I have an unpainted brass Sunset Models N&W 4-8-4 J Class I would like custom painted. What would be a reasonable price to expect for the job? Thanks!
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No one has jumped in on this so I'll toss in my $.02. There is no fixed price on model painting and in most cases (not all) the better the job the more it will cost. There are some very excellent painters out there who offer this service, but do your homework as there are quite a few wannabe's who can charge almost as much and the results will be disappointing. All depends on how good of a paint job you want and are willing to pay for.
One of the best is Lee Turner who is arguably the best weathering artist in the business at this time and does great paint work. Matt Forsythe (sp) is excellent as well. I know there are others I would recommend, but I can't think of them right now. I would assume a good steam engine paint job with cab interior and other detail painting would be in the $400-500 range. It is not an easy job done right. I could also be way behind on current prices.
Butch
Butch has given you two good suggestions.
I only have experience with Matt. Never met Lee.
Having painted my own stuff for decades, I would say that a "J" with cab interior would run more than $4-$500. My "J" was painted in Korea, and I am delighted with it.
If you try it yourself, consider a Paasche model H, Scalecoat gloss paint, and really good masking tape. If it were me, I would ignore the cab interior, and shoot it black. I spendvery little time looking into model cabs.
Custom Painters are only as good as their last project. I know of a couple of others that I won't mention that were top rate a few years ago and are now is questionable.
Both Mat and Lee are fine modelers and painters. Both would be fine choices.
Matt Forsyth's site:
Lee posts of the yahoo Proto48 board. Some examples of his models are posted there also.
I painted this after I got fairly good - the silver is done with those neat pens that you get at the stationery store. The locomotive itself is 17/64, and mostly brass and copper.
Don't have a recommendation for you, but I'd contact the historical society for some references, and see their recent work, especially on your specific model as knowledge of disassembly and reassembly is important.
when I was painting many years ago, $350.00 to $400.00 biggest problem is decals.
I echo bob Anson. I paint for myself and spend a lot of time researching car images, assembling decals then prep, paint and decaling. On a freight car, I figure ten hours per car. Prep, sand blasting, interior and underbody paint/ weathering and decals all take time. I have not even started on my diesels, and a have a load of them to do.
at this time I have four sources for making decals. This has become the key to the castle. Paint, models and images are far easier to come by.
