Holiday Disappointment, or I gotz the Kitbash Fodder Blues:
I’m very bummed out this year. Christmas season used to be the high holy days for acquiring cheap large scale rolling stock fodder, but the economic downturn and crazy inflation this year has really taken the toll this year on the previous widespread availability of large scale Xmas tree train sets that I used to mine for cheap rolling stock and parts.
Consider findings in years past:
Sam’s Club: Carried Bachmann starter sets for a very fair price, I didn’t buy these as the stock is too large for my layout but the woes and lamentations of fellow online members to their not being offered this year tells me I’m not the only one suffering from large scale blues this year.
OSH: Orchard Supply Hardware also traditionally stocked Bachmann sets at a great price of only $99.95, but last year the sets were a full MSRP of $199.95 Yikes! They didn’t sell many, but instead of red tagging them 50% off on the 26th like in years past, they were whisked off to a warehouse to be stored till this year! And this year the few leftovers were still $199.95!!! Yikes x 2!!! Like the Sams sets, the Woes of fellow members says alot about their passing. To add insult to injury this year they are stocking a very cheesy poorly detailed could-be G scale battery train set and they want $40 for the darn thing!
Rite Aid: Was very surprised 2 years ago to find a short Scientific G scale set for sale for only $19.95, great bash fodder, but last year the G sets never appeared, instead a $9.95 O gauge battery set was in its place, same for this year, but telling how things have changed, the O set is now $19.95, huh?
CVS: Surprisingly had a New Bright G gauge set this year, a not-as-nice-looking as the Scientific engine locomotive, tender, gondola, and caboose and a circle of track but at a eye-popping price of $39.95, WTH?
Have fun with your trains
Vic, looks like you'll have to let the moths out of the wallet and move up to the medium priced stuff!
Need some info about the rocket car you guys did a year or so ago!
Capt Bob Johnson Vic, looks like you'll have to let the moths out of the wallet and move up to the medium priced stuff! Need some info about the rocket car you guys did a year or so ago!
Thats the problem Bob, I'm more cash strapped than ever right now, probably just as well that I'm directing more effort lately towards the layout building and much less towards the workbench. Lot of unfinished projects on the bench that will have to wait for awhile. But plaster is cheap, foam can be scavanged, and scenery stuffs can be pilfered from a country roadside.
I didnt do a rocket car, do you remember who did it?
vsmith Holiday Disappointment, or I gotz the Kitbash Fodder Blues: I’m very bummed out this year. Christmas season used to be the high holy days for acquiring cheap large scale rolling stock fodder, but the economic downturn and crazy inflation this year has really taken the toll this year on the previous widespread availability of large scale Xmas tree train sets that I used to mine for cheap rolling stock and parts. Consider findings in years past: Sam’s Club: Carried Bachmann starter sets for a very fair price, I didn’t buy these as the stock is too large for my layout but the woes and lamentations of fellow online members to their not being offered this year tells me I’m not the only one suffering from large scale blues this year. OSH: Orchard Supply Hardware also traditionally stocked Bachmann sets at a great price of only $99.95, but last year the sets were a full MSRP of $199.95 Yikes! They didn’t sell many, but instead of red tagging them 50% off on the 26th like in years past, they were whisked off to a warehouse to be stored till this year! And this year the few leftovers were still $199.95!!! Yikes x 2!!! Like the Sams sets, the Woes of fellow members says alot about their passing. To add insult to injury this year they are stocking a very cheesy poorly detailed could-be G scale battery train set and they want $40 for the darn thing! Rite Aid: Was very surprised 2 years ago to find a short Scientific G scale set for sale for only $19.95, great bash fodder, but last year the G sets never appeared, instead a $9.95 O gauge battery set was in its place, same for this year, but telling how things have changed, the O set is now $19.95, huh? CVS: Surprisingly had a New Bright G gauge set this year, a not-as-nice-looking as the Scientific engine locomotive, tender, gondola, and caboose and a circle of track but at a eye-popping price of $39.95, WTH? KB Toys, Traditionally stock the nicest looking Scientific toys battery sets, for a modest $40 you got a large oval of track which was good for display or storage, an decent enough engine, tender, gondola, boxcar, and a caboose. These sets are gold mines for kitbashers, I scrapped the locomotives for parts, cabs, pilots, domes, stacks etc, plus I would re-truck and re-coupler the cars for inexpensive rolling stock. The economy this year must be doing some strange things, at first these set this year were being sold for only $29.95! Great! Finally something to grin about! I was able to get one at this price. But a few weeks later they were back at there usual $39.95 price! I guess the sale items were leftovers from last year, oh well at least they hadn’t doubled in price like everyone else!! Big Lots!: 2 years ago had a $19.95 Chinese import, non-G gauge, cheesy as hell looking set that was 50mm gauge, but the trucks were nice looking versions of German style bogies and I found that a little reworking they worked perfectly in G, needless to say I bought up every one of them I could get, I got 3 or 4 pairs of trucks out of each set, so I got a bunch of trucks total for cheap! Haven’t seen hide nor hair of those sets since, Oh well. The knock off Newquida/LGB stuff from China seams to have all sold out, Ebay has gone credit-card only payment know, train shows out here are a rare as an honest politician, sheesh, is it any wonder I’m feeling the Blues this Christmas? I went by the local OSH after work yesterday and they had two of last years Bachmann OSH sets on the floor for $229.00 each. To top that off they don't even have the train calenders in yet.
RUDY JAGER, CEO OF THE LONE WOLF RAILROAD
TRUST ME--I USED TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT!
Capt Bob JohnsonVic, looks like you'll have to let the moths out of the wallet and move up to the medium priced stuff!
think he is right
~Driver~
Can't spend what I don't gotz...
Went to local Wally World, had the same New Blight set Shawn got, said I wantz, wife sayz "Nup! got 'nuff junk" Pooo!
vsmith Can't spend what I don't gotz... Went to local Wally World, had the same New Blight set Shawn got, said I wantz, wife sayz "Nup! got 'nuff junk" Pooo!
Thats what my wife says. Not quite as politely though. I have to have most of the stuff I buy sent to me at work and then I take it through the side gate to my shed when I get home. What a way to run a railroad.
The local OSH still has those two left overs from last year sitting there at $229.00 each. They finally had the train calenders though
Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month