I realize the final collective price was a complete shocker to most folks. But, as at least one commentator mentioned, a lot of work went into the project. Too many Sellers produce weathered cars at a brisk pace compared to me. Not to knock that, but if you figure that my single freight cars go for on average of $!00 to $300… then $800 for a set of five is not insanity. At least not to those willing to own good craftsmanship.
I spent over 6 weeks of evenings and weekends taking this from stripped units and undec trailers to details not normally found on a stock Spine Set, repainting and then weathering in many steps. We’re not talking a TTX Walthers set, built up, and airbrushed in a couple days, with trailers out of the package plopped on. They are quite unique. The idea was that there wouldn’t be a package like this one anywhere!
I could not begin to get those prices if I put my stuff up in the local hobby shop’s glass case. We all agree on that. My work, and presentation, are certainly responsible for the National attention (and European fans too), but now a lot of it is trading on my name. Supply and Demand… and what people will shell out to have something of mine on their layout… or in their curio cabinet.
I just want to congratulate you mike for doing an outstanding job on weathering them cars, i do alittle weathering but i have never really tried to do a really good weathering job, i guess i could do it i have soem talent i have painted 1 picture that got me best of show at 2 events and peoples choice award, and and A in art class in high school, and grand champion in 4-h in the county i live in, i also have done quite a fe pencil drawing that have yeilded numerous ribbons and plaques for me, and soem dough$$$. I think i might sit down and try some really detailed weathering with my handy paint brush chalks, and paschae airbrush, and floquil paints. Thanks mike you truly are a great inspiration!!!
Nice work and worth the price to those who bid. You might do as well on your own, but I own a typewriter and haven’t written anything like Hemingway yet. Why is a piece of paint splashed cloth worh millions? Because a painting can trescend being a picture and become art. J.R.
Well said Mike, and GREAT JOB! Oh, and for those posts above that refer to buying and airbrush and learning how - Mike does not use an airbrush! Go figure!!!
I really love intermodal cars in model format, but in real format, they stink! I hate what power they get! I guess I kind of got off topic. I really like the “UPS” and “TIP Intermodal Service” cars. They rock!!! I’m planning on getting some! Although, not brass, way too expensive! But I guess its reasonable!
Personally, I think people who buy a Starbucks latte something-or-other frappa-whatsit for $4.00 on a daily basis are a little loony. A friend at work gets a round of assorted beverages from there EVERY day, and one or two on the weekends. We estimated she spends about $300 or more on having to have these designer java drinks.
Then you have people like me, who are fine with the lunchroom coffee in a Dixie cup, which costs me zilch.
So, like weathering, there are folks who want the hi-test, premium grade stuff if they can afford it - and there are the regular stiffs who are content to have the little-or-no-cost alternatives.
If I tell the friend at work “You’re crazy for spending hundreds of dollars on designer coffees each month!”… she responds with “It’s my money, I like what I like, and that’s that”.
These people who buy my work have the same attitude.
Also… to those who think I am more of a snake-oil salesman than anything… my eBay feedback would not read as it does. Somebody would surely say “What an overpriced piece of guano! I was ripped off!”
The WORK is what gets the money. All my jabbering just points your gaze to things you might otherwise overlook. Or gives you a synopsis of what the real car was - and what I did to emulate it. People in the know understand this - others think it is complete B.S.
The bottom line is, you’ve found a great niche. You’re exceptional at it, too. I’d buy some stuff from you…if I could pay you a dollar a day for the rest of my life. But alas, I need a whole bunch of other stuff. Lastly, knowing how to present your items on Ebay like you do, gives the potential buyer every angle to inspect your work, both with the pictures, and the great descriptions. My hat’s off to you. Now, on a side note, do you do any “common man” affordable weathering?
Rod…I would hazard a guess that Mike does what ever he wants…Boy, what outstanding work. The weathering ON THE INSIDE of the wheelsets, even!! Gads…Someday, I may learn to appreciate the need for such work…Right now I’m just amazed. Way to go Mike!!
100 hours, $8.00 an hour not including materials! A true artist will always struggle to earn a living wage from their talent. If you know anyone with talent in the arts or crafting, you will realize that the economics make it virtually impossible to sell hand crafted items at a reasonable cost to cover the labor time. For example, my wife is a very talented needle arts designer. She is published and had won national competitions. She is currently a finalist in a designer purse competition for a national publication. One of her friends begged her to make her one of the purses, but with well over 100 hours of work in it (it is covered in lots of very intricate needle work) what should she charge? Give herself minumum wage and cover the cost of materials and you have a $600 purse! She could not command that level of pricing. Mellow Mike has accomplished something that many gifted artists never will. He has developed a brand and name recognition, and in doing so, has found a market niche and a customer base willing to pay for his work. Although, I would argue that $8 an hour (my estimate) is a darned good deal to get the work of one of the most talented artists in the hobby!!
Some of the respondents are amazed at the $810.00 price tag and others are amazed at the product. I think is good when the buyer and the seller both think they get the better deal. I don’t think the buyer is crazy nor do I think the seller was nuts. Fifty years ago if you told me I’d be checking newly laid track with a $400.00 brass engine, I’d have told you “you are crazy because I’ll never spend the money to buy a brass emgine, let alone use it as a test unit”. Many years later I parted with the money to buy a slew of brass engines.
If that’s what you want and you can afford it, you buy it. Look at cars!!! My eight year old Dodge Caravan gets me every place I want to go (even 6,000 miles to meet six forum members). But a lot of people trade in a two or three year old car for a new one, do they need it NO, but they want it.
I get this a lot. While there are projects and rustbuckets that I do, knowing people will go bonkers over them, I have also done some low-key cars. The problem with them, is there are many folks who want those too, because they can’t afford the “primo ones”.
I’ve done what my friend calls “Ghetto cars” or “Blue Plate specials”, thinking they will go for $40 or so, but they end up going for close to $100 because of bidding. The only way around that is to list one with a Buy It Now price of $40 or something - but the auction would end within minutes of listing - and people like you might miss it.
I don’t do cars pro bono, off eBay, but I have done an occasional gift car for someone. It wasn’t a balls-out head-turner, but the recipient was jazzed nonetheless.
You are without a doubt the leading edge artist for weathering models in our modern time! You really have kicked it up on weathering and detailing more than a few notches.
I am sure that I speak for the whole forum community here if I could ask you just one question.
Would you be willing to share with us in this forum a weathering clinic on your next model railroad project?
I am sure we would all greatly benefit from such a clinic.
If not, I understand, but thought I would ask anyway.
I can’t really do a clinic on “painting a train realistically”. People marvel at my stuff, and say show us how to do that! It’s not simply weathering in the traditional sense. I am not smearing on alcohol and ink… or chalk powder… etc. (i.e. dirtying up a model).
What I do, is prop up a photo of the real thing on the workbench, and use paints (diluted and full strength) to replicate the nuances seen in the photo. That’s the gift. Translating shading and streaks and rust into what materials I have on the workbench.
The average modeler who’s serious about his weathering probably has a good number of materials on his workbench. I happen to have a bazillion. Okay, a couple hundred paints. From military enamels to fantasy water-based colors to stock art store tubes. Over a third of my paint colors, from the 1980’s, aren’t even available anymore!
I have literally dozens of brushes. I grind up pastel chalks into powder sometimes. Or use A.I.M. powders if I need more grit.
The local club guys here in town have begged me to do a clinic - but I’d have to haul boxloads of crap to their club. Most of the guys there have an airbrush, but I don’t use one at all. So how can they benefit from seeing me hunched over a table, painting under a magnifying glass, with a small brush?
Someday, I’ve promised to try and do a “weathering book”, when I’ve burned out on HO. I would do that rather than a DVD or an online clinic. I mean, if this were a priority, I would be in MR doing “Mellow Mike Does a Gondola” article by now.
My cars don’t look like anyone’s before me, so I have a style mostly my own. I didn’t learn what I do from model railroaders doing articles or clinics. It’s years of military and fantasy figure modeling coupled with a love of trains. At this point in time, I don’t want to create more versions of myself to compete with me. If that makes any sense…
I know most people who are successful stay close to the vest with their proprietary secrets, and you are no exception. Even in my job we have to sign a confidentiality agreement that we will not divulge any information, procedures, or knowledge base with anyone outside the company. This does give our restaurant company an edge so to speak.
I look forward to your book someday, I am sure it will be a hit among devoted modelers.
Mike is an artist not a tradesman. $800 bucks for a work of art is peanuts. It just shows how small the market is. At various times in my life, I’ve paid more for a cupboard, a phone, a bicycle, a watch and a meal. There’s no such thing as a “wrong” price, just a buyer and a seller.
For those of us who want a journeyman’s weathering job for a few bucks, there are armies of kids out there at the LHS ready and willing to do the job well.
The guy who paid $810.for those freight cars would come in first on the “How bad do you have train fever” thread.And I choke whenever I pay $20. for a boxcar[:0][B)]!