My wife was at a garage sale a few months ago and met a woman that owns an antique and collectibles store. She has an interest in Model rr and she gets a lot of inquiries about model rr anything new and old, and she has been thinking about looking for someone who can build some small layouts that she could sell. She and my wife have become buddies and somehow modelrailroading was brought up the other day at her store. Well of course my wife say's '' My husband has a big N Scale layout in the garage that he is still building''. The womans eyes got big as saucers and wanted to see it. I showed her the layout today and she was in awe. I had two trains running, one had 4 sd 70 macs with about 55 covered hoppers and the other one had 2 ac 4400cw's pulling a string of 30 double stacks. She couldn't get over the scenery and loved all the ''little trees''. She thought the trains were ''cool'' too. I told her I could build small layouts that would look this good only smaller and she said that is exactly what she wants, ''Turnkey layouts'' she called them. She even wants locos and some rolling stock. I am going to meet her tommorrow to show her some photos of hollow core door layouts and the first one I'm going to show her will be Dave Vollmer's PRR Juniata Division.(Google Dave Vollmer).This is the standard as far as I'm concerned of hcd layouts and this is the type of layout (maybe not so detailed and as many structures , but that general ''feel'') I want to ''mass produce'' with different variations. She wants at least two layouts asap. She may want as many as I can build for christmas. I am not looking to get rich at this, mostly gain more experience and make a little extra cash to support my own train habit. These are my ''for sures'' 1. Unitrack (for reliability and speed of layout construction) 2. DC only (keeps it simple) 3. 4 Axle diesels and shorter rolling stock. These look right on a hcd layout, 3 SD70 ACE's pulling a string of autoracks looks out of place. 4. 2 continuous running manlines (for action) 5. Must look ''profesional'' 6. Cannot cost me a fortune , Im hoping to build one for about $600-700 and sell for $800-1000. This is going to include 2 locos and 10-12 pcs. of rolling stock for two small trains and a MRC dual control power pack. All gear will be new. 7. 36''x80'' doors My biggest challenge is track plans.Where is a good place to find some unitrack hcd track plans? The other challenge is ideas. I have some but I am going to need more as I don't really want to just build the same layout over and over. I plan on doing complete step by step's right here on Trainboard with build photos and you will see how I do it and how they turn out and if someone has a better way to do anything from start to finish, I'm all ears. I am really looking for track plans and ideas plase chime in.Sorry but I had a lot to say. Thanks Guys
Thanks, I forgot about those. There maybe a couple worth looking into. I really need plans with two mainlines.
Just make sure she is willing to buy the layouts from you, not sell on consignment! Something as big as a HCD layout will have limited marketability. Cool idea, though, and good luck.
I disagree with your point 2: DC (keep it simple) I think you have it more simple with DCC. But the other side is price. I've just bought a zephyr for my H0n3 layout. Wolfgang
I agree keep it simple unless requested otherwise. Plus cost concise.:tb-wink::thumbs_up: Sounds like a grand opportunity though. Hope it works out Glen
This project is a go. I met with her last night and showed her some pictures of some HCD layouts and gave her an idea of what I am going to build. I have already got my door and some lumber for legs so I will be starting this weekend. I have a track plan in mind , I just have to put it on paper. As far as all you guys worried about all the legalities, relax, I am not worried about the deal falling through either because I already know of one her buyers is very interesed in one and so is his buddy. I got what they want and they got money. Simple concept.
Here is my old N scale door layout. I haven't done much since 2003 or so as I have been into Z scale, but I keep it running for the kids. I used unitrack, and built up the sides with layers or ground foam to hind the seams as well as painted the track. To make the whole thing for $700 will be ambitious. Unless you have more scenery and less structures.
Nice layout .:thumbs_up: I really am leaning towards almost all scenery with just a small coal mine or maybe just a small grain elevator and a few small structures. I mean really , I could spend 700 on buildings but I am on a tight budget here maybe 75.00 for buildings is the very most I will spend. Scenery is cheap.
Thanks! I learned an awful lot doing it and because I used unitrack, it is as dependable today as it was when I first ran trains.
Here comes the "devil's advocate"...I hope you realize that building layouts, even small ones with limited details, can take over your personal layout. I have been approached many times about building layouts for others and after discussing what they wanted (everything on a 4 by 8), the price I would want for my time and worry caused the prospective client to laugh and ask if I was kidding! Now, maybe a 2 by 4 foot N scale with prefab track and simple structures and scenery would suffice, but prospective buyers always want more. I have been asked on December 15th to build a 5 by 10 HO layout with big yard, roundhouse, Golden Gate Bridge, Rockie Mountains, and the Port of Los Angeles by Christmas...for a guy's 8 year old grandson. Just gotta love it! My point is that the lure of money can sometimes kill your hobby..something to think about. Woodie
I got started on Wednesday and got the legs mounted to the door. I never could decide on a track plan so I just threw a bunch of Unitrack on the door and started to see what I could come up with. I was planning on having two loops for two trains running at once but after I saw how crowded it looked I changed my mind and went with a double folded over dogbone single mainline. I also decided to go all scenery , no industries , no turnouts , just a roundy rounder. By doing this it will keep the cost down and eliminate the crowded track look. And I can get it done faster. I got the day off today and I plan on working on it all weekend. I'll put up some pics later.
Must disagree I look at it this way. Why not build one for someone else, make some extra spending$, and at the same time do what you enjoy doing? If approached to do something like this I owuld jump at the chance.
If you keep it simple, you'll have a better chance of succeeding. What a good laugh I had! Long ago, one of my neighbors wanted an L-shaped layout about 15 feet by ten feet on the legs--all to be built in two days! People have asked for prices on ships and bridges--I just refuse politely.
Modular is a key I would suggest creating the HCD panels as modular pieces that can be interconnected in various ways to create layouts that would be typical of a basement room. This would go a long way to satisfying the needs of someone who wants bigger and more elaborate. Of course this would be an option, not a requirement. Kind of customize to your liking using prefab modules. You could then put one idea or industry per panel. Design the industries in a way that you don't need to place the buildings down but there's a spot for the buyer to select which one they want. Make placement easy or procedural so the seller can place it down. Remove a couple trees or something and there's a hole to set the building(s) in. Sell as necessary at the store - no cost to you. Design the scenery in such a way that even with no buildings it looks fine as a clearing, what once was, or siding/mow. Even the scenery modules you can design with a few trees and what not that can be removed and a building/small one-road hamlet placed instead. Requires some real planning and testing as you make them but I think this will go a long way to giving the buyer an option to customize easily while reducing cost/build time for you. Can do a lot with 3 or 4 basic plans and some customization options.
