How much $$$ Would having a layout designed and partially built be worth?

[rrebell]

MisterBeasley
To me and most on this forum, building a layout is part of the hobby, and it’s the part many of us take the most pleasure and pride in. I kept track of my time, and found it took me about one month for every square foot of layout. I spent most of my time on detailed scenery, but that time includes building both structures and rolling stock from kits, tracklaying and wiring.

Why? This is my first serious Layout. I want the core part of the lay out (Wiring and benchwork) done right. I don’t feel like I could do a worthy enough job. Also I do infact have a few ideas drawn down on paper for a track plan, but I’ve been drawing freehand so I’m not sure how plausible some of the stuff I am drawing done is. So I’d like someone to help tweek the plan to make it more feasible.

You would do fine! One trick I used is getting old sectional track (brass will do) and layout any thing you are unsure of, not that you will use it on the end product. Another idea is making templates of the track you are going to use, I used the old track method more though as I could push a longer than I intended to use boxcar to confim clearances of some tricky spots and since it was throw away track, I could slice and dice without worry.

[BigDaddy]

I have another data point via the latest email from MR. There is a firm that will design your plan for $1,000 for up to 800 sq thread.

In another thread someone was asking about a full size track plan, that would be $3/ sq ft on paper 2-3 feet wide by 24 feet long.

The name of the firm is in the latest email.

[railandsail]

I’ve been considering getting my layout designed, and the Benchwork, Trackwork, and Electrical done.

It would be roughly a 10x10 layout so I think that would help keep costs down.

Does anyone have expirience with hiring out builders for your layout, if so How was it?

Doesn’t look like the OP (original poster) has joined back in his discussion??