Please vote! What do you like, RTR, Kits, Both?

[Anonymous]

What do you want?

[dave9999]

Mark, the ol' pot stirrer. [;)]

Personally, I prefer to sit down in front of the tv with a beer and a kit. But, if I see
something RTR, a box car for instance, and the price is right, I will buy it. I have
never purchased a pre-built structure and probably never will. This is only because
I like to paint structures before they are assembled. On the same token, I have
never scratch-built anything either, but would like to try it.

So, I guess it's a matter of what people want for themselves. Neither option is
better or worse... just different. Dave

[Anonymous]

I would rather put kits together so I can make changes but sometimes if there is no kit for a paticular road name or type I'll buy RTR. It makes no difference as long as I get what I want.

Chris

[Anonymous]

I am working on final assembly of a PRR N-5 Warbonds Caboose with Antennas and Windows. That is a KIT with a capitol K. But will buy RTR either due to time constraints or they simply do not offer the item in a kit. The recent Atlas 36' Reefer Warbonds set of 4 is an example.

[trolleyboy]

Hey I prefer the kits it is a hobby afterall besides I like to modify and mangle the stuff that's not readilly available ie CDN prototypes so I find whats close and have at it. TBI

[Anonymous]

Right now the only reason I buy RTR is because a kit will not ever be offered and I want a version of that car.

Rick

[Anonymous]

I like to assemble things. The only reason i would buy RTR is because some of the RTR models are better than the kits you can get for the same car/engine. Take my Superliner cars for example. Cost $25 each but they sure do look great.

[TurboOne]

RTR, I want to play trains as soon as possible. So of course the last freight car, kit. And most ebay purchases need new trucks and couplers, so rtr with mods.

Tim

[GMO Fan]

I prefer RTR, with weathering and some extra detailing provided by me. However, I will buy kits also.

[ericsp]

I definately prefer kits.

Take a look at this poll.
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18879

[rexhea]

Right now I have about half and half on the layout. If I see an RTR I like, I will buy it. If I have (take) the time, I enjoy building a kit. I do believe that when the major work of my layout construction is completed, I will lean more toward the kits.

REX

[locomutt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

Mark, the ol' pot stirrer. [;)]

Personally, I prefer to sit down in front of the tv with a beer and a kit. But, if I see
something RTR, a box car for instance, and the price is right, I will buy it. I have
never purchased a pre-built structure and probably never will. This is only because
I like to paint structures before they are assembled. On the same token, I have
never scratch-built anything either, but would like to try it.

So, I guess it's a matter of what people want for themselves. Neither option is
better or worse... just different. Dave

I do prefer kits,as you can 'detail' them as you go.
Dave; 'scratchbuilding',is 'sorta' like 'kit building' except
everything is not in the 'same' box.[:)]

[twhite]

Kits--I like Accurail, because they offer really authentic kits for the era I model. Also Branchline (either Blueprint or Yardmaster).
RTR--Intermountain and Red Caboose seem to have gone pretty much for this venue lately, and they put out some really beautiful cars. I built a lot of their kits when they were available and they went together beautifully. If I can find either builder in kits, I'll go for them, if not, then their RTR will do. I'll only buy Proto if it's RTR, I just DON'T like the way their kits go together.
Tom

[fec153]

B.B. kits for me. I do not have the talent to put craftsman kits together. I have tried .
RTR are a bit to expensive . I go to the biannual shows and pickup what I want at low
prices or I do without. Heck, with 500 pieces of rolling stock, do I really NEED more?
Can't run them all at the same time.
Fumble-Fingers Phil. aka. Fla.Phil, Flip.

[Fergmiester]

How do you define kits? If it's Accurail or Athearn blue box then my layout is covered with them. To me a kit is wood/plastic/glue/wire/filing/primer/paint. Personally I do enjoy a good kit but find it time consuming.

Fergie

[Anonymous]

I prefer the kits - cheaper, half the fun is building them, give a sense of achievement rather than just opening the box and putting the model on the track. I've also found some problems with RTR equipment, like the Athearn caboose on which all the wheelsets were out of gauge (ended up replacing them with some spares taken from old BB cars that have had metal wheels fitted - a great improvement!). I will buy RTR where there is no alternative, but the higher prices do restrict my buying and I invariably have to do some modifications, even if it's as simple as fitting Kadees in place of the factory couplers. Just my thoughts!

[Anonymous]

We vote on this topic every time we spend our money. The manufactures talk to each other and know what is selling so they're going to make the same thing and get in on the take. As evidenced by the hobby shop shelves the hobby is leaning toward RTR. I probably have 300 to 350 kits sitting in a spare bedroom, yet to be built. In my lifetime I'll not get around to making a dent in that number but it's nice to think about.

I still buy kits and RTR if one strikes my fancy.

Bob

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TEFFY

We vote on this topic every time we spend our money. The manufactures talk to each other and know what is selling so they're going to make the same thing and get in on the take. As evidenced by the hobby shop shelves the hobby is leaning toward RTR.

I agree with Bob [#ditto] I do prefer kits as I can modify them as I go along. But in some cases I'll get RTR when I think that the kit is more than my abilities will allow.

[Anonymous]

Fergie, I define a kit as not "Ready To Run". "Shake the Box" or wood scratch built are kits. Scratch building means you build the parts before you build the kit. You may build one part at a time and apply to the assembly or all the parts previous to assembly. However, we certainly can make defining what a kit is, complicated! We can also make defining what RTR is, complicated by saying we take apart, add details, weather, etc. For the purposes of this poll, lets say if pieces are assembled previous to use, it is a kit!

[Eriediamond]

I voted as not having a preference, but that is not exactly true as I don't care for the kits with more parts then the fullsize car that the kit is for has. I do envey you that have the patience and talent to assemble those type kits. I also don't mind buying used, as I do enjoy the challenge of doing repair work or bringing a car or loco back to life. Thanks, Ken

[jrbernier]

I love to put kits together. This gives me a chance to kitbash, detail, paint and letter a car exactly the way I want it. The problem is that a lot of the decals that have been available for years(I model the 50's) are no longer available. I buy RTR like the recent 'high end' cars and really like them. Also, some of the paint jobs are perfect and are schemes that I cannot get via the decal route anymore. I get 'sticker shock' looking at a lot of the high end RTR cars($26-40), but if I really want it; I usually find some kind of discounted deal on the car. A good example is the P2K 50' flat cars - the MSRP is $26, but M B Klein has a sale over the past few months and I picked up RTR flats for something like $12.99 each! I have stripped/repainted 3 of them, and re-decked them. Now I am working on 'loads'. I also picked up P2K 8,000 &10,000 gallon tanks cars. They really are time consumming to assemble, and I can devote my time to other 'projects'.

Jim Bernier

[Anonymous]

I definitely prefer kits. It's more time to spend working on the hobby. I don't know why well car kits seem to be so hard to find in kit form for HO. I'm having a nightmare trying to track down some TTX well car kits (articulated) so RTR maybe my last resort.

[novacoach]

I prefer kits - infact I bought afew Branchline Blue Print boxcars today and seek out kits from dealers when they still have them.

I like: -
A building stuff
B installing non-magnetic weights
C using KD#5s in their own boxes

I do also build some resin kits - hard work but satisfying

Chris

[tomwatkins]

I strongly prefer kits. I enjoy building models, and find it a lot easier to modify or add details during the assembly process than after everything is together.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[Anonymous]

I've been happy working with both, for satisfaction in the finished product, kits of course. But just being able to pull a car out of the box, put it on the track and couple it to a train is quite nice too.

Alvie.

[camarokid]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DeSchane

What do you want?

I guess I do prefer the kits so I can do what I want with them.
Archie

[FThunder11]

When i build kits they turn out like CRAP, I like RTR

[AggroJones]

I very much have trouble with complex kits, example P2K. No matter how slow and carefully I move, I always end up braking fragile parts somehow. And I feel they are broken down into too many sub-assemblies. I prefer the simpler kits with large solid peices-- Athearn, Accurail. Less small parts, less frustration.

I like simple kits most of all, then RTR if the kit is too complicated.

[Anonymous]

KITS, kits, and more kits! Give me kits or give me death!

If it ain't a kit, it ain't worth, umm.....a spit, yeah, that's it![:D]

[ksax73]

I picked I prefer kits but will buy RTR because sometimes the product may not be as accurate as I want it to be.

Put it this way, kits make kitbashing allot easier, lol.

I might have to use that as a quote of mine!