I get so tired of reading about how expensive is the hobby.
Can you imagine high quality at a low price?
I am on a fantasy trip this morning.
$100 for a highly detailed, fine running diesel or steamer with sound.
$10 for a nice turnout.
$20 for a real nice Walthers Cornerstone structure.
Atlas flex track, readily available in quantity, $2 a stick.
Oh, and it's all made in the good old USA.
Care to add to this short list?
Rich
Alton Junction
Oh yeah............
- durable quality kits at 1970s Athearn prices
- decoders - one size fits all - at $10 per
- DCC expandable starter sets at $100
- 5 ply 4x8 sheets of A/B plywood at $10 per - delivered
- Chicago Italian beef sandwiches w/peppers for $0.45 each
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Athearn BB freight car kits, 10 for a dollar including free freight to the Antipodes.
1 Fuji War Bond = US$ 1000.
And a large spoon for Rich.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
mobilman44 - Chicago Italian beef sandwiches w/peppers for $0.45 each Now your talking! Joe
Now your talking!
Joe
A Hobbytown RS3 body kit at $5.00 and a updated drive kit for $10.00.
I would love to build one again---if I remember how.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Undecorated locomotives ($80) with custom painting and detailing at no extra charge. Just tell the manufacturer what road name and paint scheme you want when you purchase your locomotive from them.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
A Bachmann GG-1 with sound for $160, free shipping.
A Bachmann steamer, nicely detailed with sound for $130 at my LHS.
Tichy kits for $8.
Oh, wait, you were talking about fantasy? Never mind.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Loco-mounted speakers that can duplicate the deep, earth-shaking rumble of turbocharged EMD prime movers.
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
richhotrain I get so tired of reading about how expensive is the hobby. Can you imagine high quality at a low price? I am on a fantasy trip this morning. $100 for a highly detailed, fine running diesel or steamer with sound. $10 for a nice turnout. $20 for a real nice Walthers Cornerstone structure. Atlas flex track, readily available in quantity, $2 a stick. Oh, and it's all made in the good old USA. Care to add to this short list? Rich
Rich, Why so much for Atlas flex.? I have some bought for $0.75/stick. Granted, it's code 100 brass rail stapled to fiber tie strip...
And $10.00 for a quality turnout? My plain-jane #5s cost me about $6.20 in materials and tool time.
Ken, what I would like to hear is a loco (or tender) mounted speaker that could accurately (tone and volume) reproduce the cannonade of a Y6b in simple mode pushing a N&W coal drag up the Blue Ridge grade. Not holding my breath...
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with hand-laid specialwork)
Rich wrote:
I say...
Isn't that what we call reality?
I understand that position upsets some folks who think we're all deficient in our daily intake of doom and gloom. However, I see a lot more value for my money in most of what I buy than I did 40 years ago. Sure it takes more dollars, but between inflation and the value of the time avoided in construction with many of them makes things a lot easier, adding value in my eyes that just wasn't there before.
After all, it could cost more. Generally, stuff is available with a little research for around 20% off. What if MSRP were the law of the land? Yep, 20% off sounds low to me, enough to send me BUY signals...when I actually have any of that cash stuff....
What I am able to afford is generally of excellent quality and mfgs tend to stand behind their product. I'm sure there are bad experiences out there, too, but overall there have been vast improvement in both the quality of models and their production as consumer goods.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Maybe this would be better, than a large spoon for Rich:
Frankie
rrebell How about a Proto 2000 0-8-0 for $60...
How about a Proto 2000 0-8-0 for $60...
Both of my 2nd run Proto 2000 0-8-0s were bought off eBay a few years back for $90 (NYC) and $80 (Erie) each. While no sound they have been superb runners.
So, yes - reality is closer than you think.
Freight cars for $10 or less (and not your RR's roadname plastered on some other's boxcar just to sell more cars - but an actual accurate model of the car you want!)
Passenger cars for $15 or less (same note as above)
DCC power systems at $50
Now more 5 year pre-orders, models are just made, period! Like Mickee-D's makes burgers.
Cars come with sound as an option for $5 extra bucks (think about it, a thirty car train - 5 of which have the 'flat wheel' sound option and a sound optioned loco pulling them. NOW your talking sound for model railroads! Better yet, make sound systems have external plugs so one can wire them into their home entertainment systems. No more wife and kids nagging.... slam the train room door shut and whistle up! Ahhhhhhhhhh!)
More development in the computer control side of powering layouts and railroads. (DCC systems are systems with limited computing solutions. We all already have PC's, it seems much more logical to develop software and a simple interface (along with handhelds) that will operate your railroad. With roster/inventory, timetable, accessory lighting, siwtching, and operations interactibility built in too. I know MRC has a small version of this but its hardly promoted even by MRC themselves, and is only for DCC control. No other functions.)
A company that makes white ink for inkjets @ $10 a cartridge. (because silk screening decals isnt fun to me. Sounds like a one of those crowd-funding ideas.)
tomikawaTT Rich, Why so much for Atlas flex.? I have some bought for $0.75/stick.
Rich, Why so much for Atlas flex.? I have some bought for $0.75/stick.
Yeah, Chuck, you're right. I got so caught up with the concept of Atlas flex track actually being available that I forgot to focus on the price.
OK, Atlas flex track at 50 cents a stick.
zstripe Maybe this would be better, than a large spoon for Rich: Frankie
Bwahahaha !
oooOOOOooo...This is getting as many comments and hits as the Diner thread.
Lest we forget vehicles... Lee town trucks, especially Mack B series for around $10.00 per kit.
Easily available Sagami can motors, twin shaft, $15, Nwsl gear towers, 10.00
Real floquil paint, 2.00, Dio-sol, 8.00/pint
I gotta admit, I have hit a few bargains on eBay, but they are random, ya can't plan a project around them in advance.
And there ARE still some bargains to be had at todays MSRP... Tichy windows and details... Go to a plastics supplier for sheets of styrene, by the HO acre... I still pay the same price now for dirt and sand from the 1/1 world for scenery as John Allen did in the '50s. And local plants for trees too.
High quality and low prices aren't things that usually go together...
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
You're losing the point(lessness) of the thread, Vincent...
tstage You're losing the point(lessness) of the thread, Vincent... Tom
What's the point of being pointless if someone misses the point? Get my point(less)?
I'm afraid I do, Rich...or is it I don't?...
As my late grandfather used to say, "Wish in one hand, **** in the other, see which fills up first."
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
tstage I'm afraid I do, Rich...or is it I don't?...
Forget the large spoon and the shovel. I know this would solve it:
Me and Frankie......................in his back yard.
The "Dearborn Duo".
"Geee Rich, the least you could do is smile."
"You can't smile when you're posing wearing a red hardhat and designer shades Frankie, it just doesn't look cool!!!"
Wow...just wow. If there ever was a thread that needed to go away, this is it.
At least the threads that complain about prices have merit. This thread is just dumb.
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
trwroute Wow...just wow. If there ever was a thread that needed to go away, this is it. At least the threads that complain about prices have merit. This thread is just dumb.
GASP!
Chuck, what on earth would prompt you to say that?
P.S. Tom, I believe that Chuck has missed the point of this thread.
*GASP* Somebody posted something silly on the Internet?
I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you!