Is there a market for an N scale mail-in repair service?

EMD F7A Jun 21, 2018

  1. EMD F7A

    EMD F7A TrainBoard Member

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    Just spitballing here. I have been handling the N scale repairs lately for my local shop, and I absolutely love it. I've fixed and overhauled everything from Kato to Rivarossi, to Brass steamers. Am I crazy to think there might be a need in the market for another repair/overhaul/DCC & custom paint service?

    I know the hobby is dwindling a bit, but I have the hands and eyes for the little stuff and it sure makes me happy. Am I nuts?
     
  2. cbg

    cbg TrainBoard Member

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    Speaking for myself I would say yes, depending on costs. I am getting to the point some of this is challenging for my eyes and fingers (n scale). Where are you located and do you have some sort of cost/service list?
     
  3. nscalestation

    nscalestation TrainBoard Supporter

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    For many years I supported my hobby by installing decoders in N scale locomotives which often included some small repairs. Most of that time I was working a full time job and this was just for my hobby money. I am now winding that down due to age, the eyesight not being what is once was, and just the desire to spend more of my time working on my own stuff.

    There are plenty of folks out there who will pay a reasonable price for these services. Don't depend on it to pay the mortgage, and it can often be in feast or famine cycles. For me, the greatest rewards have been the other modelers I have met and friends the I have made.
     
  4. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

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    I've seen your work, and you may have some demand for "custom paint!" Not sure what the market is for DCC conversion. I wouldn't mess with repairs, as you would likely receive a bunch of stuff that modelers have abused, expecting you to "make it right."
     
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  5. KE4NYV

    KE4NYV TrainBoard Member

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    All depends on if you can make your rates affordable, but also keep from losing your shirt. I took in a repair a couple of months back that at first appeared to be a potential dirty wheels/pick-up issue. When I got into it, I found that the decoder was shutting down, the wires between the tender and the loco had melted together and it was overall a mess. I spent hours on dis-assembly, troubleshooting and diagnosis. I then had to order a replacement decoder that took weeks to get and then spend another couple of hours on putting the new decoder in, including re-running all new wires to interface everything, while making it look good. Guess what, that didn't work, so I had to convert the loco back to DC to see if there was a motor problem. It did have a motor problem and that point I threw the ball back into the customer's court to see what he wanted to do with it.

    In the end, the customer settled on the loco might not be worth the work. He paid me for the replacement decoder and the equivalent of maybe four hours of labor. It wasn't worth it and I really didn't have a happy customer because he had a loco he still couldn't run. Although, he did admit the further problems were not my fault and he was glad the sound at least now worked :(

    For me, I will keep doing DCC conversions and maybe even some coupler replacement work for those who are willing to pay my rates. Other than that, I'll do what someone else said and devote a majority of my time to my own trains and layout.
     
  6. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    I think there certainly is. Tony's Trains does decoder installs. I don't know what they charge but their installation business seems to be thriving.
     
  7. EMD F7A

    EMD F7A TrainBoard Member

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    Everyone, The input is warmly appreciated! Honestly, I'm certainly not looking to fill my coffers doing this work but with a recent change in employment direction, I think it might be a nice little way to support my hobby without digging into the wallet as often. Also, keeping the hands busy keeps me outta bars and off eBay! Haha... I'm thinking about general prices, how's all this sound?

    General repair/diagnose/major service or fabrication $25/hr

    DCC board drop-in install $15

    DCC wired/soldered install $20-40 (depends on loco, complexity and DCC sound custom installs may require more)

    Custom painting: $45 diesel/$55 steam/$35 for rolling stock (plus decals and paint as necessary)

    I know a good amount about servicing and repairing engines, in the 21 years (I know that's not as much as many guys here) I've been with this hobby I have owned & shopped most of the American locomotives ever made except brass. A lot of my eBay sales over the last 10 years were things I picked up and serviced or repainted, and I have had many satisfied customers (1500+ 100%, eBay ID "Kriplstip"). I'm attaching a picture of what's on the workbench right now (custom paint and decal work), some of the first tests of my new airbrush and the compressor. Came out at least as good as Con-Cor paint ; )

    Most importantly, if I go headlong into this I'm going to need to advertise on Trainboard!

    IMG_0362.JPG
     
  8. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Here's a question for you then would you be willing to work on dark side power adding sound setting the sound up, or just Dcc to them .

    Would be from blue box athearn to RTR .

    I have a habit of letting the magic smoke out.

    And on disability gets expensive real quick .
     
  9. EMD F7A

    EMD F7A TrainBoard Member

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    Hey, it's 2018 you can model whatever scale you love! I LOVE the detail HO offers, I'd love to talk on whatever custom project you're working up. I don't have a sound loader rig, but I can get DCC power into almost anything. PM me as I'll have a lot of questions :)
     
  10. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    1st one already had Dcc but needs to be set up.

    Pm coming so as-not to get off topic.
     
  11. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    I might look at the custom painting as a function of complexity vs. a straight rate for a type of equipment. A "dip black" Penn Central paint scheme is a lot easier than, say, a Chessie System livery.
     
  12. EMD F7A

    EMD F7A TrainBoard Member

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    Yessir, simple paint jobs are less, complex paint jobs are more. I'd not feel right charging a grip of Jacksons to paint a fleet of red boxcars when it's the same labor as a detailed loco or two! That's the thing, fairness. Had a guy looking for two decoders installed, simple job so I'm doing two-for-one as I know those locos' decoder installs are an easy task!

    If only mechanics and plumbers always felt that way... :D
     
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  13. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    They love to lube and flush you dont they lol.
     
  14. MP333

    MP333 TrainBoard Supporter

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    DCC install? Certainly.
    Custom paint? Certainly.
    Renumbering? Certainly (decals must be available).
    Coupler work (body mounts/conversions/etc)? Certainly.

    Yeah, this is the time and age for marketing yourself and offering these services. There's a lot of aging boomers out there with disposable income and limited abilities in some areas. The nice thing about a cottage industry like this, is no real serious financial overhead.
     
  15. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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  16. EMD F7A

    EMD F7A TrainBoard Member

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    All good advice and honestly, I just look forward to doing something I truly enjoy.

    In fact, I am talking with the moderators about getting banner ads on Trainboard! Until then, I'll just mention my signature line has changed for a reason ;)
     
  17. EMD F7A

    EMD F7A TrainBoard Member

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  18. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Like the link thanks.
     
  19. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    First off a fantastic idea and to me because you are on Trainboard, a trusted source for information, swap meet, etc... you are already way ahead of the game as far as trust to me. Just remember there are people of various incomes in the hobby. Having said that, there are also people like me that are in the considered low end of the hobby too with simple Bachmann DCC EZ Control, Bachmann DCC N Scale F7, which I think just stopped working, and I hate, I mean HATE, opening up a locomotive, so we need to talk possibly :) And I do simple website design as a hobby, and for the occasional side job, and your is VERY professional and gives only the info needed. I will probably be filling out your form, but have to check the locomotive again. Also this forum is just amazing so you should do really well I am hoping.

    Best of luck, were is the link to the actual ad, or does it rotate with the other ads? Never mind I was looking at it as I was typing at the bottom of the page, go figure :) I would only suggest a logo that pop's in the color, Gold I guess, on your website. Once again, best of luck! Now I have to go fill out your form :)

    I would also suggest you caption every photo. I want to know when I see a photo what is it I am looking at, custom painting, decoder installation or repair, locomotive lube & oil maintenance, etc... geez some people like me would send you stuff on a regular basis if they have the money, which I don't, just to keep their locomotives in good shape.

    And last Gotham, are you Batman :)
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2018
    hoosiersojer and EMD F7A like this.

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