General Discussion (Model Railroader)

I always end up shaking my head in disbelief...

What good is asking how good a deal one got after the transaction is complete?  Yet more often than not, that's what happens here.

I suggest in the future, if you can get a description (or better yet, photos) of something you want to buy (but haven't yet...), some folks here could give you a more realistic idea of what it's worth.  Does no good to ask after you've already made the trade.

Same goes for eBay.  As tiring as eBay threads can be, I guess I'd rather see a "should I buy this?" thread than a "I just bought this...  did I get screwed" thread?

Red Horse,

Obviously you didn't know going into this what you were getting, and so while you bear ultimate responsibility for what you get, it's an understandable issue.  No one expects a new hobbyist to have a full understanding of the worth of the full spectrum of products, past and present...  Very few people claim to have that knowledge and even fewer actually do.

But my suggestion is, if you can, to temper your enthusiasm with a bit of research.  I sometimes wonder about all of the dollars I spent out of exhuberance that ended up not bringing me what I expected or needed...  I could probably have a much nicer layout!

Long story short:  Do a little research, ask a few questions, and you'll manage your limited hobby dollars in a much more efficient manner.

Autobus Prime wrote:

I actually like the sound of the MU-2. It doesn't sound like a real diesel, but it has a hollow drone that sounds like a demented food mixer.

Very well put! They do sound like a vintage Osterizer.

They are rugged and run fairly well. Red Horse, you could even buy the Walthers F7 detail kit if you wanted to add windows and grab irons. I pulled a sideframe off of an old truck in my junk box that you can have if you want it. The mounting pins are intact.

Dave Vollmer wrote:

I sometimes wonder about all of the dollars I spent out of exhuberance that ended up not bringing me what I expected or needed...  I could probably have a much nicer layout!

Are you talking about your brass K4? I still think that's a great loco, even if she is just a photo model for the time being. Are you any closer to tearing it down & remotoring it? You should talk to TWhite, since he's the master brass tweaker.

SteamFreak wrote:

Dave Vollmer wrote: I sometimes wonder about all of the dollars I spent out of exhuberance that ended up not bringing me what I expected or needed...  I could probably have a much nicer layout! Are you talking about your brass K4? I still think that's a great loco, even if she is just a photo model for the time being. Are you any closer to tearing it down & remotoring it? You should talk to TWhite, since he's the master brass tweaker.

You nailed it...!  I'm not really doing anything with it for now.  When I bought it then, I was deployed, earning combat pay, and my wife was also full-time active duty.

Now it's just me on active (she's a Reservist), and we have two kids.  Dramatic pay cut.  Plus, I don't get combat pay for writing a PhD dissertation (which is why I'm always online these days!!!).  I'm in no way complaining about my hobby budget (so save your flames, guys), but a brass loco re-work (plus DCC conversion) is not in the current budget.  I just had to replace the engine mounts on my minivan (ugh!).

Hi, Dave.

Would you do me a small favor. Tell your wife Thanks for serving.

And to you:  Thank you.

Terry

The old Tyco Chattanooga has hope. Mine, albeit a newer version than Red Horses,  has been running for over 13 years. Not bad for a loco I paid $10 for. It is also the first train I repainted.

jeffrey-wimberly wrote:

Rotor: That doesn't look like the same kind of Chatanooga loco I had. Mine was one of those tender drive disasters looking for a place to happen.

It's the last version of Tyco's Chattanooga, and no, it's not tender drive.

I bought three of them from the local train store about 13-14 years ago, for $10 each, brand new, with tenders. The Kid has one, I have this one painted, and have a spare "just in case".

Rotor

Red horse,That center cab locomotive(the one with the RCA) is a old Mantua center cab Plymouth industrial locomotive and no longer made..

At a recent train show I seen one in mint condition sell for $50.00..The guy that bought it said he needed it for his industrial(paper mill?) layout and he has 4 others..

I honestly think when you count the buildings, rolling stock, figs, and track that you got in the deal you did alright. That chatanooga is a neat looking engine, and so is the F unit. If nothing else they will be great practice for repairing and repainting, something that even 1000+ dollar brass engines need from time to time. Enjoy your trains, practice on them while you do some research. The learning you just may get from working on these lil critters will probably be worth far more than 350 bucks.

Tim

Thanks Tim,

I have repainted the Chattanooga because from what I was reading here I was not distroying anything special if I screwed up, I've begun to practise on the other also, your right this is a good pair to "cut my teeth on" as they say.

I will not be repainting the RCA switcher because I like the looks of it as it is.

Before I repaint any locomotuive I may buy, I will surely post it here first because I'd hate to think that I wrecked a good example of a locomotive.

Red Horse, you handled that very well!!! You sound like a man that I would be proud to call "Brother". In Lakota we would say "Washte" (good).

Dick

Texas Chief