Naugatuck Valley for Sale

[Rich_S]

It's sad to see the end of an era for the Naugatuck Valley. I've been following along as David expanded the Naugatuck from the original HCD apartment layout, to the current Naugatuck Valley layout. Even though I've been a model railroader for 40 years and a N scale model railroader for 25 years, I purchased the MR How-To Guide "Building a Model Railroad Step by Step". David has some great tips and suggestions in this book on building the Naugatuck Valley. I was hoping he'd do a few more "How-To" Operation videos on the Naugatuck for MR Video Plus, but I guess not now. I wonder if the CB&Q N scale project railroad for next years Magazine will be his new project railroad building series?

[Blazeman]

We can only surmise what his intentions are should he be able to sell the layout. But his writings have indicated he has a liking for steam and would need wide radius to do so, which seemed to be his regret for the NV layout.

Ten G's isn't bad for what you would get, but figure if you have to move it a distance on another 3-5 G's for truck rental. Half that if you live between Chicago and Twin Cities.

[C855B]

... figure if you have to move it a distance on another 3-5 G's for truck rental. Half that if you live between Chicago and Twin Cities.

Word. The shipping/transport aspect is not trivial. As mentioned, I happen to have a truck and be within a day's drive, but it would still be $400 in fuel alone for the round trip. "Famous layout" or not, I have a hunch the price is malleable given the logistics and unmistakable regional motif. The identity is so strong it would never be anything other than David's layout, just owned by someone else. Not that this is a bad thing, but... you know...

[mmagliaro]

How much do those "layout services" typically charge to build a layout for you in your home?

When you consider $10,000, plus the moving, and disassembly and reassembly costs and work, it sounds to me like $10,000+
would be better spent having something built to your specifications that fits your home space perfectly, by design.
And that's assuming you would want something "somebody else built".

As I understand it, layout construction services usually give you options as to how much of the work you really want
them to do.  i.e. They will design, build the benchwork and lay the track, and just stop there, if that's what you want.

I am having a hard time understanding what the appeal would be of buying such a large, expensive existing layout.
Is it because it was built by somebody well-known?   Couldn't a good layout builder make you something that would
actually be more to your liking than what David Popp envisioned for himself?

I actually think it would make more sense if someone were buying a beautiful, but more portable, layout (like something
built on a couple of hollow-core doors).

[AlkemScaleModels]

Max,
I suspect a build-to-order layout service would charge much more than $10,000 for a comparable layout. I would guess $50,000-$100,000 is a more likely range. But spec layouts and models rarely get the same price premium that build-to-order models get.

Bernie

[Dave V]

I considered buying the original Mohawk Division layout upon which my JD was based mainly because it had been such an inspiration.  In the end, though, I think all of the arguments stated above ended up keeping me away.

Someone else's layout is just that...  You can sometimes re-purpose it (as has been done quite effectively among several TRW members with the remains of Lee Weldon's Western Maryland), but I don't know how fulfilling it would be (at least to me) to purchase and use someone else's layout as-is.  After all, it was built for a specific space and a specific builder's vision.

I'm sure someone will buy it though.

I remember reading, or seeing on MR's video tour, that David was wholly unsatisfied with the staging capacity of the layout.

[wazzou]

I had heard some time ago that the average cost for a well done custom layout was somewhere North of $100 per Sq Ft. so that would put this one well above the $10,000 asking price w/o DCC, Locomotives and Rolling Stock.  I think the price is more than fair.

[Scottl]

They quote $149+ sq ft to just finish a house space around these parts, and nice houses are often $400+.   My guess is a finished layout would command a lot more on a sq ft basis, more like double or more.  Labour is the part that is hard to factor in.  Do model railroaders qualify for more than minimum wage? 

[MichaelWinicki]

If I recall Spookshow kept track of the building costs for his last couple layouts via his blog and the cost was about $200 per square-foot without locomotives, rolling stock and DCC.

I didn't keep very good track of the expenses on mine but I'm betting they were in the $200 per square-foot range.

Until someone builds one, with structures and scenery you have no idea how quickly the costs can escalate.

[sirenwerks]

David mentioned to some layout visitors last year he is starting a new N Scale layout to provide more article ideas for MR. I'm curious to see what route he goes with it.

In a way, that's a sweet deal.  He can write it all off as a business expense.  Seriously, I look forward to his next project.

[superchief]

I saw the layout last years after the NSE convention, great layout, one of a few layouts set in the fall setting that looked right, colors blended very well, David is a neat guy, can't wait to see what he works on next. Gordon

[Ian MacMillan]

Maybe Ian can buy it and finally finish a layout. 

Boo! From a bother no less! 

[mcjaco]

Boo! From a bother no less! 

Because it's sooo far off base.   

[superturbine]

I hope that David Popp stays with N scale (or maybe even scales down to Z scale) - there are just too many H0 layouts out there. 

When I visited his house with Kirk he said he was not staying with n scale.  If my memory serves me correct he is expanding the slot car track.

[peteski]

When I visited his house with Kirk he said he was not staying with n scale.  If my memory serves me correct he is expanding the slot car track.

Are you serious?! Really?  Slot cars?!  Hey, why get rid of the layout: just get some Kato locos and run them at full throttle. No need for slot cars.