Change of attitude

[tatans]

Tatans here: I guess my rambling letter confused a few people, I just wondered why people bought brass instead of plastic, brass has a larger field to choose from. I never bought the original loco I looked at, instead got a Sunset 2-8-0 f-1 I think it is GN. runs terrific and quiet, wheels in great condition, cab details, and it's guaranteed, for $260.00 plus $12.00 shipping, it almost looks new, it will look great for logging.( from the above comments there is still a great deal of controversy about brass)

[rrinker]

Just to put it in some perspective though, I've been looking at some old issues of Model Railroader. In particular, there is an article on a custom loco builder int he Sept. 1954 issue. His work as pictured is superb - like brass. So are the prices - $212 for an HO 4-4-0, $300 for an HO Northern. Those are 1954 dollars, too. So getting top quality highly detailed metal models has never really been cheap. Sure there's plenty of ads with lower priced plastic locos - but none really for $15. Most powered diesels from the likes of Hobbytown and Varney are over $15, except for the Varney F3 at $14. Penn Line and Bowser kits for steamers were in the $30 range. And Lionel NEVER was cheap - even a basic switcher is show at $25.
It all sounds good by today's prices, but look up some other information on 1954 and see what people were earning back then. A $25 loco wasn't a casual purchase, let alone a $300+ custom built one.

--Randy

[twhite]

You can always find brass bargains if you look long and hard enough. I've got about 55 steam locomotives, about 85% brass, I run them all the time and have only found about one or two dogs (which means a motor and gear re-build) in the bunch. I've found that the price of brass pretty much depends on what you're looking for. And the comment about a $300 brass loco being a dog doesn't necessarily ring true. I just picked up a Key Rio Grande C-28 2-8-0 for about $300 that runs like a swiss watch and pulls probably more cars than the prototype ever did. The reason I got it for that price? Simple--nobody else seemed to want it. If the demand is high, the price might--I say MIGHT--follow suit. But not always. You just have to keep an eye out and do some detective work.
Like everyone else, I'm curious as to what locomotive you got.
Tom [:D]

[dehusman]

At a local show I picked up an old brass 2-6-0 1870's era engine for $45. I also found a used PRR L-1 in a LHS several years ago for $99.

You can find some bargains on brass. Most of them will not be the latest runs and some may require a repaint.

Dave H.

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831

Although I had some difficulty following your exact line of thought in your post, I gather you're figuring that a $200-$300 brass engine, that apparently is of the type you recall from many years ago, is some sort of bargin. All I can say is that at such a price the engine is likely a real dog (very low detail, poor runner, etc.). Brass locomotives that are desirable and operate well generally command a good price.

So, if you're buying the model simply for display, you'll probably be happy. But if you have plans on running it, be prepared to have it re-motored, re-geared, or something else nasty.

CNJ831

Not these days. Over the past 2-3 years, Ebay has become THE place to buy brass. You can command a much better audience online, get a faster sale, and generally don't have to pay a brass vendor for the privelige. But now that Ebay has become the brass stock market, brass prices are doing the same thing stock proces do: up one month, down another. Right now, brass prices are slumped on Ebay, and you can get a quality brass engine for about 1/3 what the "blue book" says it's worth.

The last time Ebay slumped, I picked up three brass engines for about $500. All Overlands, all post 1980, and all fantastic performers (I'm a runner, NOT a collector!)

[markpierce]

CNJ831 is right on.

[davekelly]

You never forget your first .......................................

[Virginian]

I had a bunch of brass when that was the only way I could get what I wanted. First purchase was a brass N&W 'J'. How times have changed, but... I still have that one, and still love it.

[Fergmiester]

Well what did you get?!!

[davekelly]

tatans

Enjoy!!!!!! I own one piece of brass . . . I PRR cabose that I got on ebay. I will say that when it arrived I spent about 4 hours just staring at it from all angles. What amazed me the most was imagining the folks that built this little model. Soldering each piece on. I love that little caboose!

Dave

[CNJ831]

Although I had some difficulty following your exact line of thought in your post, I gather you're figuring that a $200-$300 brass engine, that apparently is of the type you recall from many years ago, is some sort of bargin. All I can say is that at such a price the engine is likely a real dog (very low detail, poor runner, etc.). Brass locomotives that are desirable and operate well generally command a good price.

So, if you're buying the model simply for display, you'll probably be happy. But if you have plans on running it, be prepared to have it re-motored, re-geared, or something else nasty.

CNJ831

[jfugate]

It's not unusual to find plastic HO locos these days that cost $200 or more, so a $300 brass loco is *cheap*.

Even if you get a typical nice plastic diesel these days for $100, by the time you add sound and additional details, it will be over $200. If you've been in the hobby for almost 40 years like me, you can remember the days of the $15 plastic diesel and the $70 brass loco.

But I must admit, you do get a lot nicer loco these days for your $100 than you got for $15 in the "good ol' days". [;)]

[nfmisso]

huh ?

[tatans]

I was buzzing through the internet looking for a particular type of steam engine that I remember as a child, thinking it would be nice to relive a few memories, of course, I was looking in the NON-brass sections( I'm not a millionaire) and of course, I must admit did not even come close to finding what I wanted, plastic or cast metal and under $150.00, Well I soon gave up looking, but just for fun I went to e-bay and a few reputable brass dealers, so there was my engine and a few others closely associated with that era, so now a price! weeellll ! what a surprise, brass does cost more, and hopefully the quality will be worth the price, but I do get the particular loco I wanted and I was not floored at the price, ( I thought to be in the $1000.00 range) it still was not cheap, @ $200.00 to $300.00. So I guess if a person wants a particular engine then the name of the game is called "sacrifice". a little less of something else in order to get this engine will have to be the route I must go. My attitude towards brass has changed slightly, but I still have trouble with "hoarders" I must comment on the defence of brass guys that they bought brass because they could not find a particular model anywhere else( I figured this is how they justify the expense) well, I sort of understand this philosophy now, sort of.
How did I do ????