How can I raise money for my layout and collection?

[Anonymous]

Hey Guys,

I am ready and raring to go ahead with my layout. My collecting days will come after that.

How can I raise money, besides a part time job, for my layout and collecting[?]

I have a lot of Hotwheels die-cast cars. Are these collectable? If so, how much will they sell for? And will people buy them?

Thanks

[Dave Farquhar]

To a degree they are, but you'll probably be disappointed in what they'll bring. I checked the value of my Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars from the late '70s and early '80s by searching on Ebay. My best stuff looked like it might be worth $3. If I were to sell my whole hoard of them, I'd be lucky to get $100 before paying the fees. Newer stuff will bring lower prices and be even more difficult to move.

Rather than liquidate my childhood, I've taken the approach of saving money however I can to finance my trains. The specifics work differently for an adult than for a teenager but the principles are the same. I take my lunch rather than buying it at the cafeteria at work. I take coffee I make at home instead of buying it. Cutting out drinking soda alone saves a fortune.

Most of the Marx collectors I know have built their collections this way. You won't buy a lot of rare or expensive stuff like this but it'll get you a start, and everyone has to start somewhere.

There's an article on Thor's website called O27 on the Cheap at http://www.thortrains.net/cheaptrn.htm that is worthwhile reading. Having fun without breaking your budget should always be your consideration, whether you've got a million dollars a year to spend on trains or $75.

[Dave Farquhar]

I see from one of your other posts that you like LTI and MPC era stuff a lot. That's good. There's lots of affordable stuff in those time periods to get your collection rolling. Some of that stuff makes Marx look expensive. :)

[Anonymous]

Well, since your a teen and I try to promote the hobby, Send me yoiur address and I will mail you a car for free

[choochin3]

Hey Lehigh Valley,
Can I have a free car too?
I'm 32 but what the heck.
A free car is a free car.[:D]

Cheers,
Carl T.

[Roger Bielen]

When you find a way to get some extra $$$$$'s please let us all know.

[brianel027]

Bradley, Dave has some good advice for you. Yes, it takes some money to get started... looking at yard sales, used toy places and eBay is a good place to start. Watching for construction sites in your neighborhood is a good way to pick up some scraps of lumber that can come in very useful when building a layout. Even a hollow core door will get you started. Pink styrofoam board is solid, lightweight and certainly usable for a small layout. Build a basic frame (using sheetmetal screws and wood glue) using 1x4 or 2x2 pine. Again, you might get lucky enough to find building materials like this if you look. Ask lumber yards if they have any scrap that they are throwing out or selling cheap.

Used Lionel MPC era sets are a fine way to start as are some of the K-Line sets. You mentioned in a previous post that you wanted trains to operate and play with. The basic Lionel and K-Line sets will fit that bill perfectly. Even 027 track can look so much better with ties added below the track... ties can be made of black foam core board that you might find for free as scrap from an art/framing shop. I found a low end DC powered Lionel dockside loco at the Salvation Army for 95 cents. A little cleaning, some added details and some added automotive tire weights and it now pulls a dozen cars no sweat.

Believe me, I have modeled on a budget and it can be done. Creativity is a big key. Having conservative tastes in trains will also help. Don't worry about "collecting" other than having trains to run. The real money is trains is with premium condition postwar/prewar Lionel. That and rarities, production samples, oddities etc. And from one who has been the hobby for almost 15 years, I watched many collector - book value prices drop substantially on trains (and many so-called collectible items) in general.

Try approaching your folks and relatives. Do you have a uncle or grandfather who worked for the railroad or has fond memories of a train ride? You might be surprised to see if you show sincere interest, they might be willing to help you out. Network too... there are still many Lionel trains tucked away in attics and basements. You might be surprised if you mention your interest in trains to people, how they might connect you with some trains.

When you get to the point of having some track and an engine, get in touch me with and we can work out a deal on some other train things. I like helping young people get into this hobby and have promoted the hobby to this end since the first day I got back into it.

[Anonymous]

20 $ dollars come shovel my driveway ,[(-D] theres always away to make money help a freind or neighbor rake ,clean door to door hey you need any thing done for a small fe. baby sit ,endless just do it and you will make some money. Your young , car wash for train money

[laz 57]

Collect aluminum cans, at 50 cents a pound you can get lots at school.
laz57

[Anonymous]

I substitute for friends on the weekend or even a month with there paper routes. Easy way to make a quick $20-$100!!! Thats how I bought my Beep, my Pennsy Flyer, and my minibike!.

[Anonymous]

Hey Lehigh Valley - That is top notch model railroader attitude! More people should be like you promoting the hobby![:D]

[ben10ben]

Bradley,
You might also try checking in some of the antique malls in your area. Have you ever looked at the Riverside Antique Mall? That's the big one on the right side of the road coming into Pigeon Forge. I've seen some good trains there before.

Also, I'm headed down that way for Spring Break in a couple of weeks. Any chance you could tell me the name and location of the train shop down there? I've been to the Christmas Place, but understand that there's one that's much better, maybe over in Sevierville. I would very much appreciate it if you could tell me the name and how to get there.

[waltrapp]

Bradley,

I don't have any special tips for raising money. As was mentioned earlier, that advise might best come from a fellow teenager than a 56-year old like me.

That doesn't mean that I won't chip in though!! Never stopped me before. [:)]

Note that I only have a Christmas layout so that might make my case different than yours.

To me I think it depends upon how much patience you have and how fast you feel that things HAVE to grow to keep you happy. I have a photo album where I put away one picture from each year that I set up my layout. It's fun looking back at how it grew. I started off with a starter set (didn't you ask for some advice on another forum and that was one of the common ties - a quality starter set?) and a circle of track. The next year I added a few straights and some more curves. Got one building and one new car too - woohoo. Third year, got 2 switches, a few more pieces of track, and 1 new car. Etc., etc, etc. Patience! I have a lot of it.

Believe it or not, when I first started (I even was married then) I used change and store coupon money exclusively to buy all of my train items for several years. If I didn't have the money saved I'd hold off buying an item. I still will never spend change and still use that 'fund' to treat myself to some train item that I wouldn't normally buy, even as an adult.

Here's an off-the-wall one. Maybe talk Mom into letting you help her grocery shop. Seriously. It just amuses me to no end how much companies and stores (with their double coupon offers) are willing to give us if we're willing to take 5 minutes to use some scissors! Don't try to talk her into buying stuff that you don't use though. However, a brand switch might not be so drastic.

I probably just embarrassed myself to death with other forum members but I'm trying to offer a suggestion to you!!!!!!!! [:I]

So consider teaming up with Mom and see if she will let you help her shop! You get to keep the coupon money. After that first grocery store event nets you $20 that you get to put away you might not be thinking that this is such a silly idea!

I can't imagine what people are thinking! [:I]

- walt

[Anonymous]

Paper routes, yard sales, pet sitting, look around the streets for cans and bottles.

[underworld]

Hi Toy Train Teen, laz 57 has a good idea about the aluminum cans. When I was off work I made a good amount of money doing that......good enough that I still do it. As far as your Hotwheels....right now the market is down......wayyyyyyyyyyy down. Last year I bought a small Matchbox collection
basically for one specific car, the VW camper from about 1967. A few years ago ones in top condition were getting over $100 each (I bought the collection for $30) in good condition about $60 to $80. Over the last year every time that I checked there were many going unsold.....some selling for as little as $4-5. If you like Hotwheels, Matchbox, etc. right now is the time to buy. Odd jobs around the neighborhood are probably the most profitable as opposed to a part time job. Depending on where you are.....minimum wage is $5.15. For a four hour shift somewhere you'll end up with less than $20 after taxes. Cut somebody's grass for them which might only take an hour or two will probably pay $20 or more.

Good luck!

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[jimhaleyscomet]

Toy Train Teen,

Pack away the hotwheels instead of selling them. I gave all mine away when young and now I really wish I had them.

You might try putting a simple layout on a hollow core door. Then offer to bring it to birthday parties for $200 (or ???)a day. Has anyone ever tried this?

Find a local train club with a layout. My son runs thousands of dollars of trains for other folks who just want to make sure the batteries stay charged or just like to watch.

Jim H

[bigwally]

Order stuff from K-Line. That way, you'll have usually about a minimum of a year to save for it before it arrives and you have to pay for it! [:D]

bigwally

[Anonymous]

You Are right,

I think I have found an alternative for my hotwheels cars. I have found they look great with O gauge trains. I have an 0-27 freight set. Its a Lionel NYC Flyer from 2004, which was given to me, because I was acred out of my basement, see

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=32918

And, my trains are still down there, and I have refused to go down and get them. The story why is true, but was exxagerated a bit, but, In my next post I told what really happened.

LVR, thanks, but no thanks. I appriciate your kindness, but I have to decline. The internet is not safe. I know, my friends Dad pretened he was a teenager to catch people who try to do bad things, and 30 minutes later, he was at the door.

I know that people can be trusted, but no, I'm not going to take a chance.

[brianel027]

Bradley, the gang here on this forum seems to be a pretty good group. I mean, crossing railroad tracks isn't safe either if you don't look (and listen!) in both directions first.

The one place that seems to be the biggest risk on line are the live chat rooms. Yes, they are very popular. Teens and people who are lonely are very vulnerable on these chat rooms because they are really seeking friends and let that desire get in the way of practical thinking. And then there are the email ads that solicit personal information promising somekind of prize or cash award. And yes, I would suppose there are good and bad people out there. Just using some basic common sense (like not posting personal information on a live chat room or message board) is a good start. There is a link here for private email messages, and I'm sure this is what Lehigh Valley was referring to. I know it is also what I was meaning too.

There's a big difference between giving out an address though personal email versus posting for everyone to see on a message board. The internet is a wonderful thing, as is swimming in the ocean or crossing the street. Nothing is completely safe, but risks can be diminished greatly by following basic rules. I say this not as criticism, but just so you don't limit yourself to true offers of help and assistance.

[underworld]

A post office box is a great way to "insulate" yourself. If you live in a more rural area they will usually arrange for things to be held for you at the post office.....someone sends you something under your name, but to the post office instead of your own address....so you wouldn't necessarily need to rent a P.O. box.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Of course, email your adress to me. I wouldnt want you to post it here. Anyway, shoot me and email, I wanna talk to you being a teen and all.

Thanks

[SPFan]

There have been a lot of good suggestions for making money but I would advise against selling your Hotwheels collection to fund your new found hobby. I think I speak for many here who have sold their early train sets or whatever and then years later regretted that decision. In my case I sold my original 1950's Lionel when I got into HO . Fortunately for me I was able to recreate the set for not a lot of money but had I sold off a 773 or 746 that might not have been as painless.

Pete