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Its not that I'm lazy its about time. Is anyone aware of a company that makes relatively simple RTR layouts? That aren't all 4 digits in price?? It doesen't have to be absolutely complete I could do building and the like but something more or less ready to go.
Honestly, I don't think you could get a 4x8 for less than $1,000 RTR. As with any business that provides a service, you are paying more for the service (the building of the layout) than the materials to build the layout. Unless you are only wanting a simple 4x8 oval, or a quick figure 8 (with or without an overpass) that is track only with no scenery or detail provided, then I'd bet you're looking at more than a grand to have someone else do it.
Building materials + tools + scenery material/buildings + labor adds up, quick.
This is looking at it strictly from a business for profit stand point though.
a 4x8 that is just plywood,some runners under it to make it stiff and a simple figure 8 or loop with a few switches is about all you would get for a few hundreed dollars. if you think about it the the cost to build that simple set up is around $200. now add the time to make buildings,add turf,trees,roads,ballast. electronics etc...and you just added another $100-200 in goods. anything after that is labor. I get alot of people ask if I can build a small layout and many times they find out that to do it right and make it look like my home layout will take alot of time. The money is not my big concern but if I spend 30 hrs to build a nice layout I want to make a min of $10-15 an hour. If not I could spend that time working at home or at my other part time jobs that bring in $20-$25 an Hr....Regardless I think you could find somone to build a simple 4x8 layout, complete with scenery (not detailed scenery) for around $600-$800...
Gomez Addams
Staff member
You didn't say what scale, or if you care, but Terrain For Trains makes a series of almost ready to run N scale layout kits. They used to make HO kits as well, but I don't know if they still do. I've owned two different ones, and combined them into a larger one. They are painted resin, and are ready for Atlas sectional track to be put on them, and trains can run. You can detail them later as your time and skills allow.
Yeah that's what I've seen is the Terrain for Trains website.
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