Yard Sale Question

[grumpybeaver]

I have had some success at garage sales. I have found the old fisher price sesame street store fronts for my business district. I have found a cowboy playset that I converted into a three story hotel. I have found a Gscale farm silo to use as is and a horse barn that I converted into a whistlestop station. Like others, I have found 1/24 scale cars in all kinds of conditions. I have enough cars to make a fair sized junkyard on my layout. I have found three semi trailers(a tanker, a cattle hauler, and a box trailer) and have paid less than a dollar for each of them. Since I live in a good size city (Jacksonville,FL) I have many garage sales to choose from on any given Saturday. I haven't paid more than a dollar for anything I have found. So go out and garage sale. You will find something you can use. 

[the North East Rail Modeler]

I say, Go for it if you find anything that may be of use for you. I work in HO scale as well as G scale, and I have had luck with buying old,beat-up trainsets and salvaging differant parts from the contents, gears and radiator fans from the locos(misc.), tank car bodies(portable or stationary bulk propane/water tanks) and doors from boxcars( misc. hatches) and the only damage is $1-2 from my  Coffee Jar burried in the backyard under the old oak tree (Oh,No! I got to go and hide it again, everyone knows where my money is now! ).

 Also, if you model in 1/24 scale (like I plan to do) you can find die-cast cars (well played with) and possibly un-assembled or partly-assembled model cars. Who knows, you could develop a hobby within a hobby, Glue-bomb collecting !

Not only will you find treasures at yardsales and flea-markets, you may also find interesting scenes to model as well, not to mention the prospect of making a new friend along the way.

[rbrr]

 Occassionally  I'll spot a diecast auto with a wheel or two missing sometimes not  but usually can offer successfully for less than $1.    Sometimes odd shaped items that would make a decent load for a flat or gon'    A lot of odds'n ends maybe for a salvage yard.  

the thing is though with gas so much best if you're in a large city to head to the community/suburb g.s. day  that way depending on the terrian ya can leave the vehicle behind and go for a walk to most  expecially if a map of sorts is provided or you can quickly eyeball how close the next couple stops are  . . .     don't forget to stuff a couple bags in your hip pocket, to carry your finds in and have a lots of change with you.  

If i spot (anything) for like  . . . 50c  I just nicely ask if they would take 10 (or maybe as high as 25c) the worst they can say is sorry no !!  And then  I  may counteroffer  . . or if the item already has foudn a place 'in my minds eye' I'kk pay the asking price  with a chuckle . . . . .  but I never leave (quite often w/o anything purchased) without saying thank you hope ya a great day,    and if I do purchase something for the G empire  I tell them this will be perfect for my model railway  . . . . .  which always brings rebuts like "cool"  "awesome"  or my "dad/brother/neighbour/ friend  have/had a railway toooo"  !      

Leaves them with good thoughts for the next potential customer  (sitting in one spot for already 1-3 hrs can be a real bore  at least we're seeing the sights while chking out the sale sites !)

 . . . . that said, you likely already knew that !  

 

doug c 

 

 

 

[Jerry Barnes]

About all I've ever seen is New Bright. My dad found a Bachman Big Hauler set one time he gave to my grandson.

[chad tm5000/trainstation]

yard sales are good and the flea market is better so if you have a chance do both and helpful hint try to find o gauge fence it can be used for g scale fencing in areas look in penny saver or your local green sheet for the local flea markets and yard sales thanks for your time chad from pittsburgh pa.

[ttrigg]

Any place you can find stuff on the cheap is a good place to buy from.  Just be aware, you might have to hit a hundred or so before you find anything worth your while. Especially if you are looking for "G" trains!

[PJM20]

I have always wondered this: are yard sales good places to look for stuff to kitbash? It's almost summer for me and that's when most yard sales occur. - Peter