Where do old models go?

[steamage]

I was looking through old MR's from the 50's and the modeling skill shown back 50 years ago is still as good by todays standards. But with the super detailed model trains and buildings usually out living the modeler, I was wondering if some have found their way to todays layouts. I have several from back in the early 1950s still running on my layout and would never get rid of them. Have any on your layouts?

[3railguy]

I've stumbled on old models at swap meets, antique malls, and occasionally garage sales or newspaper ads. The super pro models usually end up in the hands of a modeler who was close to the origional builder.

[Anonymous]

Most of my rolling stock has been bought from a hobby shop,or a train show,though at times right now, I have been buying quite alot of train equipment from flea markets and at antique dealers.I just went to one yesterday (Sunday ),and I found a Like-Like " Branchline " train set, for $20.00. The accessories were still in the original wrapper,as well as the entire train set ,was in the original box[8D][:D]!!!! I then found alot of track that was in small bundles selling for $0.75 - $2.00 a piece,and old Athearn,Bachmann,Life-like,and Tyco freight cars selling for $1.50-$4.00. Needless to say, the old Athearn cars were entirely made of metal,and now they are running on my layout. One in particular is a Athearn tank car that has DUPONT lettered on it,with green and yellow paint,and it has the loose spring trucks on it as well.I am sure that this car is from the 1950's.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Except for nostalgic value, most of those 50's and earlier models are junk when it comes to operating. They don't hold a candel to the modern stuff when it comes to looks either. Have you ever seen a set of Varney trucks? I suppose you can retrofit everything if it is something special that you are in love with.

Modern plastics have done away with most kits for a couple of reasons. First they can be made cheaply with a lot more detail, and second they are not subjet to warping the way old kits were.

[Anonymous]

The oldest I have anymore are from the 70s. Thats a PennCentral F9ABA set. My old Varney metal F3s (2) F3As were still running but were sold last year along with most of the rolling stock.

[twhite]

They go right behind my locomotives, mixed in with my new Accurail, intermountain, Red Caboose and Branchline cars. That's where they go. I've got old Athearn and Varney metal cars on new trucks, and they're happily earning their keep. Several of my cabeese are old Silver Streak wooden ones, and with a few added details, they're bouncing along quite nicely behind my reefer blocks, thank you. Doesn't bother me in the least. But then I keep my magnifying glass on the coffee table to help me read the small print in the classifieds, not to look at my trains.
Tom

[cnw1995]

I was just thumbing through an old MR that had a picture of one of John Allen's engines that Andy has on a shelf somewhere in the Kalmbach offices - I wonder if it still runs? Several modelers have items from Frank Ellison's famous O scale layout.

[JerryZeman]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I agree, there are some models produced in the 1950s that are just as good as today's offerings, but not all.

Examples:

Most brass steam from the late 1950s still looks great if it gets a quality paint job, and, if the user is so inclined, change a few of the castings, and maybe add some details. I have a lot of 1960s vintage Tenshodo and Fujiyama steam on my railroad, and Balboa's offerings were always top shelf. Akane's good too.

Most brass diesels from this period aren't up to todays standards, example, Tenshodo's diesel offerings. Out of scale, but they sure did look good back then. We are spoiled by the great stuff from Lifelike, Athearn Genesis, Kato, Stewart etc.

As far as freight cars, I still have a few Roundhouse metal freight cars running around with Lindberg trucks, and Kadee metal wheels. Still look as good as an Accurail, or Athearn blue box kit. I also love the old Athearn metal cars, they still look great, particularily if the painting on the roofs and ends was well done. Varney cars, while nice looking, look quite crude by today's standards.

The Walthers heavyweight passenger cars still look great. However, with all of the new heavyweights coming from Branchline and Walthers in plastic, I'd just as soon purchase those.

It is funny on how finicky and spoiled we have become. For example, I used to go to the Museum of Science and Industry, and I would droll over the All Nation Fs that ran around on the Super Chief and El Capitan. Now I look at an AN F-unit, and say "the windows are too big and the nose contour is wrong". Same applies to the old Athearn / Globe f-units in HO.

regards,
Jerry Zeman

[Jetrock]

In some cases, old stuff still runs simply because nobody makes models of them anymore (traction, specifically.) Old models can be fun to have--I got a few at a garage sale a while back, and the Roundhouse 2-8-0 is begging to be built.

I am fond of older structure kits--I like to pick up old Suydam mat-board kits, and have actually kitbashed structures using Suydam materials as a starting point (I bought a used kit that wasn't complete, and figured it would be best to use the stuff in the box for other projects) but made an effort to maintain the look of a Suydam kit.

[Anonymous]

Where do old models go?

To plastic surgeons, of course.


(that was too easy)

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: twhite: They go right behind my locomotives, mixed in with my new Accurail, intermountain, Red Caboose and Branchline cars. ....... they're happily earning their keep. .........bouncing along quite nicely behind my reefer blocks, thank you. Doesn't bother me in the least. But then I keep my magnifying glass on the coffee table to help me read the small print in the classifieds, not to look at my trains.

Tom,

Great response. I wish we had a system of 'recommended posts' on the forum. You'd get my vote.

Regards

Ed

[PennsyHoosier]

My oldest kits are ones I built in the 70s when I was just a kid. They still work very well. Yes, I've had to "tweak" them from time to time. But they are still (free?) rolling strong.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mellow-Mike

Where do old models go?

To plastic surgeons, of course.


(that was too easy)

No no no, old models go to the great beach layout in the sky[:p]

[CNJ831]

Jetrock comments that in some cases the old stuff still gets run simply because nobody makes models of them anymore.

This is precisely the reason I occasionally run my Walthers Shuttle-Jack and HH660, plus a PennLine Bride and Groom MU set I have (all from the early 1950's).

CNJ831

[CNJ831]

Make that a Pitman Bride & Groom (mistakes like that come from posting too late at night!).

CNJ831

[John Eldredge]

I'm glad someone asked this question. Of course after reading the many answers I'm even more confused about what to do with the stuff in my basement. I have about 15 Rubbermaid bins in the basement full of kits (some finished some never openned) from my Uncle who passed away in '96. I 've had time to look through some of it but am concentrating too much on getting my layout going to deal with it. The kits he finished with couplers details weathering etc. are amazing so if someone had the time these models would look great running with new products. It is amazing to see the progress the industry has made in 60 years. Some of the parts like the trucks, doors, roofs, etc where pretty crude. I will most definitely hang onto "his" models but the majority of the kits I will sell to some one with more time and less kids (two under 4 and another due in March). Those old models will be on my layout pulled behind a beautifully detailed set of brass engines...there are plenty of those too! I haven't looked into ebay yet but is anyone buying these older kits.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the model. You still see a lot of older Mainline and Airfix locos and cars in use on layouts over here, and there's a thriving eBay market for them as well. Picking up older equipment and repairing it is often good fun and a cheap way to a collection. Some of these older items are surprisingly decent runners and look good as well - I have a Mainline "Warship" diesel-hydraulic (same model is now made by Bachmann but with a new chassis) that I bought as a pile of parts and rebuilt, it's now a fine runner and has factory-fitted working lights, unlike many of Bachmann's latest UK locos!

[fiatfan]

Hi, John

[#welcome] to the forum!

Tom

[Anonymous]

ive got some old revelle cars (dont know quite how old) theyre pretty crude but look decent in a train. biggest problem is the flanges are about 2 feet long *sigh* off to go buy some wheelsets...

[andrechapelon]

Mostly to doing spots for denture cleaner, laxatives and remedies for those (to be euphemistic) who have a little train that can't and need a chemical helper.

Oh, wait a minute. You mean model trains.

I've got an old 1950's (all metal) MDC 0-6-0 that I bought used over 25 years ago. Someone had done a nice job of detailing it. Still looks good even though it needs a paint job and it still runs (those old Pittman DC-70 motors are like Timex watches). I plan to disassemble, clean and re-paint it, as well as adding a couple of details that have become detached.

Andre

[tatans]

QUOTE: [i]Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005[/i

Modern plastics have done away with most kits for a couple of reasons. First they can be made cheaply with a lot more detail, and second they are not subjet to warping the way old kits were.

If they can be made more cheaply, why is the price not reflected, I just saw a plastic boxcar, at the LHS for $42.00, and there was a lot in stock at that price, I certainly don't call that cheap, now maybe people will see why we keep or purchase "old" stuff , all you rich guys, keep buying new "stuff" and sell us your old "stuff".

[Anonymous]

wow $42! why not just pay 3 or 4 bucks for a perfectly good car at a train show

[PennsyHoosier]

$42 for a kit. That's beyond my price range. However, there are plenty of decent kits under $15.00 (and many under $10.00). Build them, and then put some real effort in detailing and weathering them. Honestly, that give me more satisfaction that just about anything else in this hobby.