Model train repair · DCC decoder installation
Model train repair & decoder installation
Locomotive won't run, stalls, or needs a DCC or sound decoder? Our shop repairs it, installs it, and test-runs it before it goes back to you. All scales, Z through G. Tell us what you need and we will email you a free estimate.
Current turnaround
From the day your locomotive arrives to the day it's ready. We update this as our repair queue changes.
What we fix and install
From a locomotive that won't move to a full sound install, in any scale from Z to G, send it to the shop.
Repairs & servicing
Get it running smoothly again.
- Won't run, stalls or runs rough
- Motor, gears & drive train
- Wheels, pickups & traction tires
- Lights & LED conversions
- Couplers
- Cleaning & lubrication
- Shorts & wiring problems
- DCC & sound troubleshooting
DCC decoder installation
Sound and non-sound, plug-in or hard-wired.
- Sound decoder installs
- Non-sound decoder installs
- Decoders you already own
- Speakers & enclosures
- Keep Alive® installs
- Programming & speed matching
Simple pricing
One hourly rate for every job. Free estimates. You only pay for the time, parts and shipping your model needs.
Repairs and decoder installations. Billed in 15-minute increments, 30-minute minimum.
Use the quote box with your model and what you need. We email you an estimate.
Listed on your estimate with links. You pay for them when you approve, so they're ready when your model arrives.
You pick the shipping service when you pay your final invoice. Free if you pick it up at our store.
Get a quote
Tell us about your locomotive
Send the quote box below and we will email you an estimate.
- 1Request a quoteYour model and what it needs.
- 2Approve your estimateBy email, with a link to approve it and pay for any parts.
- 3Ship it or drop it offPack it well, or bring it to our Rogersville store.
- 4Fixed, tested & invoicedWe test-run it and send your invoice. Once paid, we ship it back or it's ready for pickup.
Shipping your locomotive to us
Get your free estimate first, then pack it like this and send it to our shop.
106 E. Center St
Rogersville, MO 65742
Use the original box
The foam insert holds the model safely. No box? Wrap it in tissue, then bubble wrap.
Box inside a box
Put it in a sturdy outer carton with padding on all sides so nothing moves.
Add a note
Your name, email, phone and what needs doing. Include the decoder if you are supplying your own.
Keep loose parts
Remove or bag small detail parts and keep your controller and track at home.
Prefer to do it yourself?
Repair & installation FAQ
How much does a model train repair cost?
Repairs and decoder installations are $45 per hour of labor, billed in 15-minute increments with a 30-minute minimum. Parts and return shipping are extra. Estimates are free: send us a quote request with your model and the problem, and we will email you one.
How much does a DCC decoder installation cost?
Installation labor is the same $45 per hour as repairs. A plug-and-play socket install takes far less time than a hard-wired sound install, so request a quote and we will estimate your model. The decoder and any speaker, keep-alive or lighting parts are extra.
How do I get an estimate?
Estimates are free. Fill in the quote box on this page with your locomotive and what you need. We email you an estimate with a link to your own repair page, where you can approve it, answer our questions and add photos.
What if my repair or installation needs parts?
Your estimate lists the parts your job needs, with links to them in our store. When you approve the estimate you pay for the parts online, and they wait on our repair bench. Nothing ships to you.
When do I pay?
Parts are paid when you approve the estimate. Labor and return shipping are paid when the work is done: we email your final invoice and you pay online, choosing your shipping service at checkout.
Who pays for return shipping?
You do. You choose the shipping service when you pay your final invoice. Pick up at our Rogersville store and there is no return shipping to pay.
What scales do you work on?
All of them, from Z scale through G scale: Z, N, HO, S, O and G.
How long does a repair take?
Check the turnaround counter on this page. We update it as our repair queue grows or shrinks, so it shows the current wait.
Can you install a decoder I already have?
Yes. Choose "Install a decoder I already have" in the quote box and tell us which decoder it is. Not sure which decoder fits? Use our free DCC Decoder Selector.
How do I get my locomotive to you?
Ship it to Iron Planet Hobbies, 106 E. Center St, Rogersville, MO 65742, or drop it off at our store (Mon–Fri 10–6 CST). Pack it in its original box if you have it, and include a note with your name, email and what needs doing.
Will my locomotive be tested?
Yes. Every locomotive is test-run after the repair or installation, before it ships back to you or is ready for pickup.
Can I do the decoder install myself?
Absolutely. Our DCC Decoder Installation page has 688 free step-by-step photo guides plus install videos, with the exact parts for each model.