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Reed Artim...Reed has a “thing” for churches. This is a scratchbuilt typical NewEngland church. He used a photo to build the model.and a waiting area. Actually, that can be more difficultto do than the whole rest of the building, especiallyif you have special features. The Barber Shopguy wanted one wall to come off so you could seethe inside. You have to let in light or have a lightsource so you can see inside. There are a lot ofcomplicating factors when you talk about interiors.Most people don’t get concerned about interiors.OST: But if somebody wants one and they’rewilling to pay for it, you’ll do it.RA: Anything could be done. One of my biggerprojects was the Hinton [C&O] coal dock. I hadpulled out old N scale plans from an old ModelRailroader and I built that in O scale for an individual[Jeb Kriigel].OST: How big was that?RA: It’s over two feet tall, 28 or 29 inches. Thatwas a pretty complicated project. If you’ve got theplans or the imagination, anything can be done.I found that a lot of buildings were not availableas kits. I didn’t find any churches, no stone cathedralsthat were detailed enough for me.OST: Do you get many requests for yard structures?RA: I’ve done water towers and a lot of sheds.People go crazy over sheds because you can usethem for anything. Put a sign on them and call itanything. They are very versatile.OST: Is that about the smallest thing you woulddo, a shed?RA: Well, an outhouse...OST: Have you done an outhouse?RA: Yeah, on one of my buildings. None specifically.I was going to build a couple for this showbut didn’t get to it. But, yeah, an outhouse would bethe smallest thing that you would see. Maybe a coalbin on the side of a building. Some of the buildingsI add some detail to like lumber on the side, barrels,pallets, to jazz them up and make them look interesting.I like my buildings to look interesting. Idon’t like them to look static. I like them to comealive. That’s why when someone says, “Do yourthing,” I love it that. I drool because I have free reinto do what I want.OST: Going back to price. When you take on aproject, do you quote a price? Dollars or hours?RA: If I quoted by hours nobody could afford me.I could get a job at McDonalds and make more thanI’m making at this. But, I enjoy doing it and I workat my own pace. I may work maybe 12 hours off andon. Maybe four of those hours are between 9 pmand 1 am. So, I don’t like to quote by the hour. Iquote by the building and I have a pretty good ideawhat it’s going to cost unless I run into problems. Iask, “What’s your budget?” and tell them if I can doit within their budget. Sometimes, people will forgetwhat they want and they’ll call me up and say, “DidI tell you I wanted it lighted?” To light a buildingwith goosenecks to the outside is time consuming.It’s a lot of work to do, so that has to be all incorporatedinto the quote. As long as I have a good ideawhat the customer wants in detail and what kind ofleeway I have in dimensions and style, I try to quotea decent price.OST: Is there an “average” price?RA: That’s a difficult things to say. It’s all overthe place. You could have a simple structure for $25or you could have something mid-range for $300, orThis is one of the editor’s favorites.It is a scratchbuilt brick and stone power station.24 • O Scale Trains