Here's another suggestion when attending train shows.Don't overlook the use cars since these can be had for $3.00-5.00 with KDs or up to $7.00 with KDs and metal wheels.
However.
Why half step when newer Atlas and Athearn RTR cars can be found on e-Bay for less then $20.00 BIN?
Avoid those cheap $2.00 train set cars you find at train shows.These usually have truck mounted X2F couplers,deep flanges and requires a lot of unnecessary work converting them to body mounted couplers and better trucks which will drive the price up of that "bargain" $2.00 car.
Also check various e-Bay stores for BB and Roundhouse cars at reasonable prices.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I think the best deals for rolling stock is found at train shows. You can look and touch them, and are better able to see if there are any flaws that you don't want. As others have said, i have found nicely assembled and weathered Athearn cars with KD's for $5. Most older Athearn or MDC cars are great deals at shows.
And I never felt like the auction sites really give you a better deal for NEW cars than the hobby shops. Shipping costs sometimes exceed local sales tax when comparing the online store to the the hobby shop item. For higher priced items like locomotives, the online sites usually do better.
As far as how many you need? it depends upon how busy your layout is, but I would say that 80 cars for the layout you mentioned is probably more than enough.
- Douglas
I do a few train shows now and then. Here are some of the cars I have picked up. I view them as raw material for minor kit bash projects. Repaint, re decal, add some details, put on Kadee couplers, add some weight, no sweat, all part of the fun. If I felt wealthier I would put on metal wheels. Some far, plastic wheels run good enough for me, and don't look too bad after I paint the wheelfaces grimy black. No shipping charges for train show deals. For this kind of $3-$5 purchase the E-bay shipping charges are usually more than the train show price.
Train show Athearn hopper $3. Home made coal load, paint and decal.
Bachmann train set car from a yard sale. $3.00 Coat of Dullcote to kill the gloss and tone down the colors. Home made coal load.
Intermountain box car from train show $5.
Athearn tank car, train show, $5. Repaint and decal. Might have snagged the last set of Mobilgas decals on the web.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
I have no ideas on purchasing cars.
I would suggest you consider how many freight cars you need on your layout. You need to be able to work your yard while half your cars are in it, and half are at industries.
I have a seven track yard, but the three longest ones are departure tracks. Right now I have 25 cars in that yard, plus some on departure track, and it is full. My layout is 17' by 12' plus off line staging, and i have about 75 freight cars, plus a few passenger cars, all passenger cars start and end sessions in staging.
Dave
I'd go with Trainshows over Online Auction. Old Athearn/MDC and other kits like Walthers can be a steal. Often with Kadee couplers already installed. I'd expected prices with Kadee in the $7-$10 range depending on specific model and $10-$15 with metal wheels. For more current stock. Accurail is your friend. You still need to install the Kadees and Metal Wheels yourself....just like we all did back in the day.
Sometimes, you can find built kits with Kadee as low as $5 and unbuilt even lower. Not saw on the Auction sites.
I would appreciate suggestions on creating my HO freight car fleet. I frequently purchase RTR Atlas Trainman or discount-Athearn cars at train shows (about 6/show). I saw estate sale tables, but after seeing most cars needed alot of work---replacing couplers, trucks, etc--I stopped going that route.
1. Are there other good quality HO manufactures at or below the $10-15/car?
2. Should I purchase cars through online auctions or train shows?
3. Is 50-80 weathered and RTR HO cars suitable on a 7x11 foot layout w/ three industry sidings and a 5-track yard ?
Tkx!