Wierd Question

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As in build a hard to find or custom model. As in lets say I want a model of a hard to find or never producel model of an engine, could i find someone who can build said model.
 


well i doubt anybody would be pouring molds but if say it was a northern you wanted that nobody produced yes there are people that wll but the right running gear paint / tender & details , its all about the greenbacks
 
Contact Overland Models Imports. They may have what you are looking for.
 
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In the past, there were quite a few custom builders listed in ads in MR, and RMC. However, many of these men have died, and the list is extremely small. Most would be scratchbuilders in brass, and their prices were never cheap. For example, a Bill Lenoir, (one of the best at that time), locomotive built in the early 1950's in O-scale was well over a grand then. Plus you would have a 1-3 year waiting period before he could even start on it.

If we knew what you were looking for, a custom builder may NOT be needed. We could suggest a loco that would be a good place to start with a major re-detailing of the model and you would wind up with a loco the otherwise you couldn't get any other way.
 
I ran across a fella recently that is having some O scale engine custom built.....it is not a pleasant tale.

The builder demands payment up front....I could live with that, I guess.
The builder is a very poor communicator.
The engine is about 18 mos late and no end in sight.

Good luck.
 
Again, the question is what is it you want, and what scale? It could very well be that such a critter might have already been made in brass, and could be reposing on the shelves at a major model train store, e.g., Caboose Hobbies in Denver, Colorado. They have a large glass display case with a bunch of steam and diesel brass models in HO (and maybe some in O...I don't pay attention to other than HO).

I would NOT pay someone up front for a custom-built anything. A 10-20% downpayment would be the maximum I would put up. It is NOT that I don't trust such folks...though there have been ripoff artists out there. But even the most honest individual is a one-person proposition, and can be subject to the whims of fate, personally, family-wise or financially, and might not be able to complete the job. If they would take a credit card (which most aren't set up to do), it might give you some measure of protection. Even though it costs a bit extra, I take credit cards for my custom leather business. It is a protection for both customer and vendor.
 
If you can find a chassis that will do a 3D printing company like shapeways could build a shell if you design it or have it designed. I have done BASIC work there and the WSF material made up two wellcars in the middle of a 25 railcar train I ran last night. No room for additional framing there so I guess it must be strong enough.

What are you looking to do?
 


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