Am I a Cheapskate?

[West Coast S]

In my scale ANY rolling stock under 30 bucks is a screaming deal. Steam as I model runs the spectrum from $250.00 to over $600.00. I avoid the high end prices by purchasing the basic kits and detailing/modifying to my prototype. A lot of scrounging-kitbashing and scratch building also keeps it affordable ( $98.00 bucks for a On30 side rod switcher, what a deal, what a model when converted to S )[8D]

[AggroJones]

Nothing wrong with being frugal. I'm always search for the better deal. Always trying to get things done as cheap as possible. I refuse to pay MSRP for anything, unless its out of production and/or extremely rare.

And I'm NOT one of those guys who spends $30+ on one freight car. Thats rediculously high.

[Robert Langford]

I have to agree about the prices. I too am a cheapskatea!!!! 70 years old on a fixed income. I recently took an old Tyco tripple hopper (Toy train class), which I felt was too long and to modern for my pike. I cut one section out of the middle, made a shed out of it by making ends and a door. I had to buy new trucks, 5.00 + tax. KaDee couplers, paint, and decals. I could have bought a ready to run car from Model Power for $8.00., but I sure had fun doing the job, scratch built hatches on top, and made the grab irons.
I'm very happy with the results.
BOB
SANDY SOUTHERN RAILWAY.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mac 4884

Being 15 without an allowance my cars are paid for by collecting water bottles,
my mom almost had a heart attack when she found out my walthers intermodel
cars were $15 apiece. She sees the $2.00 model power cars as too pricy !

Back in my day, we didn't have allowences either. I only began to buy "major" stuff after I got a summer job at 15. Minimum wage was still enough to get me started.

Show your mom the Intermountain and Trix cars in the Walthers catalog. $2 Model Power seems down right dirt cheap by comparison!

[Bikerdad]

Cheapskate? Dunno, you'd have to ask the people on the other end of your transactions that question, not us.

Are the new RTR freight cars overpriced? For some people, yes, for others, no. I'm in N scale, and we have few kits available, so $10-$20 is par for the course for quality new RTR rolling stock. I prefer to keep it down on the low side, but I realize that if I'm going to get what I want, I'm going to have to open up the wallet or the timebank.

There is an alternative to spending money on model railroading, aside from quitting the hobby. I'm willing to bet that I could build a worldclass HO layout with a dozen or so locomotives and about 150 cars, for less than $100. Yes, I could.

It would also take me about 15 years, working 10-30 hours a week on it. Between all the scrounging for dirt cheap/free tools, scrounging for materials at dirt cheap/free, and then the time involved in scratchbuilding everything, it might make sense to spend a little time on actually buying some stuff instead. [;)]

Some of you have alluded to this before, but the only cost that matters is the opportunity cost. What do you have to give up to get X? The straight economic element is "fairly" easy to calculate, but then there's the other element: this is a hobby that we're doing for fun. Different folks put different values on different aspects of this hobby. Thus, some folks won't put more than $3 into a building, and enjoy scratchbuilding so much that they consider BUYING a building for $1 as a loss. Other folks just want to run good looking trains. They'd rather spend their time running trains than building them, so a $25 car is a good deal for them.

As the old printer's dictum says, you can have it good, you can have it fast, you can have it cheap. Pick two. You want a good and cheap boxcar? Fine, that means either spending a fair amount of time haunting the flea markets, trainshows, etc for a good used deal or blowout, or a fair amount of time detailing a BB. You want it good and fast? Won't be cheap, give your favorite LHS or 'etailer a call and you can have it today or tomorrow.

The calculation has two side: How long do I have to work to earn the $$$ for that X?

The flip side is this : How much of something else could I be getting/doing with the time I'm spending on X? How much money could I be making if I were working instead of amusing myself? (If you make $15 hour, and it takes you 3 hours to detail that car vs buying it for $25, are you ahead?) How much time could I be spending with the wife/kids/grandkids/posse rather than bringing this boxcar up to the level I want?
[8D]

[Anonymous]

Being 15 without an allowance my cars are paid for by collecting water bottles,
my mom almost had a heart attack when she found out my walthers intermodel
cars were $15 apiece. She sees the $2.00 model power cars as too pricy !

[Anonymous]

Internet Trains.com.

[Anonymous]

If a non -operational freight car costs more than $20.00 its a rip off.

[3railguy]

If Hoorizon discontinues the Athearn blue box series, they will loose a good share of the HO market. I think they should get Athearn (and MDC) back in the Walthers catalog too. Hoorizon needs to learn they do not dictate what happens in the market place. The market dictates it. Irv Athearn is saddly missed.

[rrgrassi]

No, not a cheapskate. I have a ton of Tyco cars from the mid 70's. I had them since I was in 5th grade. I am currently installing Kadees on them, adding metal wheels to the trucks and modifying the mounting of the trucks from the snap in type to screw in. I've been picking up Athearn Blue and Yellow box locos for about $20 at local train shows.

[Anonymous]

What about a kit that sells for $30 and does not include trucks or couplers!!! I don't even think of buying brass.

[CBQ_Guy]

I agree with all your statements except I cringe when I have to spend over ten bucks on rolling stock. Like you, if it's something I REALLY "need", I'll pay almost anything, but the high price of things nowadays is not something I can go with. Glad I was able to buy most of my fleet over the past several years before the industry went nutso.[V]

As far as finding Athearn kits, I would think that anyplace that is a Horizon affiliate should have no problem getting them. My LHS has a gazillion of them, and keeps getting more with no problem. The Athearn "Ready-To-Roll" line is also, IMO, fairly priced at between $10-15 bucks a pop. Yeah, I know they're just the old kits already built, but I'm one of those low-life "good enough" modelers who complained for years I wish you could buy all these kits I need to build, already assembled.

Other decent looking, relatively easy to build and "fairly" priced car kits I like are those by Accurail, Bowser, Con-Cor, and Branchline's "Yard Master" Series.

Speaking of already assembled, if you want a real case of sticker shock, check out the price on the new Woodland Scenics assembled DPM structures...Hoooo baby!!! Theyre REALLY nice and highly detailed, but man do you pay for it! [:)]

[Jetrock]

My idea of a "ready-to-run freight car" is a used one selling for $2-5 at a local train show! Sure, I'll replace the wheels with Intermountains and the couplers with Kadees (if it hasn't already) but heck, I have to do that with most of the kits I buy anyhow.

There are things to spend money on--locomotives, for instance--if you have to. Freight cars can be bought on the cheap if you're willing to do a little bit of work--and can run well if you spend a couple more bucks on good wheelsets and couplers.

I'm a cheapskate, but not to the point of diminishing return--I may order the cheapest thing on the menu, but I'll leave a 25% tip. Because the next time I go there I'll probably get great service!

[Anonymous]

NO! You're like me, just not willing to spend a days wages on something you don't absolutely have to have! Not having that plastic boxcar tomorrow won't kill you, but that money could also go into your gas tank to take you to work. Is that cheaper? Cheap is when you won't even spend the money on your hobby at all.

[JohnT14808]

I'm with Ted....garage sales, estate sales, and local train shows. As long as it fits in with my layout and it isn't TOO cheesy, kiddy looking, I'll buy a second hand car instead of spending the big bucks for a RTR from the catalog.... Besides, with a little weathering and detailing, that cheap car could pass for a $25 rig........

[Anonymous]

I am very fortunate to live on the Gulf Coast of Fl. (retirement capitol of the world). As the Seniors pass away, their kids discard their elders model trains. Usually, they go directly to an LHS and get "best offer" from the strore owner. The owner, in turn, passes the savings on in the form of a "bargain table." I have found many quality items from power packs to rare cars, locos, etc. at huge savings. Garage sales are another good scource for some great finds in model railroading. I'm not the adventurist type to search out garage and yard sales but if one is close by, I'll "go for it." Anytime you may visit Florida, by all means drop by the nearest LHS. You will be amazed at some of the castaway items found there and delighted with the savings. Mind you, these items are sold "as is." Best of luck.

[Morpar]

Only 2 miles from the LHS would NOT be lucky for me! I would be even more broke, and I would need to get a part-time job there! Of course, my wife would probably leave me then, so....... anyone want to start a hobby shop north of Frankfort, Indiana??!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JCtrain



Anyway all my railroading endevours are financed by myself

That quote would have sounded very odd had I not mentioned that im 15yrs old.....

[Anonymous]

heheh, the titile of this thread made me laugh.

Anyway all my railroading endevours are financed by myself so I rarely spend more than $10 for any type of car. My local hobby shop (2miles away, lucky me (^_^)
has a large selection of Accurail sets wich I really like, good quality and made in the US!

Modelling the SP&S has made it hard to only put out about $10 per car. So I bought a very expensive passenger car, once! And it just sits there...looking nice as i couldnt afford to buy two...

[Anonymous]

$15 is usually my limit for both N and HO.

[htgguy]

Thanks again for all the input. Apparently the blue box kits are still out there, just waiting for me to find them. Since it is 90 miles to the nearest hobby shop, any input into a good place to buy them online? I have ordered from Standard Hobby and Trainworld in the past and been very pleased with the results from both of them. Any others I should be trying?

[Anonymous]

I lean toward Ken's approach - at present, transition-era freight cars on my layout are mostly Athearn BB, as those were the first cars I encountered in HO, so I bought quite a few due to the low prices. Now, I'm more inclined to spend larger amounts for higher-quality - slowly replacing the Athearn cars (which still look good in a long train, I just plan to buy a few high-quality ones so they don't stick out alongside newer locos). I'll still buy BB though, as there are some cars there that nobody else has - still keeping my eyes open for one of their 4-truck heavy duty flatcars for example, I know it's not a specific prototype but it should look good parked in the "workshop" area I plan to build in a future extension. Kadee's boxcars and hoppers are truly amazing models and work out around the same price as a fair to middling UK outline wagon - when prices are compared you're lucky to get anything for much less than £10 new these days (works out around $20 at current rates). My point here is that while prices are climbing, modelling US prototypes in HO still represents great value for money compared to prices in the rest of the world.

[Anonymous]

My approach to freight cars is similar to how I handle scenery.

I begin by putting a large number of 'passable-looking' BB and similarly-priced freight cars on my pike to have somewhat long trains. Then, as the money becomes available, I'll buy one or two of the higher-priced precision-detailed cars to replace the older ones. Just like I add more detail to my structures (vents, gutters, interior lighting etc.) a little at a time.

Maybe in 15-20 years I'll have a world-class layout. But I want to enjoy running trains today.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Morpar

Since I am a cheapskate myself, I have no problem saying YES, you are a cheapskate! I personally think the prices for the current R-T-R stuff are WAY TOO HIGH!!! I have a problem spending more than $10 for a freight car myself. Yes, I too have a couple of expensive cars, but most of mine are Athearn blue box, followed by modified Tyco, then MDC. I think for the occasional car, over $10 is fine, but for the majority of my fleet, the cheaper stuff is just fine. I personally prefer to have more cars than better detailed cars for the norm.

The saving grace is that my LHS doesn't raise the prices from what he paid for stuff. I could go in there Monday and pick up an Athearn 86" flatcar for under $5 (and I have too)! He has a decent stock of older Athearn and MDC that is still for sale reasonably. I am not really up to date on the modern stuff, so his selection is fine with me. The new stuff he has is going for the new prices. You might also watch E-bay, I have gotten some good deals by buying groups of cars, then selling or trading what I don't want. Good luck.

I'm with Morpar. Sounds like exactly what I do.

[jrbernier]

I hate the idea of super high priced freight cars, but if the car is correct and of high quality - I may but it. I just spent $32 for a Kadee Milw PS-2 covered hopper. At least I got it for about $10 off the MSRP.
I used to have about 300-400 Athearn/MDC type kits that I had painted/detailed/decaled/weathered. They looked very good(for 20-30 years ago), but were not correct all the time. Better, more accurate cars became available. Most of those old cars have been sold off, and I have been building high-end cars like Intermountain/P2K/Red Caboose. These cars are accurate and I now have about 100 cars that are correct for my layout. I have even been kit-bashing/upgrading some older cars with new roof walks and detail parts if they will result in a fairly accurate model.
The prices are higher(and some times all you can get is RTR), but the average income level is much higher as well. We keep thinking about the 1770 price for an Athearn 'BB' and now we want cars that are better, but still think in those 1970 'BB' dollars......

Jim Bernier

[Morpar]

During the early stages of the Horizon takeover of Athearn, my LHS did have supply issues with Athearn. That has all changed now. He is able to get the newest R-T-R and the old Blue Box line as they are produced. I know when I was in there Friday after the dentist he had just gotten a shipment in of Blue Box and had not had the time to put them out yet. The only issue thus far seems to be when are certain items going to be produced. The supply chain seemed to get emptied out during the takeover, and it is going to take a while for everything to get back to "normal". I haven't tried the Accurail line, so I can't comment on them.

As an aside, I managed to pick up 50" Detail West boxcar for $5.75 on one of my last trips to the LHS. Some of his P2K kits are between $8-9, and there was a Walther's Airslide hopper for $6-something. All hope is not lost, just can't buy the newest stuff!

[jwr_1986]

I by definition am not a cheapskate. I'm willing to pay for quality but I can't stand when you pay alot for an item and it doesn't work as expected. I'm on a very limited budget (Student) so 25 a car is very pricey but if there is something I really want I'll budget for it. I also own no credit cards so I can't go into debt because of the hobby.

Jesse

[CP5415]

Athearn Kits are not hard to come by,
My LHS has about 100 of them instock right now & he's forever keeping the shelves stocked with new ones, that are available.

As for being cheap, you all are talking with someone who won't spend the $ for an Atlas or Kato locomotive.
I don't think I'm cheap, I just don't want to spend that kind of money on a locomotive that's all.
The $20= freight car is a bit to swallow as well but if it's a car that will fit with what I want for my layout then I'll fork out the bucks.

Gordon

[htgguy]

Thanks for all the replies. I don't feel as alone as I did. Sometimes when reading message boards and hearing about people who are anxiously awaiting 4 of the newest loco @ $100 per or who are pulling 25-40 car unit trains of grain hoppers or coal gons that cost $20 and up each, I have wondered if I belong in this hobby with my as it was stated "frugal" taste. I see others share this outlook.

Now, can anyone tell me if Athearn kits are really hard for dealers to get or if they just don't want to stock inexpensive alternatives in order to drive sales of the RTR stuff? I have a hard time finding an easy to browse selection of inexpensive kits. Also, any comments on the Accurail line of kits? I have seen them in some of the magazines at a reasonable price.