Recent acquisitions & restoration projects.....

[2railjon]

Can’t fight on an empty stomach!! Arrived today and off to the weathering shop!

[J. S. Bach]

I finally got around pb's anti-adblocker message and saw the car; is it a Weaver? I have two of the sleepers that (so far) have not suffered from the zinc pest floor problem. They are nice cars. Do you plan a complete troop train?

[2railjon]

Dave, this will be my 4th troop car and I believe all mine are by Atlas who bought out Weavers tooling. So hopefully no zinc rot.
Troop train? Getting there!

[E7]

I have attempted to sell more than one of my hand crafted weathered scenery pieces ---- it's surprisingly difficult and I am close to giving up on that effort. O scale modelers seem perfectly willing to part with thousands for an engine, but completely unable part with a $100-150 for a fully scenic'd structure that can be put on their layout.

Not too hard to figure out when you think about it.

My guess is, when most think about the engine, what pops up is: "No way could I ever do that." (Which is probably true)

On the scenery piece: "I could probably do that!" (Maybe so, maybe not, but a H*ll of a lot more likely than scratching an engine.)

Doesn't have a bloody bit to do with the quality of your piece, or the time you invested in doing it!

Rich

[bob turner]

I can scratch an engine, but have neither the skill nor the patience - let alone the interest - to do structures. Best I will ever have is two depots and a water tower - all from Bud Cantlay.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I have attempted to sell more than one of my hand crafted weathered scenery pieces ---- it's surprisingly difficult and I am close to giving up on that effort. O scale modelers seem perfectly willing to part with thousands for an engine, but completely unable part with a $100-150 for a fully scenic'd structure that can be put on their layout.

Not too hard to figure out when you think about it.

My guess is, when most think about the engine, what pops up is: "No way could I ever do that." (Which is probably true)

On the scenery piece: "I could probably do that!" (Maybe so, maybe not, but a H*ll of a lot more likely than scratching an engine.)

Doesn't have a bloody bit to do with the quality of your piece, or the time you invested in doing it!

That's one valid explanation although I'd challenge their supposition given the lack of actual building being done these days.

Another is that too many think that scenery and structures should cost 5 cents..... I got 1 offer for that piece of $50. The kit for just structure was more than double that...... At this rate I'll probably only build 2-3 more structures and then just sell off all my building supplies.

[healey36]

Folks greatly undervalue the amount of time invested. A buddy of mine paints figures and builds models professionally. Another friend of mine had him build/paint a 1/700-scale destroyer for him (including a small amount of photo-etch)...charged $60. Wow, I thought, that seems like a lot, especially if you had a bunch of these you want built. But when you break it down purely in terms of time invested, probably five hours, at least, the guy's barely making minimum wage. Then there's the cost of paint and supplies.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

..........charged $60. Wow, I thought, that seems like a lot, especially if you had a bunch of these you want built. But when you break it down purely in terms of time invested, probably five hours, at least, the guy's barely making minimum wage.

And that's a part of why I do very little work for others; real reason is that the fun in the hobby dwindles rapidly when it turns into working for others, particularly when they decide to supervise from afar.

Then there's the cost of paint and supplies.

Oh, that stuff I may or not back charge for, but I always retain the rights to any and all photography and the ability to turn it into a publishable article.

[E7]

And that's a part of why I do very little work for others; real reason is that the fun in the hobby dwindles rapidly when it turns into working for others, particularly when they decide to supervise from afar.

I always retain the rights to any and all photography and the ability to turn it into a publishable article.

I never thought about the publication thing but that's an excellent point. Very much like the gittes who enter commercially built models in contests. These folks have no ethics or pride. Pathetic is the word! I'm not against someone who owns a spectacular model and wants to show it off, but it should be clearly marked what it is, and should NOT be allowed to compete against scratch built items.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

And that's a part of why I do very little work for others; real reason is that the fun in the hobby dwindles rapidly when it turns into working for others, particularly when they decide to supervise from afar.

I always retain the rights to any and all photography and the ability to turn it into a publishable article.

I never thought about the publication thing but that's an excellent point. Very much like the gittes who enter commercially built models in contests. These folks have no ethics or pride. Pathetic is the word! I'm not against someone who owns a spectacular model and wants to show it off, but it should be clearly marked what it is, and should NOT be allowed to compete against scratch built items.

I almost disqualified one of the entries in the recent SONC far failing to meet NMRA requirements of being at least 85% built by the modeler, but there were so many problems with it and it's entry information that I knew it was not a contender, so I let it slide.

[J. S. Bach]

Dave, this will be my 4th troop car and I believe all mine are by Atlas who bought out Weavers tooling. So hopefully no zinc rot.
Troop train? Getting there!

I only have two; one a Western Maryland MOW bunk car and the other an Railway Express car. Both are pre-Atlas Weaver.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Sides built up and bits added...

[E7]

Looking good!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Looking good!

Thanks! It's coming along.....sides are all scratch and I do like to use those 45 degree scribed bits for reefer doors; more interesting.

[2railjon]

Rufus, that’s the first thing I noticed, was how unique the doors looked! Nice work!