More Color More Color - O scale trains

Reed Artim...ple give me plans and say, “Build it exactly to theplans,” which I’ve done.OST: How did you go from building models foryourself to building them for other people?RA: Basically, people saw my models and wantedme to build them one, and it just took off fromthere. I started building for other people and haven’thad any time since to build for myself. In fact, mylayout never got up! But, people like my work. I’mheavy on weathering and I like to make them lookas realistic as possible. I like them to look realisticfrom a distance but I also want them to look real upclose.OST: Does that mean you manufacture the architecturaldetails? If someone were to ask you to builda building that had lots of gingerbread or a brickbuilding that had corbels, a cornice...RA: A lot of that is available from various companies.You don’t want to reinvent the wheel. YouThis structure is a freelance warehouse made entirely of wood.use what’s out there and what’s available. Sometimesyou’ve got to manufacture stuff your self. Idon’t, as a rule, do any kind of castings. My structuresare mostly one-of-a-kind. For me to cast somethingto do just one building, it doesn’t pay.OST: You did a station in a photo by Jeb Kriigel...RA: Yes, Tenafly Station.OST: ...and that has all these wonderful supportsfor the roof...RA: Yes, those I did piece by piece. Each supportwas made up of 3 or 4 different pieces. But thatmodel was built for myself. If someone had to payfor it they wouldn’t be too happy because I wouldhave to charge too much for it.OST: Okay, suppose someone said, “I just lovethat Tenafly Station. I must have a copy of it.”This O scale barn was built up board by board just like the real thing.What would you charge for something like that?RA: That structure would be in the range of$1000. But, I like to build based on people’s budget.If someone says I can only spend X dollars, then Itry to gear my efforts to that price range. Of course,it’s not going to have the level of detail as someonewho said, “Do your thing!” Most tell me to do whatI think is appropriate and what will look good. Theyknow my work is good and they know if I don’thave to cut corners they’re going to end up with areal nice piece. People who are on a budget, wellthere are going to be certain things that can’t bedone.OST: Do you ever take a plastic kit and modifyit?RA: Oh yeah, I’ve done that. While I enjoy doingthat it doesn’t give me the joy of creativity when Iscratchbuild. People send me kits. I’ve done a numberof kits...Below: This is a scale model of the old Rogers Locomotive Workserecting shops which is now the home of the Patterson Museum inPatterson, New Jersey.22 • O Scale Trains