Being a program director and on air at a local radio station as well as an avid model railroader and “foamer”, I want to construct a 2x4’ N Scale layout to take to our remote brodcasts this holiday season (2007). I am a WGH Ambassador and really think this would put the hobby in front of hundreds of people at stores, malls, car dealers and etc. I have my own layout and most of the material, but need to trade for advertising, some rolling stock, structures and scenic materials. This means the manufacturer would get credit on our web site and on the air.
Doesn’t anyone have a contact with anyone that could help? I’ve gotten no response from Walthers, DPM and now WGH itself.
I’d try using the phone instead of letters or E-mail. Might try some of the smaller companies. Tell them your going to give it away in a drawing after the event. Not so they think your just trying to get free stuff for yourself.
Thanks Loathar - I will call the marketing departments. Naw, I just need generic material, I don’t need anything free for myself, after all I’m not an LHS, just a modeler.
For a 2x4 layout, I’d consider a trainset by Kato, Athearn, Bachmann, or LifeLike. Athearn uses Bachmann EZtrak in their sets. The rest make their own plastic track. For a 2x4 layout, a loop of track with a turnout or 2 will be fine.
The fun with these small layouts would be with the structures you put with it.
ive built a small 4 by 6 layout for an adult day program and i found that people are pretty generous if you are nice about asking. The NMRA has a huge list of MRR links and i foudn it best to email the people i thought could help me. i wrote them a email, stated what the project was about, gave them references and phone number to verify i wasnt about to con them out of stuff. I also asked them to provide advertising and promotional stuff so i could give them from free exposure as well.
I contatced about 200 different people. some didnt answer ( about 60%) some answered and said wouldnt or couldnt do it for various reasons ( about 20-30%) and the rest responded enthusiastically. You will find that a lot of place will flood you with stuff and other will send you one item… its all good. I also found that buying stuff on ebay can be a great boon. I bought some item i couldnt get donated by bidding on them and asking seller if he could give me a discount on shipping. most agreed and even threw in extra stuff.
the most important part i fell though is to give people something back for what they give you. not just free exposure but also feedback on how you use their product. as i built the layout i took lots of picture and emailed everyone each week explaining what happened during the week and where i was at. I also posted on a forum board to give people an idea of what i using the stuff they gave me. I never had a negative comment from anyone. Also i made sure to have everyone who donnated be sent some type of letter or certifictae of recognition for what they did. The organization i built the layout for was very nice about sending personalized thank you card to everyone.
there are many place where you can get stuff for free or next to nothing, with summer coming, garage sale can be a great place to get stuff, as are flea market, salvation army store, second hand store and the likes. A lot of place also have recycled house building material, you can save huge amount on used 2 by 4 or sheet o
