemodelrailroads.com/

http://www.custommodelrailroads.com/

mpe383 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here are two to check into:
>
> https://affordablemodelrailroads.com/
>
> http://www.custommodelrailroads.com/

Don't bother with the latter.  I spoke to Jeff Springer (owner of CMRR) earlier this year and said he was basically backlogged for the next 3+ years with jobs, including one very large layout that the client was paying in the six figures for.  

Honestly, if you don't think you're gonna have the means to build your own layout, and you are unable or unwilling to 'build' a team of modelers near your location, you might better just hang up the notion of having a model railroad rather than piss money away for nothing.  That is an opinion irrespective of how much disposable income is in your bank account.  You will not escape the need to do MOST of your own work, that is just the cold, hard, reality.
 

Sean Hoyden
Broad Run, VA

What professional services are you looking for? Your classifieds ads are for decoder and painting services. You would get guidance by just posting on this forum. There are numerous individuals who can do that work for you professionally. As Bruce said, a magazine would also have ads for those and layout building services if in fact you are looking for that. No matter what you are searching for, check leadtimes and turnaround time.

Good luck
Sean

Posted from iPhone

Thanks for acknowledging what I said was an opinion. Whether you like it or not, that’s what it is. That opinion is formed by the experience on the opposite side of the equation from where you operated for two decades.

You also have zero idea of my situation and assume that I’m merely trying to discourage this guy from his longer term goal. No sir. I’m trying to impart my experience-based opinion in a no-nonsense way.

I’ve been battling the specter of building a massive layout for years only to meet dead end after dead end from so-called professionals that you describe.

Fortunately, I’ve recently discovered some folks that have the right combination of skill and willingness to help and have agreed to do so basically free, and I’m grateful for their willingness to help and teach. I tried the pay-for-service approach several times, with multiple companies, and have probably “pissed away” several thousands of dollars to that end. That’s fine, as I was prepared and willing to do that, but my charity towards those outfits was better invested in my actual project not their vapor-ware.

What I’ve learned throughout the process to this point is that no matter how much help you get (paid for or not) it simply won’t be enough if you’re not willing to get your hands dirty and spend lots of time learning and doing the less “fun” things involved. There are many things that even now, I find to be downright intimidating about having a big layout. But I know they’re my responsibility to learn and the best way to learn is by doing with the help of friends who’ve been there.

The OP will be far more successful (again, in my opinion) if they assemble a team of friends with right skills/experience local to them. Rather than trying to work through the hundreds of professional outfits scattered about the globe who can pick and choose their clientele based on who’s putting more money on the table. It’s merely a fool’s errand.

4thDistrict Wrote:
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> There are many reasons why someone may want to
> hire a professional layout builder to construct
> their layout. They may be handicapped and can't do
> much of the work. They may have other important
> duties to take care of rather than dedicate the
> years it could take to finish a layout, such as
> raising a family, or running a company, or being
> the spiritual leader of a church congregation. Or
> they may not have the skills to attempt a layout
> on their own to the level of quality that they
> desire. To recommend that the poster give up on
> his desire to have a layout that he can't or would
> rather not construct himself "rather than
> piss money away for nothing" is an insult to the
> poster. You don't know his situation, so you are
> completely out of line to express your patronizing
> opinion.
>
> Up until the pandemic hit I was a custom model
> railroad builder. By then I was in my early 70s
> and business had slowed down considerably in those
> early days of the pandemic, making the decision to
> retire the business easy. My last project was
> delivered and installed in November 2020. Those
> many dozens of customers who entrusted their
> layouts to me came from many different situations.
> One was physically unable due to a severe stroke.
> Another was mentally challenged and his parents
> hired my services so their son could finally have
> his dream after several failed attempts to do it
> himself. Another was a successful CEO of a large
> company who had the money but not the time. And
> yet another was raising a family of three very
> active children with his busy schoolteacher wife.
> Many more fit somewhere in between these four
> mentioned. 
>
> Some wanted a fully completed layout that only
> needed a power switch to be turned on, thus
> requiring no additional work on their part, so
> they actually did "escape the need to do MOST of
> your own work", as you so incorrectly assumed.
> Others wanted only the foundation of benchwork,
> track and wiring completed so they could do the
> "fun stuff", such as scenery and structures. They
> actually wanted to do much of the work
> themselves. 
>
> And "that is just the cold, hard, reality" from
> someone who ran a successful custom model railroad
> business for over two decades and has years
> of experience satisfying customers instead of an
> insensitive, narrow minded opinion such as
> yours.  
>
> hoydie17 Wrote:
>
> > Honestly, if you don't think you're gonna have
> the
> > means to build your own layout, and you are
> unable
> > or unwilling to 'build' a team of modelers near
> > your location, you might better just hang up
> the
> > notion of having a model railroad rather than
> piss
> > money away for nothing.  That is an opinion
> > irrespective of how much disposable income is
> in
> > your bank account.  You will not escape the
> need
> > to do MOST of your own work, that is just the
> > cold, hard, reality.
> >  

Posted from iPhone

Sean Hoyden
Broad Run, VA

Thank you to all for the discussion and your suggestions.  Right now, do not need layout design and construction.  I know what I want and can try it out on a single level before calling the experts in to do the elevations and scenery.  Immediate need are for the following:

1. Put DCC sound in my Proto 2000 ALCO PA's

2. Paint the three unpainted brass Stillwell coaches.

Looking for vendors who can do the job right the first time and can do at least one of the PA's very soon.  Recommendations on vendors most appreciated.

John

 

Season's Greetings!

Performing a Google search for "DCC sound installation service" produced multiple hits.
I have not used a vendor to install DCC Sound, but I have seen my share of videos on the subject.  DCC Trains is owned by "AK, the Crazy Russian", who is quite knowledgeable and shares his insights in his videos.  Here is the price list on his website:
http://www.dcctrain.com/shop/custom.aspx?recid=2
Based on his attention to detail (such as wearing finger-covers to keep his skin oils off of the loco shells) I would trust his work.  That said, I have not sent an engine to him, so I can't rate the quality of his work from first-hand experience.  At a minimum, contact him concerning your project.  If you like his response, send him one engine.  If you like the install, send him your entire roster.

When looking for a contractor to perform work on your house, you generally find the good ones are busy and booked solid.  Unfortunately the same can be true of good vendors providing Model Railroading services.  If you are in a hurry, ask if they have an Expedite Fee.

With the highly detailed engines available today, the thought of having to install Sound in them can be intimidating.  Just trying to figure-out how to get the shell off of the chassis can be a whole project unto itself.  The odds that I will damage some details is high.  Most manufacturers don't have spare parts.  Unless you have a "donor" engine for spare parts, this could be an issue.  Some engines require major surgery to make room for a speaker.  In my case, ScaleTrains came to my rescue with their line of Tunnel Motors with Sound already installed.  I anticipate they will someday (hopefully soon) be offering the SD45T-2, and my roster will be pretty much complete.  

Please let us know how your search turns out. 
If a vendor does good work, please let us know.  And likewise, if the vendor is a turkey, please warn us.

Dave


DocJohn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Immediate need are for the following:
>
> 1. Put DCC sound in my Proto 2000 ALCO PA's
>
> Looking for vendors who can do the job right the
> first time and can do at least one of the PA's
> very soon.  Recommendations on vendors most
> appreciated.
>
> John

DocJohn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The only way I am going to get my model railroads
> up and running is to purchase the professional
> services I need.  I have put two ads in the Model
> Railroading section of TO's classified ads.  So
> far, I have not gotten any inquiries. 
>
> Thank you very much.
>
> John

Take a look at Enginehouse Services in Green Bay, Wisconsin:

www.enginehouseservices.com

Click on the "Services" link.

Dennis

 

DocJohn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thank you to all for the discussion and your
> suggestions.  Right now, do not need layout
> design and construction.  I know what I want and
> can try it out on a single level before calling
> the experts in to do the elevations and scenery. 
> Immediate need are for the following:
>
> 1. Put DCC sound in my Proto 2000 ALCO PA's
>
> 2. Paint the three unpainted brass Stillwell
> coaches.
>
> Looking for vendors who can do the job right the
> first time and can do at least one of the PA's
> very soon.  Recommendations on vendors most
> appreciated.
>
> John
>
>  

Consider Tony’s Train Exchange in Vermont, they do excellent work for a fair price.

As for the painting piece, just be sure you hire someone with experience painting brass. Lots of true artists out there, but there are definitely subtleties with metal bodies that should be accounted for.

Posted from iPhone

Sean Hoyden
Broad Run, VA

Try  TCS wow sound and their installers www.DXinstalls.com

here is a link to the P2K PA installation.

https://tcsdcc.com/installation/ho-scale/1415

Mike Stewart
Oakley, CA
 

Thank you, Mike.  Just the information that I was looking for. I have placed an order.  Hope to get one of the PA's shipped out tomorrow.

John