So, how much does it cost to build a layout? Well, just to see how many people I can successfully scare away from the hobby, I've actually gone ahead and kept track. Hey, if nothing else, it'll give me some idea of what it's worth when it comes time to sell it. Oh, and naturally I've left off all of the heavy-duty electronics (DCC system, etc) that I retain from one layout to the next. So believe me, it's even worse than it looks.
| $9 | 4 2 X 4's (Home Depot) |
| $1 | Nails (workshop supplies) |
| $30 | 2 sheets of 4' X 8' X 1.5" pink insulation (Home Depot) |
| $66 | 6 bottles of Woodland Scenics Foam Tack Glue (YOLHS) |
| $55 | 6 rolls of Woodland Scenics Plaster Cloth (YOLHS) |
| $37 | 13 sets of Atlas Code 80 terminal joiners (YOLHS) |
| $21 | 1 Kato Unitrack "Double Truss Bridge" (YOLHS) |
| $169 | 14 Atlas #6 manual turnouts (YOLHS) |
| $104 | 33 packs of assorted Atlas straight/curved Code 80 track sections, 6 pieces per pack (YOLHS) |
| $28 | 31 pieces of 36" Midwest Products Co. cork roadbed (YOLHS) |
| $52 | 14 pieces of Atlas Code 80 flex track (YOLHS) |
| $30 | 1 Cornerstone "Merchant's Row II" building kit (YOLHS) |
| $5 | 1 can of cheap interior latex paint (workshop supplies) |
| $40 | 4 boxes of Woodland Scenics 2" foam risers (YOLHS) |
| $75 | 4 Atlas standard remote control turnouts (YOLHS) |
| $24 | 4 cans of Floquil "Grimy Black" spray paint (YOLHS) |
| $18 | 3 cans of Floquil "Flat Finish" spray paint (YOLHS) |
| $21 | 3 bottles of Model Master liquid cement (YOLHS) |
| $5 | 1 bottle of Floquil "Reefer Gray" paint (YOLHS) |
| $10 | 2 bottles of Floquil "Dark Green" paint (YOLHS) |
| $5 | 1 bottle of Floquil "Roof Brown" paint (YOLHS) |
| $10 | 2 bottles of Woodland Scenics "Concrete" pigment (YOLHS) |
| $5 | 1 bottle of Woodland Scenics "Stone Gray" pigment (YOLHS) |
| $12 | 2 cans of Floquil "Reefer Gray" spray paint (YOLHS) |
| $12 | 1 DPM "Otto's Parts" kit (YOLHS) |
| $12 | 1 DPM "Bruce's Bakery" kit (YOLHS) |
| $39 | 3 packages of Gold Medal Models "Chain Link Fence W/Gates" (Online Trains) |
| $3 | 1 Cal-Freight "Dumpster" (Online Trains) |
| $12 | 2 cans of Testors "Flat White" spray paint (YOLHS) |
| $5 | Weatherwash- India Ink + Rubbing Alcohol (art supply store) |
| $30 | Bragdon Enterprises weathering powder kit (Bragdon Enterprises) |
| $12 | 2 cans of Floquil "Boxcar Red" spray paint (YOLHS) |
| $18 | 3 cans of Floquil "Concrete" spray paint (YOLHS) |
| $25 | 2 DPM "Hayes Hardware" kits (YOLHS) |
| $85 | 1 Cornerstone "Empire Leather Tanning Complex" kit (Brooklyn Locomotive Works) |
| $5 | 1 bottle of Floquil "Rail Brown" paint (YOLHS) |
| $24 | 3 sets of Woodland Scenics decals (Woodland Scenics) |
| $6 | 1 can of Floquil "Bright Silver" spray paint (YOLHS) |
| $86 | 9 sets of Shire Graphics DPM building inserts (Neal's N-Gauging Trains) |
| $18 | 3 cans of Floquil "Rail Brown" spray paint (YOLHS) |
| $14 | 1 Model Power water tower (YOLHS) |
| $12 | 2 cans of Floquil "Dark Green" spray paint (YOLHS) |
| $5 | 1 can of Testors "Dull Cote" (YOLHS) |
| $12 | 1 DPM "Erik's Emporium" kit (YOLHS) |
| $12 | 1 DPM "Cricket's Saloon" kit (YOLHS) |
| $9 | 1 Tobias Locomotive Works interior/roof for DPM "Cricket's Saloon" (DCC Train) |
| $11 | 1 Tobias Locomotive Works interior/roof for DPM "Corner Apothecary" (DCC Train) |
| $30 | 1 Cornerstone "Steel Water Tank" Built-Up (YOLHS) |
| $59 | 7 Atlas "Connector" boxes (YOLHS) |
| $19 | 6 sheets of Micro-Mark laser printer decal paper (Micro-Mark) |
| $4 | 24 eye-hooks (Ace Hardware) |
| $14 | 5 spools of Model Power "2 conductor" wire (YOLHS) |
| $26 | 8 Caboose Industries groundthrows (YOLHS) |
| $12 | 1 DPM "Corner Apothacary" kit (YOLHS) |
| $13 | 1 DPM "Crestone Credit Union" kit (Lo Cascio) |
| $9 | 1 Lo Cascio "Cafe" interior kit for DPM's "Bruce's Bakery" kit (Lo Cascio) |
| $15 | 1 Lo Cascio "Pool Hall" interior kit for DPM's "Crestone Credit Union" kit (Lo Cascio) |
| $10 | 1 Lo Cascio interior lighting kit (Lo Cascio) |
| $14 | 1 DPM "Reed's Books" kit (YOLHS) |
| $12 | 2 cans of Floquil "Roof Brown" spray paint (YOLHS) |
| $50 | 1 Cornerstone "Santa Fe-Style Brick Depot With Freight House" kit (YOLHS) |
| $25 | 1 Cornerstone "State Street Stores" kit (eBay) |
| $5 | 1 Micro-Trains Uncoupling Magnet (YOLHS) |
| $11 | 1 Tobias Locomotive Works interior/roof for DPM "Bruce's Bakery" (DCC Train) |
| $12 | 1 Tobias Locomotive Works interior/roof for DPM "Crestone Credit" (DCC Train) |
| $12 | 1 Tobias Locomotive Works interior/roof for DPM "Roadkill Cafe" (DCC Train) |
| $12 | 2 cans of Model Master "Flat Lacquer Overcoat" spray paint (YOLHS) |
| $10 | 1 Micro-Trains magnetic uncoupling track (YOLHS) |
| $13 | 1 DPM "Roadkill Cafe" kit (YOLHS) |
| $14 | 1 DPM "Trackside Transfer" kit (YOLHS) |
| $59 | 14 sheets of Woodland Scenics 1/2" foam (YOLHS) |
| $7 | 1 box of Woodland Scenics 1" risers (YOLHS) |
| $7 | 1 box of Woodland Scenics 1/2" risers (YOLHS) |
| $6 | 3 sheets of .032" aluminum (YOLHS) |
| $50 | 25 Woodland Scenics human figures (YOLHS) |
| $22 | 4 Atlas warren truss bridges (YOLHS) |
| $15 | 1 Cornerstone "University Avenue Shops" kit (eBay) |
| $36 | 1 Rix "150 Foot Highway Overpass" kit (YOLHS) |
| $50 | 1 DPM "Jerry Riggs Quick Service" kit (YOLHS) |
| $17 | 1 Cornerstone "Brick Smokestacks" modular pack (YOLHS) |
| $22 | 2 Cornerstone "Small Walls, Windows & Doors" modular packs (YOLHS) |
| $22 | 2 Cornerstone "Large Walls & Windows" modular packs (YOLHS) |
| $11 | 1 Cornerstone "Foundation & Loading Docks" modular pack (YOLHS) |
| $11 | 1 Cornerstone "Flat & Peaked Roofs With Base" modular pack (YOLHS) |
| $11 | 1 Cornerstone "Wall Columns & Caps" modular pack (YOLHS) |
| $10 | 1 Lo Cascio "Cafe" interior kit for DPM's "Roadkill Cafe" kit (Lo Cascio) |
| $13 | 1 Lo Cascio "Office" interior kit for DPM's "Hayes Hardware" kit (Lo Cascio) |
| $63 | 3 Miniatronics "Power Distribution Blocks (PDB-1)" (YOLHS) |
| $9 | 1 five-pack of Miniatronics "Yeloglo White LEDs" (YOLHS) |
| $52 | 5 ten-packs of Miniatronics 12V, 50mA, 5.5mm "Incandescent Lamps" (YOLHS) |
| $34 | 1 Cornerstone "Red Wing Milling" kit (YOLHS) |
| $13 | 1 DPM "Char's Soda Shoppe" kit (YOLHS) |
| $48 | 4 NJ International "Crossing Gate Signals W/LEDs" (eBay) |
| $14 | 1 DPM "Corner Turret Building" kit (YOLHS) |
| $19 | 1 Cornerstone "Jim's Repair Shop" kit (YOLHS) |
| $11 | 1 Cornerstone "Roof Details" modular pack (YOLHS) |
| $11 | 1 Shire Graphics DPM window insert set for "Char's Soda Shoppe" (YOLHS) |
| $9 | 1 bottle of "Flash Black" super glue (YOLHS) |
| $11 | 3 sheets of Woodland Scenics 1/4" foam (YOLHS) |
| $34 | 4 Walthers "Instant Horizons" backdrops (YOLHS) |
| $17 | 1 DPM "Wilhelm's Mercantile" kit (YOLHS) |
| $18 | 1 DPM "Hilltowne Hotel" kit (YOLHS) |
| $19 | 1 City Classics "401 Crafton Ave Service Station" kit (YOLHS) |
| $37 | 1 Cornerstone "Bralick Building" kit (YOLHS) |
| $17 | 2 packs of Model Power "Sitting People" (YOLHS) |
| $8 | 1 sheet of Woodland Scenics 2" foam (YOLHS) |
| $5 | 1 sheet of Woodland Scenics 1" foam (YOLHS) |
| $19 | 1 Heljan "Drug Store" kit (YOLHS) |
| $50 | 1 Cornerstone "American Hardware" kit (YOLHS) |
| $127 | 4 Miller Engineering animated signs and power converter (Miller Engineering) |
| $22 | 1 package of Dynamat sound insulation (Ultimate Electronics) |
| $43 | 6 bottles of Woodland Scenics "Earth Undercoat" (YOLHS) |
| $56 | 6 packages of Pre-Size "Cut Stone Retaining Walls" (YOLHS) |
| $15 | 1 jar of Woodland Scenics "Latex Rubber" (YOLHS) |
| $22 | 4 bags of Arizona Rock & Mineral Co "Mauve C&NW Santa Fe" ballast (YOLHS) |
| $3 | 1 package of Johnson & Johnson "Rolled Gauze" (Ye Olde Local Grocery Store) |
| $6 | 1 package of Gold Medal Models "Downtown Business Sign" decals (YOLHS) |
| $18 | 2 A.I.M. Products "Double Track Cut Stone" Tunnel Portals (YOLHS) |
| $31 | 3 Pre-Size "Double, Cut Stone" Tunnel Portals (YOLHS) |
| $31 | 4 Pre-Size "Double, Random Stone" Tunnel Portal (YOLHS) |
| $20 | 2 8 oz jars of Golden Mediums "Fluid Matte Medium" (Ye Olde Local Art Supply Store) |
| $5 | 1 11 oz can of Elmer's "Spray Adhesive" (Ye Olde Local Hardware Store) |
| $8 | 1 Power Strip (Menard's) |
| $27 | 3 Pre-Size "Single, Cut Stone" Tunnel Portals (YOLHS) |
| $21 | 1 Miniatronics "Colored Incandescent Lamp Assortment" (YOLHS) |
| $9 | 1 Chooch Enterprises "Double Track Concrete" Tunnel Portal 2-pack (YOLHS) |
| $30 | 4 rolls of Woodlan Scenics "Paving Tape" (YOLHS) |
| $24 | 4 cartons of Woodlan Scenics "Smooth-It" (YOLHS) |
| $27 | 2 NJ International double-arm street lights (YOLHS) |
| $18 | 2 Model Power "RL-1250 Hobby Transformers" (eBay) |
| $20 | 2 ten-packs of Miniatronics 12V, 40mA, 2.4mm "Incandescent Lamps" (YOLHS) |
| $26 | 1 Miniatronics "Neon-Like Hotel Sign" (Miniatronics) |
| $33 | 1 Miniatronics "Power Distribution Block (PDB-2)" (YOLHS) |
| $10 | 1 2-pack of Pre-Size "Cut Stone Tunnel Abutments" (YOLHS) |
| $14 | 1 14.5 volt, 12 amp centertap electrical transformer (eBay) |
| $3 | 1 LM317T (276-1778) "Adjustable Voltage Regulator" (Radio Shack) |
| $4 | 2 4 packs of 8-amp, 250-volt fuses (270-1014) (Radio Shack) |
| $6 | 3 4 packs of Solder-Type Terminal Strips (274-688) (Radio Shack) |
| $45 | 14 25-amp, 50-volt Full-Wave Bridge Rectifiers (276-1185) (Radio Shack) |
| $2 | 1 Anodized Aluminum Heat Sink (276-1368) (Radio Shack) |
| $2 | 1 35WVDC 1.0uF Tantalum Capacitor (272-1434) (Radio Shack) |
| $3 | 1 1k-Ohm, 15-turn, .75 watt Cermet Potentiometer (271-342) (Radio Shack) |
| $3 | 1 Inline Fuse Holder (270-1281) (Radio Shack) |
| $2 | 1 0.1uF, 250WVDC Metalized-Film Capacitor (272-1053) (Radio Shack) |
| $1 | 1 5 pack of 1/4-watt, 5% tolerance 220-Ohm Resistors (271-1313) (Radio Shack) |
| $2 | 1 2 pack of 300VAC, 30A Chassis-Type Fuse Holders (270-739) (Radio Shack) |
| $2 | 1 4 pack of 3/4-amp, 25-volt fuses (270-1004) (Radio Shack) |
| $12 | 2 4700uF Electrolytic Capacitors (272-1022) (Radio Shack) |
| $2 | 1 4 pack of 2-amp, 250-volt fuses (270-1007) (Radio Shack) |
| $141 | 4 Miniatronics "Power Distribution Blocks (PDB-2)" (Miniatronics) |
| $4 | 2 2 packs of 100-Ohm Wirewound Resistors (Radio Shack) |
| $24 | 3 2 packs of Miniatronics "Full Globe Street Lampposts" (YOLHS) |
| $3 | 1 General-Purpose Component PC Board (276-149) (Radio Shack) |
| $5 | 2 General-Purpose Component PC Boards (276-150) (Radio Shack) |
| $14 | 4 4-packs of L-Brackets (used as heat sinks) (Ye Olde Local Hardware Store) |
| $6 | 1 25' spool of 18 gauge speaker wire (276-567) (Radio Shack) |
| $10 | 1 ten-pack of Miniatronics 14V, 80mA, 5.5mm "Incandescent Lamps" (YOLHS) |
| $10 | 2 bottles of Woodland Scenics "Burnt Umber" pigment (YOLHS) |
| $29 | 4 15' spools of Miniatronics 28 gauge, 2 conductor "Mini Wire" (YOLHS) |
| $2 | 1 4 packs of 10-amp, 250-volt fuses (270-1014) (Radio Shack) |
| $9 | 1 NJ International single-arm street light (YOLHS) |
| $32 | 2 Model Power Railroad Signals #8571 (YOLHS) |
| $3 | 1 bottle of Model Master "Rust" enamel paint (YOLHS) |
| $10 | 6 aluminum heat sinks (276-1363) (Radio Shack) |
| $125 | 10 2 packs of Miniatronics "Full Globe Street Lampposts" (Miniatronics) |
| $42 | 2 Miniatronics "Green Double Park Light" (Miniatronics) |
| $80 | 6 2 packs of Miniatronics "Outdoor Building Lights" (Miniatronics) |
| $1 | 1 2 pack of 1 amp, 200 volt "IN4003 Micromini Silicon Diodes" (276-1102) (Radio Shack) |
| $5 | 1 2200uF, 35 volt "Electrolytic Capacitor" (272-1020) (Radio Shack) |
| $2 | 1 Grid-Style PC Board (276-150) (Radio Shack) |
| $4 | 1 tube of Blick Artist's "Red Oxide" acryclic paint (Ye Olde Local Art Supply Store) |
| $3 | 1 bottle of Model Master "Burnt Sienna" acrylic paint (YOLHS) |
| $30 | 1 Dallee Electronics "Crossing Flasher" (#367) (Dallee Electronics) |
| $3 | 1 spool of Model Power 3-Conductor wire (YOLHS) |
| $6 | 1 2-pack of GRS 2-pin "Micro Connectors" (YOLHS) |
| $5 | 1 GRS 2-pin, pre-wired "Micro Connector" (YOLHS) |
| $30 | 2 Miniatronics Single Highway Lights (Miniatronics) |
| $3 | 2 2-packs of 3 amp, 200piv "rectifer diodes" (276-1143) (Radio Shack) |
| $18 | 1 3-inch, 12vdc cooling fan (273-243B) (Radio Shack) |
| $12 | 1 package of 57 Woodland Scenics 2"-3" "Deciduous Tree Armatures" (YOLHS) |
| $28 | 2 packages Woodland Scenics "Fine-Leaf Foliage" (YOLHS) |
| $14 | 1 2-pack of Mini-Metals "59 Ford Fairlane 4-Door Yellow Cabs" (YOLHS) |
| $12 | 2 jars of Woodland Scenics "Hob-E-Tac" adhesive (YOLHS) |
| $81 | 3 Berkshire Junction traffic lights + controll board (Berkshire Junction) |
| $81 | 3 Berkshire Junction traffic lights + controll board (Berkshire Junction) |
| $53 | 50 Parking Meters (Neal's N-Gauging Trains) |
| $15 | 1 10-pack of Miniatronics 1.5 volt, 40Ma 1.7 mm Incandescent Lamps (YOLHS) |
| $5 | 1 bottle of Floquil "Grimy Black" paint (YOLHS) |
| $9 | 1 package of Miniatronics 3/64" "Heat Shrink Tubing" (YOLHS) |
| $8 | 1 Atlas "Twin" controller (YOLHS) |
| $5 | 2 spools of Model Power "3 conductor" wire (YOLHS) |
| $4 | 1 package of Woodland Scenics "Light Green Bushes" (YOLHS) |
| $4 | 1 package of Woodland Scenics "Fine Turf - Yellow Grass" (YOLHS) |
| $7 | 1 package of Woodland Scenics "Blended Turf - Earth Blend" (YOLHS) |
| $13 | 1 70-pack of Woodland Scenics 2.5 inch - 4 inch "Pine Tree Armatures" (YOLHS) |
| $11 | 2 bottles of Woodland Scenics "Yellow Ocher" pigment (YOLHS) |
| $20 | 2 boxes of Woodland Scenics "Lightweight Hydrocal" (YOLHS) |
| $42 | 2 NJ International 3 Light Board w/LEDs signals (NJI) |
| $8 | 2 packages of Woodland Scenics "Fine Turf - Earth" (YOLHS) |
| $12 | 3 packages of Woodland Scenics "Underbrush - Olive Green" (YOLHS) |
| $14 | 2 bottles of Woodland Scenics "Scenic Cement" (YOLHS) |
| $17 | 2 bottles of Woodland Scenics "Realistic Water" (YOLHS) |
| $21 | 1 Athearn "Roadside Assistance Mack Truck" (YOLHS) |
| $48 | 3 packs of Gold Medal Models "Chain Link Fence w/ Barbed Wire & Gates" (MB Klein) |
| $8 | 2 packages of Woodland Scenics "Coarse Turf - Light Green" (YOLHS) |
| $21 | 1 2-pack of Classic Metal Works Mini-Metals "1978 Chevy Impalas" (YOLHS) |
| $36 | 1 NJ International "Straight Pole Semaphore" (NJI) |
| $4 | 1 package of Woodland Scenics "Underbrush - Light Green" (YOLHS) |
| $145 | Vehicles (Brooklyn Locomotive Works):
1 Atlas Ford Taurus 2-pack 3 Atlas Ford F-150 2-packs 2 Athearn Ford Cabover Stake Bed trucks 2 Athearn Ford C Box Vans 1 CMW Mini-Metals '59 Ford Fairlane 2-pack 1 CMW Mini-Metals Box Truck 2-pack 1 CMW Mini-Metals REA Truck w/Trailer 2-pack 1 Showcase Miniatures 30' Van Trailer 1 Showcase Miniatures Wally's Tow Truck 1 Showcase Miniatures 1/2 Ton Panel Delivery Truck |
| $7 | 1 can of lacquer thinner (Ace Hardware) |
| $5 | 2 bottles of Testors "Dark Blue" enamel paint (YOLHS) |
| $3 | 1 bottle of Testors paint thinner (YOLHS) |
| $8 | 2 packages of Woodland Scenics "Underbrush - Forest Blend" (YOLHS) |
| $22 | 2 5-packs of Noch Pine Trees (YOLHS) |
| $7 | 2 packages of Atlas "Hairpin Fence" (YOLHS) |
| $24 | 2 rolls of Berkshire Junction "EZ Line" (Berkshire Junction) |
| $11 | 1 pack of Woodland Scenics "Black Bears" figures (YOLHS) |
| $12 | 1 pack of Woodland Scenics "Fisherman" figures (YOLHS) |
| $156 | Vehicles and other details (gohobbies.com):
1 Athearn Mack Dump Truck 1 Atlas Ford Taurus 2-pack 2 Bachmann Telephone Pole 12-packs 2 Busch Audi 2-packs 1 CMW Mini-Metals '67 Ford Custom 500 2-pack 2 CMW Mini-Metals R-190 Tractor/Trailer set 2-packs 3 Kato Toyota 6-packs 2 Model Power "Park Scenes" packs 1 Wiking Volkswagon Passat 3-pack |
| $195 | 22 assorted packs of Woodland Scenics figures (riograndehobbies.com) |
| $95 | Vehicles and figures (YOLHS):
1 Athearn Ford-C Box Truck 1 CMW Mini-Metals '67 Ford 2-pack 1 CMW Mini-Metals '78 Chevy 2-pack 5 assorted packs of Woodland Scenics figures |
| $48 | 2 12-packs of N Scale of Nevada Telephone Poles (NSON) |
| $21 | 2 Lo Cascio Originals Lighted Utility Poles (LCO) |
| $11 | Hong Kong tour bus (eBay) |
| $24 | 4 assorted dumpsters (rphobbies.com) |
| $88 | 32 assorted CalFreight detail parts (eBay) |
| $21 | 2 Lo Cascio lit telephone poles (LCO) |
| ---- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| $5431 | Total |