How Long Does Custom Fabrication Take? Lead Times by Project

Most custom fabrication projects at our Los Angeles studio take 2 to 6 weeks from approved design to delivery. A standard prop with painting takes 2 to 4 weeks, and 3 to 5 weeks with chrome or gold electroplating. Simple scale models take 2 to 4 weeks and complex ones 4 to 8. For trade shows, contact us 6 to 8 weeks before the show for complex builds. Rush production is available, and some projects have gone out in days or next-day.

Those ranges are wide on purpose. The fastest jobs are a simple piece with a single painted finish and quick approvals; the slowest combine large size, plating, big quantities and slow feedback. Below we break the timeline into the steps that actually take time, so you can work backward from your date and see where you have room to compress.

How long does each step of a custom fabrication project take?

Our standard process runs from design consultation to 3D model and renderings, then a first-article prototype, production, finishing and packaging, and finally delivery. Here is what each step typically takes.

These stages often overlap and do not always run back to back, which is why a typical whole project lands at 2 to 6 weeks. If you need every stage in full, and a large quantity on top, plan toward the longer end.

How long does each project type take?

The table below applies the step times to the types of work we are asked about most. Where two sources of ours give different numbers, we list the more conservative one.

Props and set pieces

A standard custom prop with full painting takes 2 to 4 weeks from approved design, and 3 to 5 weeks if it is chrome or gold plated. Our guide to props for film, TV and commercials covers schedule planning for productions.

Scale models

A simple single-building model takes 2 to 4 weeks. A complex multi-structure model or a detailed product model takes 4 to 8. Large permanent models can include white-glove delivery and installation. See scale models for what is included.

Trophies and awards

We make a first article in 2 to 4 weeks, then run standard production in 3 to 6. For series of 100 or more we send mid-production samples. If your ceremony date is fixed, read how to plan a custom trophy program before you brief anyone.

Trade show and event displays

For a complex build, contact us 6 to 8 weeks before the show. Pieces are built to break down into labeled modules, packed in crates sized to each piece, test-fitted in the studio, and shipped to the venue, exhibit warehouse or booth contractor. Freight has its own deadlines, set by the show’s general services contractor, so the fabrication deadline is usually earlier than the show date. Details are on our trade show display page.

What makes a custom fabrication timeline stretch?

Most delays trace back to the same five causes:

• Revisions. Each change to a model or rendering sends the work back a step. Collect feedback from every stakeholder before responding.
• Slow approvals. The clock effectively pauses while a rendering or first article waits for sign-off.
• Plating. Chrome and gold electroplating add about two weeks because of the surface preparation and multi-step process involved.
• Quantity. Larger runs take longer to produce and finish, and runs over 100 units include a mid-production sample review.
• Shipping and freight. Crating, carriers and show-site deadlines add days that sit outside fabrication.

Painted parts are not released until they are fully dry and cured, so finishing cannot be safely squeezed beyond a point. We would rather tell you honestly what is possible than promise a date that puts the finish at risk.

How do I work backward from my event date?

Start from the date the piece must be in place, not the date it must leave our shop, and subtract each stage.

1. Set the on-site date. Use the day the piece has to be installed or delivered, not the day of the event itself.
2. Subtract shipping and buffer. Local delivery in Los Angeles can be same-day. Shipping nationwide or internationally, or via a trade show warehouse, needs its own days plus a cushion.
3. Subtract finishing. Add 2 to 3 days for painting, up to a week for detailed hand painting, and about 2 weeks for plating.
4. Subtract production. Standard is 3 to 6 weeks depending on quantity; a first article, if needed, is 2 to 4 weeks before that.
5. Subtract design and approvals. Allow 3 to 5 business days for renderings, plus your own review time, and 24 to 48 business hours for the initial quote.

If the date you land on has already passed, the project is a rush job. That is not a problem in itself, but it changes the approach: fewer revisions, a faster finish choice, and a decision-maker who can approve in hours.

What rush options exist, and how do I ask for them?

We offer rush production for time-critical campaigns, activations, trade shows and award events. Requests that need delivery within days or next-day are not unusual for us. Rush work depends on current studio capacity, so the sooner you ask, the more options exist. The tools that shorten a schedule are usually:

• Swapping electroplating for metallic paint, which adds 2 to 3 days instead of about 2 weeks.
• Using a single-color Pantone spray rather than detailed hand painting.
• Choosing foam milling for large forms, where single parts typically finish 2 to 4 days after production begins.
• Supplying a finished file, so the design stage is skipped.
• Naming one decision-maker for all approvals.

To ask, put the date in the first line of your quote request. Every custom quote we send includes an estimated lead time, and you will know within 24 to 48 business hours whether the date is realistic. For a full list of what to send, see what to include in a quote request. Our custom fabrication page outlines the full process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make a custom prop?

A standard prop with painting and finishing takes 2 to 4 weeks from approved design. With chrome or gold electroplating it takes 3 to 5 weeks. Renderings for approval usually come in 3 to 5 business days, and rush production is available for tight schedules. Each quote includes an estimated lead time.

How far in advance should I order a trade show display?

We recommend contacting us 6 to 8 weeks before the show for complex builds. That leaves room for design approval, fabrication, finishing, crating and freight to the venue or exhibit warehouse. Rush timelines are available, and earlier contact gives more options.

How long does chrome plating a 3D print take?

Chrome and gold electroplating each add about two weeks to a project, because the resin part needs careful sanding and a multi-step metal deposition process. If the deadline is tight, metallic gold or silver paint adds only 2 to 3 days, though it is less lustrous than real plating.

Do you offer rush fabrication in Los Angeles?

Yes. We offer rush production for time-sensitive campaigns, activations, trade shows and award events, and some requests are delivered within days or next-day. Rush depends on studio capacity, so state your deadline in the first quote request.

How long does a scale model take to build?

A simple single-building model typically takes 2 to 4 weeks. Complex multi-structure models or detailed product models take 4 to 8 weeks. The timeline depends on scale, detail, finish, lighting or case requirements, and how quickly design approvals come back.

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