A few thoughts, for what little they are worth: Model railroading is a hobby intended to entertain the modeler. As a modeler, I am willing to pay a price for hobby supplies that exceeds the price a non-modeler or new hobbyist might pay. I ascribe a value to each item because of its fit within my modeling goals. Generally, I perceive that many modelers don't find much pleasure in buying someone else's work. Why? The hobby pleasure comes through the modeling journey, not so much the destination. Most of us like to build. It could be benchwork, track, structures, scenery, rolling stock, motive power or timetables. I get a kick out of using those creative juices to build, to make stuff, to solve problems. In a hobby, my work and treasure has more value to me than it does to another modeler. I pay the cash for not only the kit but even more for the enjoyment of building the kit for use on my layout. For another modeler, I could see how buying a completed structure might be like paying for someone else to have all the fun. Given all that, I see hobbies as investments not in treasure but in entertainment. Entertainment doesn't have monetary value that the original purchaser can transfer to another person. Much of what we purchase for our model railroading hobby is simply entertainment for ourselves. Once we've used up the fun in the stuff we buy, then the remaining pieces and parts hold much less value to a secondary user. Kind of reminds me of buying a new car. Worth $20,000 on the day you buy it. But you can't sell it for the same amount the very next day. Putting this all in words helps me understand even better that I have no business being critical of another modeler's work. His hobby is intended for his entertainment, not for my entertainment.
Jeff, I can't see a professional builder spending $100 per sq ft on materials. I've pointed out that lichen at a floral supply shop is about 1/50 the cost of lichen at hobby stores. It's not quite as fine or varied in color, but a professional should be able to do wonders with ground foam and spray paint. I can believe $500 per sq ft for museum quality work, but that rules out lichen and a lot of other materials--museums want at least a 100 year guarantee, or the equivalent. Without rolling stock or engines, but including electronics, I value my 338 sq ft layout at about $10,000 in materials. That's about $30 per sq ft. I can see spending much more if you are using museum-approved materials, and buying lots of kits for an urban scene. Back to ships because there is an established market. A museum-quality builder lives in Albuquerque. He built a modern container ship for the Mystic Seaport museum in Mystic, CT. He bought many Z-scale containers at a LHS, probably for close to retail. But he was building for a museum, even if it is a commercial enterprise-no problem, it is a fantastic place! I built about half of the structures on my layout from scratch or by kitbashes. They are worth about $1.00 a piece to a buyer. I'd be glad to sell my railroad, as I am moving, and will probably not start again, as my interests are changing. All but one section is modular, so it could be chopped up and reassembled without too much effort. But it would take a good size truck to move it. It will cost me at least $900 if I rent a truck and move it 1400 miles--that's for the truck rental.
That's sorta what I've thought to myself forever. I love making things "mine" and putting my own signature into what I do.
Geeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzz Pete. If I had the $$ I would buy your layout...as I have always liked it. Living only 4 hours from "Albacrackers" the cost to transport wouldnt be to bad. Anyways... *sigh*....I wish you luck in your new adaventures. ^5 .
