Two million dollar train set; Huff & Puff Industries, Ltd

$2,000,000 divided by 2500 sq ft = $800 per square foot.  That is about twice the going rate of professional turnkey model RR builders.  IMO, at first glance, overpriced.

Eight workers with a total employer's expense of $50,000 per year for each worker would only generate $800,000 in labor expense.  Maybe the rest of the price tag would pay for a plastic surgeon.

So don't buy it!

leave it for some real rich guy that want to buy it for what it is and not for what it cost.

AG.

Tom,

      Add in the cost of the building! I would love to hire skilled trades people for 50K per year including benefits.

Gunny

Guys, there is something wrong in the numbers. 

I have had to get rates for complete sceniced layouts and the going price of the folks I contacted as of last year was hovering around $375 per square foot all inclusive.

My example was a raw average assuming everyone worked all the time which does not happen. 

If it took 8 professionals two years to make that layout they all need to hop on board here and get some lessons.  You all have easily done as good or much better by yourselves mostly.

When these projects go together the whole crew does not work the whole time.  The pay rate also varies as to expertise.  Everyone does not pull down the higher professional pay.   A helper gets helper wages.  Lots of repetitive stuff can be done by helpers under direction. 

The project manager and other specialists earn their own numbers.

Somewhere somehow there is Hamburger Helper in the numbers.  $800 per square foot just does not line up with some of the nicest shops in the country.

And $2m is off the planet for what they showed us.

If you noted, my cost comment was IMO. we all get one don't we?  This is a free market, get whatever price you can.  However everything has a peer cost comparison.

For 2 million everything better be super detailed and the toliets better flush!

I wouldnt pay $2 for that

Never heard of her!....didn't know not being in G scale or subscribing to those publications was going to leave me isolated completely from something going on in

trains.

Husband was "a prominent white-collar defense lawyer who represented mobsters, corrupt judges and politicians... He also maintained an elaborate model train system in the basement" [Chicago Tribune].  

Hmmmm....wealthy family....she's a designer...builds a "private museum" in memory of her late husband...per one of the quotes in the 2008 article, will be donated to the City of Chicago...and has an estimated value at $2MM.

Could be:

a) legitimate business deduction as a demo for her business;

b) tax deductible, charitable gift;

c) Both a & b;

d) Neither a nor b.

I'm with you Pat...there is nothing on that layout that pushes my model railroading buttons. It's typical of the sort of model train display the uninformed non hobbiests find amazing.

My opinion.

Bob

Wow. After watching the video if that's worth 2million I'm guessing most of our layouts are worth at least 8 million.

Jeff

Jeff,

If some poor idiot actually pays 2 Million for that piece of crap,  I plan on going to a yard sale, buying the tired ol' tyco figure 8 with tunnel for a buck and selling that for 1000000% profit to said idiot.

Question is who are those folks buying these types of custom-made layouts? We know they've got money to burn, but really who are they? 

No doubt when you see what is on this forum, the OGR has got talent and class when it comes to its hobbyists. One has to look at the magazine also and see the beautiful layouts run after run. The past Christmas contest was proof of that. The week-end photo fun thread never ceases to amaze a non-hobbyist like myself. 

Prairie

Must be doing something right!

Simon

To Me it looks like a regular large layout, can't see how in any shape or forum how its

selling for 2 million dollars.

Alex

it's in chicago, that's why it cost $2,000,000.00.

yep! and its $47.50 to park your car per day, but only if you are staying at subscribing hotel.