I would like for somebody to scratchbuild thsi 2 locomotives for me and leave them undecorated or An sdl39 in Wisconsin Central paint would be awesome. I would also love to have a gp39E both in ho scale.
Please help
Daniel
Wasn’t there an article in MR a few months ago about kitbashing an SDL39?
Yup. Try the September, 2004 issue. It’ll tell you everything you want to know, but were afraid to ask. http://www.trains.com/content/dynamic/articles/000/000/005/246ixrvn.asp
Look about halfway done the page.
It won’t, however, save you money on your car insurance.
Andre
I’m not interested in making the models fro you, but I am interested in how much you would expect to pay someone to make them.
Several times in the past I’ve received solicitations from modelers who have seen my models in the magazines, and they asked if I would make one for them. Each time I told them it was a hobby for me and I wasn’t interested in working for others.
I later thought that I should have asked them how much they would have been willing to pay, just out of curiosiity. I always wondered if they expected to pay $50-$100 for a scratchbuilt or kitbashed model, or did they have a realistic idea on how long such projects would take and were prepared to pay accordingly.
Of course taking on such a project, one would need to have an idea on how much time and effort would be involved. Like most people, I don’t count my hobby time so I wouldn’t have any way of estimating a project.
It so happens that I did kitbash a model for a friend. He did work for the real Canadian Pacific Railway, and they wanted a model of a new diesel they had on order - an SD40-2F. This was the widebodied version of the standard SD40-2. An article on making such a model had recently been published in RMC, so armed with this info I volunteered.
I kept a log of how much time it too me to kitbash and scratchbuild a part of the model. This included painting, decorating and mounting the model in a display base with acrylic top. The project from start to fini***ook me around 53 hours.
Now when I did stuff to earn money in my free time, I always figured I should make at least as much per hour as I made in my full time job. Maybe more, because if I worked after my standard work week hours, I would have been paid at time and a half rate.
I didn’t really know how much to charge for the SD40-2F, so I made a deal with my friend - he bought me a $500.00 lens for my camera out of his expense account. So I made a bit less than $10.00 an hour
I was going to get all parts for them to build them, i have kitbashed stuff before but i just dont have the time naymore, senior at high school is killing most of my time already.
There are ads in MR and other magizines that offer scratchbuilding services. I think that Bob makes a decent point on the fact that it is going to cost you some $$. I would imagine (I have never done an engine but did do a rotary dumper) it takes a lot of work if you are looking for all the detail and such. You always get what you pay for, so I would be checking out the work they do.
If you are asking a forum member out of the goodness of their heart to build one, well I need a couple paint jobs done, let me know so I can ask [;)]
By the time you’ve paid someone to built you an SDL39, you could have bought one of the Overland brass ones and been money ahead.
Dan
06archerd, the nice thing about the electronic age we live in is it allows us to reach more people than ever. The worst that can happen is that no one offers to build the SDL39 for you, but it never hurts to ask!
However, I will weigh in on some of the comments above, all of which are valid. I’ve been into model railroading for, lets say, a few years [:)]. There have been many items I’ve wanted but have had to pass on because of money, time, or talent. Be content with what you have now. Set a plan for yourself (a realistic one) so you can either acquire the parts to do the scratchbuild or save money for the brass model. I guarantee you’ll find time to build this model, maybe not tomorrow, but a year or two down the road. Good luck.
RedGrey62
one thing if you get it done, it better be in WC paint[}:)]
Alec
I think it will be going in to my own railroads paint Archer Grain
What about Milwaukee Road paint ? They were the first owners of the SDL39’s
WC3023
I do contract model work. $14.50 an hour. Plus about $15.00 in fees I have to charge for proper chemichle disposal and supplies that I need beyond the parts needed for the project (I.e. Hobby knife blades, Rubber gloves. glue. Paint. ect.)
I would tackle the project for you but keep in mid ther is about 40 projects waiting my professional attention. I estimate the SDL 39 project as described in Model Railroader would take me approxamatly 50 to 60 hours.
James.
check out KASLO SHOPS you can get a body kit from them for the SDL39… check out the forum about canadian diesels by me peter jenkinson and follow the link … peter
I might. It’ll cost ya though.
Mitchell
Bob:
I’m not wanting to get into an argument, but if you work two jobs employer “A” doesn’t care how many hours you work for employer “B” and neither is going to pay overtime for hours based on the others time sheet. And it doesn’t matter what your full time rate is, it’s what is the value for the second job. If you think your time is worth $25.00 per hour and someone will pay it - get with it. But don’t condem someone else for not charging as much, as they might be doing it for enjoyment or personal gradification.
Kaslo is indeed planning to release an SDL 39 kit in HO. It would be a lot easier than kitbashing, IMHO. It will have its own drive so as to be prototypically correct. Contact John Whitmore at Kaslo. Price is projected to be $200.
Ah yeah, right, sure… I remember they stated they would do the MK1500D about a year ago or more, I even made the commitment. I forgot all about that until this thread. Guess what? Still waiting on that commitment to reality. I wouldn’t hold my breath on a “soon to be released” SDL39, at least from them. I think they need like 100 to commit. You would think that would be a breeze. Not trying to bash Kaslo, just saying yeah, right [:D][:D][:D]
WC 3023, your a WC fan, why say MILW road? WC’s paint looks 20 times better anyway. Or with a SOO patch [}:)]
Alec