Q: I see the turnout size I want listed in the header page, but it's not included in the pull-down menu.  What's the problem?

A: I update the pull-down menus every time I buy new jigs.  If the size you want isn't listed, that means it's a jig I don't yet own.  I am happy to purchase new jigs to fill customer's orders but there will be a set-up fee to cover the cost of the new tooling.

Q: How do I go about ordering a special size not listed in your pull-down menus?

A: First, make sure the size you want is indeed available from fast-tracks (there's a complete list on my header page).  Then send me a message with a detailed list of your requirements.

Q: Do you ship internationally?

A: I used to, but I've had other countries' import duties come back to bite me, so now I only ship within the USA.  Sorry.

Q: Have you ever done any projects for museums?

A: Yes and no.  Although I've never been employed directly by a museum, the first railroad that I built professionally (the one referred to as "Brian's Layout"), was later sold to the Amador County Model Railroad Museum in California, where it is currently being reassembled for public display.

Q: It looks like all your pictures were taken on just a few layouts.  Why should I hire you over a more established company with dozens of layouts behind them?

A: An excellent question!  Even a small model railroad takes a lot of hours to build.  If a layout-builder has constructed many layouts, he hasn’t done it alone.  Instead, he must sub-contract much of the work to lesser talents, often minimum-wage employees who may care less about the results than they do about their own paychecks.  As a lone wolf I do it all, so the quality of craftsmanship you see here is what you can expect to receive if you hire me.

Q: How can a solo builder offer so many services when they all require so much time?

A: I have a very small customer-base – often only one customer at a time.  This permits a reasonable turn-around time for most projects. Even so, the wait time for some kinds of projects has been gradually creeping up as my services become more popular - so if you know you want to hire me in the future for a layout design and/or build, contact me soon.  If you delay until your layout room is ready, you may have a long wait.  Projects are prioritized in the order they are accepted, so you will not find your project getting pushed to the back of an ever-growing queue.

Q: Some of the pictures on your web-site look a lot like those I’ve seen elsewhere.  What gives?

A: I used to hire myself out as a subcontractor to another professional layout builder.  If I built a scene on another builder’s project layout, I may have put up a picture of it here while the primary layout builder has the same photo on his web-site.  Both locations are legitimate.  If you are in the market for some custom work, it is good that you are looking around at multiple providers.  I hope you find the one that is the best fit for your ideals.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: I generally work on a base figure of $90 per hour for custom work. In most cases, this will be billed using the actual time invested in your project.  In others, a flat rate can be given in advance, based on my estimate of how long a project will take.

Q: Why is it so expensive?

A: Custom or hand-built work will always cost more than a standard item off the shelf, and everything I do is individually hand-built (most of it is also custom work).  Actually, I don't think I am expensive at all.  I can't think of another trade in which you can hire someone with the same level of knowledge as me for only $90/hour.

Q: Another builder quoted a lower price than you for the same project, and his work comes with a guarantee of “museum quality”.  Will you price match?

A: Firstly, I’m glad that you are taking the trouble to compare multiple builders for your project, but in most cases I will have to decline a request to match a competitor’s price.  Although some people may indeed undervalue their time while still doing good work, a significantly lower price is often a warning that something is not right.  Some people will deliberately low-ball their initial estimate in an underhanded attempt to get a job when they have no expectation of being able to deliver the promised result for that price.  When comparing prices, check out exactly what is being provided, ask to see photos of similar projects they have done, and don’t be sucked in by misleading phrases like “museum quality” – frankly, many museum models are sub-par in terms of quality.  Also be sure to ask if the proprietor does all the work himself.  Often companies will have minimum-wage employees do much of the work while still billing top dollar for their time.

Q: What if I don’t like the layout you’ve designed for me?

A: If you have been honest with yourself during the initial discussion about what is important to you, the layout I design should be pretty close.  I give my clients ample opportunity for feedback at every stage of the project and I will be making constant changes based on this feedback.

Q: You mentioned a full-sized track template for layout designs.  Is this included?

A: No.  I don’t have the hardware to produce it, but I know someone who provides this service as a reasonable price (usually about $4/sf).  Not everyone will want it so I don’t add it into the base price.  I can order it for you but there is an extra charge for it.

Q: Can I take a track plan you draw for me and show it to another professional builder?

A: Yes, you can take it to as many other builders as you like.  You will be buying my time to create the plan for you and the finished plan is yours to use as you see fit.  A professionally-built railroad is a major undertaking, so you need to be happy that you are hiring the right professional for you.  There is certainly no implied or expressed obligation to have me build the layout for you, as much as I would like the opportunity to do so.

Q: You mentioned discounting your building services by the amount I paid for the design. How does this work?

A: When you hire me to build a layout that I have designed for you, I will take the full amount you paid me for the design, and deduct it from my final invoice.  If you only hire me for a portion of the build process, I will deduct a portion of the design costs as follows:
Benchwork only – 30%
Benchwork and track – 60%
Benchwork, track and scenery – 100%