Master of Big Sky Blue wrote:I am glad that you find topics like this insightful. My situation is being compounded not only by higher prices. But in my region of the country. I may buy the $7.50 car kit that has sat on the shelf for ages. then nothing gets reordered. Shortline Hobbies in Douglas WY has done this very thing. I have bought almost every single HO scale item they have. And they are not going to reorder because in their view model railroading is a dead hobby and not worth their time to bother with. At Who's Hobby House in Rapid City SD. I have nearly exausted their supply of kits. When they reorder Its with RTR items that cost nearly three times the price. I have found that I am now forced to E-bay and Mail order to get what I want. But we all know the disadvantages of these sources and I have elaborated on them before.
I've been in the hobby shop in Douglas - last time was a couple of years ago. If you drove 150 miles for that - your modeling IS in dire straits!
Is there anyone in Casper that sells out of the basement? I pretty much got started in Cheyenne by buying from a couple of different guys with no storefront but with a decent selection of items they sold in their homes. You learned about them by word-of-mouth.
You'd think Casper would have some sort of decent hobby shop, but they don't. There used to be a place called Walt's Hobbies, but that was nearly forty years ago and the place is long gone (he was mostly into slot cars anyway. He had a large custom-built race track - 8 slots, as I recall).
Billings MT has a decent hobby shop, I've heard (never been in the store). It's called Jim's Junction, at 811 16th St W #B. He posts occasionally on the CB&Q Yahoo group. It might be a little closer than South Dakota!
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
Master of Big Sky Blue wrote:...Also in keeping of pinching pennies. I decided with the massive roster that I have. That I can not afford to convert over to DCC. I already have a fully capable DC control system waiting to be assembled, and I can not justify expensive high tech gismo and gadgetry that costs lots and lots of money to just even get used. I would need an additional $500 or so in extra components just to even Install the DCC hardware, and I havn't even gotten to the cost of converting over 100 locomotives. With DC, I already have all the wiring components on hand, avialable, and paid for. No locomotive conversion necessary, and just like my modeling freind Dan says. You flip the toggle switch, crack the throttle, and the train moves. Good eneugh for me. So I have decided to sell what DCC components I have to a freind and use the proceeds to improve my financial situation. (Read Pay on Credit Card that got maxed out while I looked for work for 6 months)...James
James
MisterBeasley wrote: Master of Big Sky Blue wrote: ....and goes to a Milw Interchange in the town of "Bedford" 25-30 miles ... James Cool. I live in Bedford, and most of my motive power is Milwaukee. I guess I'll have to put in that interchange track a bit earlier than I had planned. By the way, James, my town ships coal and, in keeping with the generally Scottish nature of this thread, haggis.
Master of Big Sky Blue wrote: ....and goes to a Milw Interchange in the town of "Bedford" 25-30 miles ... James
....and goes to a Milw Interchange in the town of "Bedford" 25-30 miles ... James
Cool. I live in Bedford, and most of my motive power is Milwaukee. I guess I'll have to put in that interchange track a bit earlier than I had planned. By the way, James, my town ships coal and, in keeping with the generally Scottish nature of this thread, haggis.
Exellent, there is a power station on my branch that is going to need 210 tons (3 70 ton Hopper loads) of coal delivered 3 times a week. Would be more than happy to set up an interchange routing and schedule with you, I will send you a roster of my hopper cars so we can work out a rotation. However what is Haggis?
P.S. My Bedford is set in Montana, And will be mainly comprised of building kits made by Life-Like.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Wow, take some time off to attend a family reunion and your whole thread takes off on you.
Well after many months of working with sketchy numbers, I finally measured my train room. Was a wee bit dissapointed. It measures 10' 5" X 11' 5" (I still have to double check. But It seems my mountain climbing layout I had envisioned is off the table for the time being. I don;t have eneugh room to do what I want and maintain the grades I want to have. So instead of focusing on the mountain, Im going to focus on the branch line that I had exiting the layout and make that the primary modeling focus for now. Considering that I already have half of what I want to do built. Sounds like a good way to do all the things that this thread is about. I will end up with a 6' 6" X 11' 5" T shaped layout. Based on Atlas Plan HO-30 the "Morgan Valley Railway". Incidently I couldn't think of a better name so its going to be called the "Morgan Valley Branch" under my GN scheme. What I plan will involve construction of a 2' X 4' section, and a 2'X 3'5" section. These will connect to the main 4' X 6'6" section to create the T shaped layout. These two sections will in later phases (As in I finally build me a house with a dedicated basement for the trains) be the transitions from where the branch line comes off the main line, and goes to a Milw Interchange in the town of "Bedford" 25-30 miles hense. (I havn't quite decided yet, I will when I cross over that bridge) and where the Morgan Valley Branches off of this branch. The next segment east of what I will model will be the 8' X 8' Layout shown in the Book "Ho Layout: From Set to Scenery" That will Most likely be Phase III. The next segment West of what I will model will be the 8X12 L shaped mountain climbing layout I had been hoping to build but can't due to the 7" short of length I need to build this layout. This will most likely be Phase II.
Also in keeping of pinching pennies. I decided with the massive roster that I have. That I can not afford to convert over to DCC. I already have a fully capable DC control system waiting to be assembled, and I can not justify expensive high tech gismo and gadgetry that costs lots and lots of money to just even get used. I would need an additional $500 or so in extra components just to even Install the DCC hardware, and I havn't even gotten to the cost of converting over 100 locomotives. With DC, I already have all the wiring components on hand, avialable, and paid for. No locomotive conversion necessary, and just like my modeling freind Dan says. You flip the toggle switch, crack the throttle, and the train moves. Good eneugh for me. So I have decided to sell what DCC components I have to a freind and use the proceeds to improve my financial situation. (Read Pay on Credit Card that got maxed out while I looked for work for 6 months)
Another just purely to reduce the cost of storing it measure I might impliment is take all my model train magazines. Convert them into HTML and store them on CDs. Then sell my train magazines off to raise more funds and make more room.
I am also looking into other areas where I can make room, and raise money at the same time. But the search is still on going at this time.
Well I hope you all have had a nice week while I have been away and am glad to be back.
BRAKIE wrote:James,Its not all doom and gloom and WOW! I can afford the hobby..The BEST price Buster you have is your computer.There are deals to be found IF you know where to look. On line shops such as First Hobby M.B. Kliens,First Place hobbies,Toy Train Heaven,Train World/Train Land and Wholesale trains has price busting prices. There are other options then paying near or full price from your local shop. Is it doom and gloom or shop smartly pay low prices ? Its YOUR CALL..
James,Its not all doom and gloom and WOW! I can afford the hobby..The BEST price Buster you have is your computer.There are deals to be found IF you know where to look.
On line shops such as First Hobby M.B. Kliens,First Place hobbies,Toy Train Heaven,Train World/Train Land and Wholesale trains has price busting prices.
There are other options then paying near or full price from your local shop.
Is it doom and gloom or shop smartly pay low prices ? Its YOUR CALL..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
In recent years, my biggest source of items to kitbash or horsetrade has been yard sales - my sister is a big yard sale trader and I seem to end up with every rail-related item she finds.
I have also learned to hand-lay turnouts and specialwork from raw rail, partially to get exactly what I want in the way of track configuration, partially to save $$. I can assemble a whole yard throat for the price of one pre-assembled crossover. Lately, the raw rail has come from damaged flex track bought at a discount. Ties (and sometimes roadbed) started life as sheet balsa purchased at the local craft shop.
In the same vein, my manual point throw mechanisms are built up from such exotic materials as paper clips, straightened wire coat hangers, round head wood screws and el cheapo DPDT slide switches. I used to use expended ball pen cartridges for 1/8" brass tube, but now they're made of soft plastic (not a suitable substitute.) Powered points are the same, except for the addition of a motor (mine are ancient, and were bought for very little. I'd hate to have to replace them!)
I have bought something from every LHS that I've ever visited, but usually the something was an under-track magnet or a pack of Kadee #6 couplers (best size to use on TER 4-wheel freight cars.).
As a character in a book set in the early 20th century said, "I pinch every penny until the Indian screams in pain."
Incidentally, I checked Mr Beasley's styrene site. The prices quoted for 40 x 70 sheets of high-impact polystyrene are very reasonable. Thank you, sir!
Chuck (AKA Ebenezer Scrooge)
Master of Big Sky Blue wrote: The one thing that is alluding me though is the 4X8 sheets of styrene....One thing I need to find a less expensive source for is model paints.
The one thing that is alluding me though is the 4X8 sheets of styrene....One thing I need to find a less expensive source for is model paints.
I ordered big sheets of styrene from U.S. Plastics, the Rubbermaid people. I think it's www.usplastic.com but the site seems to be down right now.
I use cheap acrylic paints from Michaels or A.C. Moore (art supply places) or Wal-Mart. For large areas, I thin them with water. Our local Moore's has the small containers for a quarter most of the time.
Master of Big Sky Blue wrote:One thing I need to find a less expensive source for is model paints. With the amount that I have to do. Paint is simply to expensive to get in the quantities provided.
jaabat wrote:Many craft stores sell bottles of acryllic craft paint that dries very flat for $.50 each. Sometimes on sale 3/$1.
Its good to know that I am in good company.
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
Hello James,
I've been following your posts with interest because, as I mentioned to you once in an email message, I was in a similar situation to yours in the early 1980's. Like you, I had a core group of friends and family who eased the pain enough to help me dig my way out. Since then I've gone thru cycles from having plenty of cash to being broke [my kids' school tuitions aren't cheap!].
One thing I've learned [and I have to keep re-learning it unfortunately] is that, mrr is only a hobby - it cannot be The One Thing In Life that brings me happiness. If I try to use it as a means to stardom - trying to impress everybody - then I'm setting myself up for disappointment, big-time! But when I casually spend time building a kit, painting a structure or doing some other type of train-related activity --- and sharing with a small group of friends, locally or online --- that's where the hobby 'payoff' comes in. My fondest hobby-related memories are of my late teen years, when I did not have a layout of my own but collected [and painted] Athearn BB locos and ran them on the BSME club layout. It was those memories that nudged me back into mrr'ing in my mid-thirties.
I stopped subscribing to Model Railroader and the other mags because I noticed the ads were making me anxious that I "just gotta have" this latest-and-greatest new product that's beyond my budget. The stuff I've accummulated that's sitting on my shelf can keep me quite busy for a few years, even though I realize my end results are unlikely to land in the pages of MR. As long as I accept that I'll continue to enjoy the hobby - even on my limited budget.
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
Not to sound redundant, but I’m in the same low budget boat. If it was not for eBay, I would not be in the hobby. Although I think the deals are getting more sparse there - but that's another issue for another day.
I think the second hand market is only going to expand. A large segment of those in this hobby are currently in retirement and (trying to put this as tactfully as possible) are starting to reach the end of the line. Estate sales of pre-owned equipment are already on the rise. I’m hoping that a flood of quality second hand equipment will force manufactures to rethink their pricing.
Of course this could all change if people start taking on the practice of having their trains buried with them…
Master of Big Sky Blue wrote:One thing I need to find a less expensive source for is model paints. With the amount that I have to do. Paint is simply to expensive to get in the quantities provided. Then for me mail order is the only viable solution as the only options for model paints around here is Testors. Oh well the battle continues. James
One thing I need to find a less expensive source for is model paints. With the amount that I have to do. Paint is simply to expensive to get in the quantities provided. Then for me mail order is the only viable solution as the only options for model paints around here is Testors.
Oh well the battle continues.
Carey
Keep it between the Rails
Alabama Central Homepage
Nara member #128
NMRA &SER Life member
All of those things are definatly good ways to pinch the pennies. And I several of those items already in my bag of tricks.
The one thing that is alluding me though is the 4X8 sheets of styrene. There seem to be no plastics supply houses in my area. At least none listed in the yellow pages. However foamcore is a suitable substitute for most of my modeling needs.
One Track Mind wrote: This is the kind of thread that I enjoy reading as a model train shop owner, believe it or not, because it really puts into perspective a problem that some folks can see clearly in this hobby and some can't. And a quick note to James who started this thread, I just started reading this forum a couple of months or so ago, but it was around the time when people were sending you their best wishes for your situation. I was so impressed with the concern that fellow forum members showed toward your situation that it made me proud to belong in such a group of people as those that make up our model railroading community...and was part of the reason I decided to join the forum. I hope that things continue to get better for you...and I don't want to get into details, but I deal with something nearly every day, and have for a long time, and to borrow something from the AA group, sometimes it really is one day at a time, everything does get better eventually even though it may never be completely gone but having the support of your loved ones and a hobby that you enjoy can sure work wonders.
This is the kind of thread that I enjoy reading as a model train shop owner, believe it or not, because it really puts into perspective a problem that some folks can see clearly in this hobby and some can't.
And a quick note to James who started this thread, I just started reading this forum a couple of months or so ago, but it was around the time when people were sending you their best wishes for your situation. I was so impressed with the concern that fellow forum members showed toward your situation that it made me proud to belong in such a group of people as those that make up our model railroading community...and was part of the reason I decided to join the forum. I hope that things continue to get better for you...and I don't want to get into details, but I deal with something nearly every day, and have for a long time, and to borrow something from the AA group, sometimes it really is one day at a time, everything does get better eventually even though it may never be completely gone but having the support of your loved ones and a hobby that you enjoy can sure work wonders.
I am glad that you find topics like this insightful. My situation is being compounded not only by higher prices. But in my region of the country. I may buy the $7.50 car kit that has sat on the shelf for ages. then nothing gets reordered. Shortline Hobbies in Douglas WY has done this very thing. I have bought almost every single HO scale item they have. And they are not going to reorder because in their view model railroading is a dead hobby and not worth their time to bother with. At Who's Hobby House in Rapid City SD. I have nearly exausted their supply of kits. When they reorder Its with RTR items that cost nearly three times the price. I have found that I am now forced to E-bay and Mail order to get what I want. But we all know the disadvantages of these sources and I have elaborated on them before.
So what am I to do? The solution I came up with seems like a mighty good one to me. I would hope as a hobby shop owner, now aware of this need, that perhaps you can still obtain from the manufacturors more affordable items. Also I think it would be a good idea to start a healthy second hand section as I know from now on when ever I find a hobby shop that has one, I will be thoroughly going through it.
As for my situation. Its slowly getting better. Basicly throwing money down into the bottom of the hole hoping I can stand on top of it as I make my way out. Things are progressing far more slowly than I would like, but the only other option is to fall back into depression again and after nearly not surviving the last bout. Slow and steady seems to the course to stay.
I just wish I could do more to help the high prices of the hobby.
First I want to say to CNJ831, who made a comment about "price gouging" in this hobby in another thread the other day, that I know he was primarily speaking of those who set the MSRPs and not individual shop owners. My response was mostly tongue-in-cheek, but I am reminded and must get used to the idea that my sarcasm doesn't transmit well in this format.
In the rush to make this a ready-to-run/roll/pre-built "no hassle" hobby, the art of making a great model railroad is being lost. Someone else mentioned that whether you spend 10 dollars a week or a 100 dollars a week, you CAN participate in this hobby. You just have to be more creative. Creative...remember that word?
It's not all that good for my business to tell people how they can enjoy the hobby without spending a bunch of money. But it wasn't so many years ago that I was saving enough money to buy an Athearn blue-box locomotive, (even though I was being pushed to buy a Proto 2000) and I don't want to ever get so jaded about the prices in this hobby that I lose the view from the other side of the counter.
Folks when I acquired this store in 1997 I rarely heard someone refer to this as a rich man's hobby. I hear it all the time now. It's scary.
But I'll say it again and again, you can enjoy this hobby to some degree no matter how much you can afford to spend. You don't need 1000 dollar DCC systems and 250 dollar locomotives. You don't need 90 dollar pre-built structures and 30 dollar freight cars.
All of you guys are correct, you can work within this hobby with used stuff. For selfish reasons I hope you can still make it down to your LTS once in awhile if you have one in your area and buy a couple of things.
Thanks for sharing your inexpensive structure with us. It inspires me to go to garage sales and flea markets and the like.
In my post yesterday, I mentioned the Lumberjack Cookhouse I am "junkbashing" from a ten-cent garage sale log cabin toy. I went and shot a picture of it this morning to show off. A project in the DIME category.
The figures for the interior are in the Nickle-AND-dime category. They set me back about 15 cents apiece, some twenty years ago or so, I forget for sure.
Twenty years ago, I invested in special ordering some Plastruct figures that sounded inexpensive. About ten for $2. When they came I was disappointed. Looked like they were molded in the translucent pink rubbery stuff that artificial fishing worms are made of, and I couldn't see putting them on the layout in the light of day. But COULDN'T THROW THEM AWAY EITHER! Read Model Railroader this month about minimally-visible interiors where you need something so structure doesn't look empty, but it doesn't have to be "good". I knew the interior of Lumberjack Cookhouse would not be very visible. Once I primed the Plastruct figures with flat white, they began to look vaguely human instead of shrimplike. Not much choice or definition of figure positions but I can just cut off the bottoms of the ones that are supposed to be sitting in booths.
Did I mention cutting off the bottom four scale feet of the log cabin. I think I can turn it upside down as a loading platform. Why that's ALMOST free!
I'm a supporter of second-hand trains. Gotta love train shows and eBay. I've picked up some good stuff from both that would have cost at least double at a train store brand new off the shelf. I'm a teen, and can't/shouldn't put everything I make into model railroading. I need to save for college, and make sure my car is always in working condition. Now, yes, I'll order new items when I can, or if that's all that I can find, but I'm always looking for a cheaper way to acquire something.
However, I have also picked up a few good thrift items from train stores. My best find would be a Bachmann Spectrum HO K4 for $10.
Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern
I'm all for this approach. I think the essence of modelling is using the simplest, most common materials. I've bought a few locomotives and a couple of cars, but mostly I'm using my collection from 40 years ago. These are still good enough models for me, particularly since I've found that my real focus is more on the scenery and structures than on the trains themselves.
Right now, for example, I'm building a tall wood fence with posters and billboards on it. What started out as "just another retaining wall" around an incline has become a focal point of the layout. The fence is built from coffee stirrers "liberated" from work. The posters are zero-cost downloads of thumbnails from the Web, printed on decal paper. I used cheap wood stain and India Ink to color the fence. The decal paper will be the biggest part of the cost for this scene.
I have an MOW train, an old True-Scale from my teenage years in the early '60's. I've swapped a few wheelsets, but mostly I've been working on weathering these old things. With a little work, I've got a real eye-catcher, not because it's a "quality" model, but instead because it's weathered and beat-up. Similarly, I've added to my fleet of passenger cars with eBay purchases, and then I put lights in the cars and Kadees on the ends. To me, seeing something that I've put a lot of work into cruising on my main line is far more satisfying than watching a high-dollar train.
I'm also working on a scratch-built building for my coal-and-oil business, Motley Fuels. It's a couple of sheets of Evergreen siding, and maybe some roofing if I can find something I like. I bought some doors and windows at a show earlier in the year, but the rest is just glue, leftover sheet styrene and cheap acrylic paint. Yes, this takes a lot more time than buying a kit and putting it together. On the other hand, if you put a few dollars away every week but it takes many weeks to assemble one scratch-built structure, then by the time it's done you'll have saved up enough to get the parts for the next one.
Right now, I'm in my "peak earning years." Even though my wife seems to be in her "peak spending years," I still have money I could spend on train items if I want an extravagant model of something. But, I really prefer to do it the old fashioned way.
selector wrote: James! I am hearng a brand new man! Your perspective and attitude seem to have come 180 deg, and you sound determined, no longer dejected. What a pleasant change, for you and for me. As you can see, you are among friends who share your new approach to the hobby.
James! I am hearng a brand new man! Your perspective and attitude seem to have come 180 deg, and you sound determined, no longer dejected. What a pleasant change, for you and for me. As you can see, you are among friends who share your new approach to the hobby.
I went down a long dark road that was very unpleasent and do not wish it upon anybody. I barely survived it. However thanks to my super loving girlfreind, and my steller parents, I managed to make it through my ordeal. As far as my problems go. Im still at the bottom of the hole. But at least there is bright happy sunshine shinning in to it and now the place doesn't seem so bad and I can see a way out. Going to take a while to get things back in shape. But I now have hope, where I had none before.