BRAKIE mlehman Hunting? Two guns, a dog, and a ATV. Surely you jest? All I used for rabbit,squirrel,turkey,deer and quail was a 16 gage. I preferred stealth over noise.
mlehman Hunting? Two guns, a dog, and a ATV.
Surely you jest? All I used for rabbit,squirrel,turkey,deer and quail was a 16 gage.
I preferred stealth over noise.
Seriously, it's a mighty poor hunter in this day and age who owns just one gun. He may only have one with him, but back home...
I'm sure there are hunters who make do without a ATV, but you never know when you're going to knock down that big doe... that's all new since I quit squirrel hunting after deciding it really wasn't fair if the squirrel didn't have a .22, too.
Since then, I've managed to bag two deer...listening closely to the highway noise at my folks old place out in the country. It is a major deer crossing. One year at the 4th of July, I heard a big thump as a lfted truck with knarly tires as went by. The doe was almost perfectly eviscerated for us by the impact, so wasn't much work and plenty of help to butcher it. The second one was a couple of years ago on Xmas Eve. I was walking in from my truck and heard that familiar thump again. This time, it was only me and Dad and a huge buck. Neother one of us was in shape to deal with that and I had taken rthe comealong outta the truck fro some dumb reason, so didn't even have that to hoist it with. Got 'im hung, gutted and dressed, though. I'm done with deer hunting. Too much work, even if you don't even bother with the gun part.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
One of my favorite ways to get something for a deal is hunt down items on eBey that the seller knows NOTHING about. One description was "Locomotive 6539". Period. One sloppy picture at least showed it had gray wheels. An Athearn GP-35, and a good runner at that, with the better motor and trucks for ten bucks including shipping.
Estate sales are good ones to watch.
I scratchbuild structures, hand lay switches, kitbash vehicles to better standards, make anything I can, and salvage (real and model) building supplies. In fact, my layout room,10x20 was salvaged, moved and improved; 300 dollars and I had a warm dry finished layout room! (Separate structure).
I'd love to go to train shows, buy they're 3 1/2 hours away.
Still, I'm on a first name basis at 2 hobby shops, so I support them too. Especially for tools and supplies. And anything that is currently available from Walthers if I like it.
A Lady friend of my wife and I kinda knows what to look for, just found me a Dremel tablesaw and 3 blades CHEAP at good will. Everything helps! Dan
I'm always amused by the comments some folks have towards criticism. While not all criticism is positive, much of it can be useful if we can ignore the baser aspects of it and focus on the "wants" side of it. Would a model locomotive manufacturer know to produce a "GMD A/Z 10000" or any other loco if their response to "complaints" about the lack of availability was "Stop complaining and buy what we already make"?
We needed more of you guys in the late 1700's. We could still be British subjects if the "complaints" of the colonials were taken that way. We'd have lots of big thick model railroad magazines........eh?
Lou
Everyone has their own techniques or strategies for funding their model railroads. In my humble opinion, the biggest thing to avoid frustration and continue to move forward with your model railroading interests is to model within your means. Set your sights on a model railroad that is doable financially. Some folks can afford a massive basement layout with all new materials and the latest technology. Others can only afford a small shelf layout. Still others can only afford to pick a few things up here and there and store them for the day when they can finally begin construction of their model railroad. As others have pointed out, this hobby can be as expensive or as cheap (as in cost) as the individual modeler chooses to make it. It's a great hobby and within reason it can be enjoyed in various capacities by folks from most walks of life/socioeconomic status if they are realistic with their goals.
Happy railroading and enjoy!
Don.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time. The good news is that you decided to take the train and not fly."
Javelina I'm always amused by the comments some folks have towards criticism. While not all criticism is positive, much of it can be useful if we can ignore the baser aspects of it and focus on the "wants" side of it. Would a model locomotive manufacturer know to produce a "GMD A/Z 10000" or any other loco if their response to "complaints" about the lack of availability was "Stop complaining and buy what we already make"? We needed more of you guys in the late 1700's. We could still be British subjects if the "complaints" of the colonials were taken that way. We'd have lots of big thick model railroad magazines........eh? Lou
Seriously?
That's the dumbest analogy I've seen in a long time.
Work harder/smarter/longer and make more money.
Vote for the "less taxes" party.
Spend less on other stuff you really don't need.
Build a smaller/simpler/ less "tech" filled railroad.
But before you think prices should be lower, decide how much of a pay cut you should take so that what you provide to society will cost others less.
Sheldon
For the foreseeable future, I am tapped out. I have had a house sale hovering over my head for five years now, but the low interest rates have made staying put a reasonable decision. As soon as prices for real estate begin to sag, or interest rates begin to climb, the house goes on the market. Otherwise, steady as she goes.
I have a yard to build, some structures to build and paint, some wiring to do, and some playing to do. I have, to my embarrassment, amassed a boxed stable of locomotives and rolling stock in the past ten years that I couldn't possibly store on rails at the moment, nor when my yard and staging are in place. I know that that means: I spent early, and should not continue to add components that will only sit in boxes.
The guy with the most locomotives or stock cars when he dies doesn't win. Nope, not by a long shot. Most of us are much closer to that final accounting than we'd like to admit to.
It is an expensive hobby, but if you want something enough you will find a way to acquire it. For me (a 20 year old college student waiting tables for a living.) that usually means willing myself to work 12 or 13 hour shifts during my weekends to generate extra income and being frugal with other areas of life. I'm just now getting back into model railroading, but it has worked well with my other hobby. (Computer building and gaming. I finished building a ~$2000 gaming computer not too long ago. It just took serious patience and discipline to save up the money.) I'm also trying to invest in projects that have a high time-to-price ratio. For instance, my first purchase was for a set of Tichy reefer kits and sergent engineering couplers. I'm now waiting for an airbrush and some paints as well. My next project is going to be to acquire a Bachmann EM-1 and kit kitbash it until it fits something my freelanced railroad would run. (Add flying pumps, an elesco FWH, pilot mounted headlight, scratchbuilt centipede tender, etc.) Unfortunately I'm not in a position to build a working layout, but if I want to run trains then I have plenty of options in my area. (Houston, TX)
So in short, patience, frugality in other nonessential areas, and damn hard work.
Seems this discussion turned to a how can you build a RR with out having to spend alot of money. Well what I suggest is turn to the old school way which is lots of scratchbuilding, use house hold items, fall is a great time for gathering dried leaves twigs etc to put through the blender for ground cover. Tint left over paint for painting benchwork etc. Maybe others can add to these suggestions to help out those that want to but dont have the extra cash.
Lynn
Present Layout progress
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/290127/3372174.aspx#3372174
New prices are up and our average income isnt, what do you do as a modeler to keep active?
What everybody else does. Complain, moan, kvetch, whine and wear sackcloth and ashes while railing away at the Fates who brought us to such a diminished state.
As an adjunct hobby, it's cheap and you can set up almost anywhere.
Better yet. It's always someone else's fault.
Andre
Anybody but me also a recreational sailor?
Speaking of expensive hobbies...
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Oh, Andre
andrechapelon New prices are up and our average income isnt, what do you do as a modeler to keep active? What everybody else does. Complain, moan, kvetch, whine and wear sackcloth and ashes while railing away at the Fates who brought us to such a diminished state. As an adjunct hobby, it's cheap and you can set up almost anywhere. Better yet. It's always someone else's fault. Andre
Oh, Andre, I note clearly detectable cynicism in your reponse.
Surely you exaderate. Are we so bad as all that, do you see no positivity this side of, The Atlantic?
Here's a thought: the average age of a model railroader his probably 50ish, perhaps nudging 60.
This means that we have borne witness to some pretty massive changes over the years with many more to follow. When you hear people complaining, bitching, getting upset it's often a result of frustration at things we are confused & frustrated by & have no ability to change & are often difficult to deal with.
So please, Andre, don't be too hard on us - often we are just warn out & battle weary.
Lets think about this a bit & in a slightly different way. Most of us who have been in this hobby for the number of years most of us have been have more unbuilt kits & more modeling projects in mind that we can shake a stick at. If things get tough, & when haven't they over the last decade or two, why we just need to batten down the hatches & ride out the storm until we can spend up like fiends again - just kidding about the fiends.
Any hobby is a self indulgence & something that needs constant feeding to keep alive. This is why I believe that although we have undoubtedly projects we can keep ourselves busy with in the slump times, its not the same as buying a model or kit you've hankered after for a long time when it finally becomes available.
Dusty
mlehman Since managed to bag two deer...listening closely to the highway noise at my folks old place out in the country. It is a major deer crossing. One year atitshe 4th of July, I heard a big thump as a lfted truck wites as went by. The doe was almost perfectly eviscerated for us by the impact, so wasn't much work and plenty of help to butcher it. The second one was a couple of years ago on Xmas Eve. I was walking in from my truck and heard that familiar thump again. This time, it was only me and Dad and a huge buck. Neother one of us was in shape to deal with that and I had taken rthe comealong outta the truck fro some dumb reason, so didn't even have that to hoist it with. Got 'im hung, gutted and dressed, though. I'm done with deer hunting. Too much work, even if you don't even bother with the gun part.
Since managed to bag two deer...listening closely to the highway noise at my folks old place out in the country. It is a major deer crossing. One year atitshe 4th of July, I heard a big thump as a lfted truck wites as went by. The doe was almost perfectly eviscerated for us by the impact, so wasn't much work and plenty of help to butcher it. The second one was a couple of years ago on Xmas Eve. I was walking in from my truck and heard that familiar thump again. This time, it was only me and Dad and a huge buck. Neother one of us was in shape to deal with that and I had taken rthe comealong outta the truck fro some dumb reason, so didn't even have that to hoist it with. Got 'im hung, gutted and dressed, though. I'm done with deer hunting. Too much work, even if you don't even bother with the gun part.
You eat road kill? Seriously.
some weeks back I spied a 'gator dead at the side of the road - hit by something multi tired & heavy by the looks of it. Just thinking that by not stopping, slicing off part of its tail I may have denied myself a cheap dining experience.
Dusty.
Dusty SoloYou eat road kill? Seriously.
A lot of drivers that hits deers keeps the deer by filling out a state form.They have it butchered and enjoy the meat.
The deer did thousands of dollars damage to the front in of your car why not keep the meat since its fresh?
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Your income is not up???
Walmart in Dickinson is offering $17.00/hr with benefits to start.
Prices are not up, the greenback is down and going deeper. After the Civil War, inflation was so bad that Cyrus McCormick put all of his funds into PIG IRON.
LION puts all of his money into Jelly Beans.
YUM!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
JACOB SOARES It is an expensive hobby, but if you want something enough you will find a way to acquire it. For me (a 20 year old college student waiting tables for a living.) that usually means willing myself to work 12 or 13 hour shifts during my weekends to generate extra income and being frugal with other areas of life. I'm just now getting back into model railroading...SNIP...Unfortunately I'm not in a position to build a working layout, but if I want to run trains then I have plenty of options in my area. (Houston, TX) So in short, patience, frugality in other nonessential areas, and damn hard work.
It is an expensive hobby, but if you want something enough you will find a way to acquire it. For me (a 20 year old college student waiting tables for a living.) that usually means willing myself to work 12 or 13 hour shifts during my weekends to generate extra income and being frugal with other areas of life. I'm just now getting back into model railroading...SNIP...Unfortunately I'm not in a position to build a working layout, but if I want to run trains then I have plenty of options in my area. (Houston, TX)
Jacob,
You're a wise young man. You have a great future, in the hobby and in life. Enjoy. You and wickman's comments made my day.
Dusty SoloYou eat road kill? Seriously. Dusty.
When I was an environmental geologist working in the north country of NY state, I worked at a NYDOT high department. They were responsible for picking up the "road kill", the deer hit by cars on the highways. They told me if the deer were not dead long and the weather was cool enough, they would take the carcas to a place which would have them butchered and provide meat for poor. So road kill being used for food is not actually unusual or shocking.
back on topic:
mlehman JACOB SOARES It is an expensive hobby, but if you want something enough you will find a way to acquire it. For me (a 20 year old college student waiting tables for a living.) that usually means willing myself to work 12 or 13 hour shifts during my weekends to generate extra income and being frugal with other areas of life. I'm just now getting back into model railroading...SNIP...Unfortunately I'm not in a position to build a working layout, but if I want to run trains then I have plenty of options in my area. (Houston, TX) So in short, patience, frugality in other nonessential areas, and damn hard work. Jacob, You're a wise young man. You have a great future, in the hobby and in life. Enjoy. You and wickman's comments made my day.
JACOB SOARES It is an expensive hobby, but if you want something enough you will find a way to acquire it. For me (a 20 year old college student waiting tables for a living.) that usually means willing myself to work 12 or 13 hour shifts during my weekends to generate extra income and being frugal with other areas of life. I'm just now getting back into model railroading...SNIP...Unfortunately I'm not in a position to build a working layout, but if I want to run trains then I have plenty of options in my area. (Houston, TX) So in short, patience, frugality in other nonessential areas, and damn hard work. Jacob,
+1000 A good rebuttal to the constant hand wringing and whining which seems to be an unnecessary fixture in these forums.
Bravo!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Learn to scratch build and kitbash.
Check out the craft shops (Michaels et al.) Scratchbuilder's heaven, at lots less than LHS prices.
Cherry pick the Walthers sale fliers.
Decide whether you NEED it, or just WANT it. You NEED a locomotive to pull that freight. It doesn't have to be a custom-built brass one of a kind. The lead box car won't be insulted if a (bought used at a train show) BB Athearn couples up to pull it away.
DON'T try to keep up with the Joneses. Let them keep up with their own late payments and bankruptcies.
Just an aside. On numerous occasions I've described inexpensive answers to some IP's questions, only to have the next poster recommend some $$$ proprietary product to do the same thing at 10 or more times the cost. Then people complain that this is an expensive hobby!
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - as inexpensively as possible)
Do as many home repairs yourself as possible. I work full time and have never paid for a plumber, electrician, etc. etc. Change you own oil. Turn off cable. Quit supporting the Hollywood people at the box office. Stop paying outrageous ticket prices at sporting events. Shop at warehouse club. Check out ebay for deals. Lots of ways to save.........
Jim
tomikawaTTLearn to scratch build and kitbash. Check out the craft shops (Michaels et al.) Scratchbuilder's heaven, at lots less than LHS prices. Cherry pick the Walthers sale fliers. Decide whether you NEED it, or just WANT it. You NEED a locomotive to pull that freight. It doesn't have to be a custom-built brass one of a kind. The lead box car won't be insulted if a (bought used at a train show) BB Athearn couples up to pull it away.
I don't think scratchbuilding will ever be my cup - tea, but overall your suggestions are good ones. There are many facits to the hobby that we can enjoy if we don't have lots of money to spend on new goodies. We can find ways to save up for something if needed like our young hobbiest above. I want to get several of the new Genesis GP40-2's due out soon so I've sold some unneeded items to generate funds to cover most of the cost.
MSN News had a piece a week ago about how poor people stay poor or in-debt, and one of the bullet items they gave was "trying to keep up with the jones". Many people could increase their standard of living and financial situation if they lived within their means while they work on bettering their income prospects. The hobby is part of this picture as you pointed out. There are some very good options for those who have limited funds to allow them to enjoy model railroading!
Like the Accurail CF4750 vs. the Tangent CF4750? Sure, we'd all like to own Mercedes or BMW's and believe me, there are plenty of "me-monsters" driving around Washington DC in Mercedes and BMW's who are driving status symbols around - probably funded by the tax payer through fat government contracts no doubt. But I digress...
In the end, you can't please all of the people all of the time. Every time I visit a train show, I am reminded of how there are lots of inexpensive items available for those who want to be able to enjoy a champaign hobby on a beer budget!
Have fun with your trains
YEP!
Only becasue we were talking about another BRANDS of Magazines! ;-)
And this thread probably will too!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
That's corporate types for you. If they don't like or can't handle the truth then they destroy it.
Very dissapointed in our hosts if this was the actuality.
I agree with Big Daydreamer, posting on Forums, getting 3 RR magazines monthly and checking new releases online with 8 manufacturers makes me "active in the hobby". I have plenty of unfinished projects, a Dremel tool on each floor of the house and there's always something waiting for me at my LHS.
I am cutting back on RTR purchases so I have $$ left to buy the things I need to finish ongoing projects scratchbuilt or painted/decalled/super detailed.
That's why I won't pay $3-400 for a sound loco that "also runs on DC" when I can buy a $180 dcc-ready loco and light kits for a whole passenger train.
Mine doesn't move.......it's at the station!!!
big daydreamer ONR FAN All your doing is fooling yourself. Being active in the hobby means building something, attending shows and club events. Posting on a forum does not mean your active in the hobby. lol maybe I would I have time for that IF I WAS RETIRED! I have done none of these things in the past month. So does that mean I am not an active modeller? Whats next? buying RTR makes me not a real ........? because I've read that before too, on this forum.
ONR FAN All your doing is fooling yourself. Being active in the hobby means building something, attending shows and club events. Posting on a forum does not mean your active in the hobby.
All your doing is fooling yourself. Being active in the hobby means building something, attending shows and club events. Posting on a forum does not mean your active in the hobby.
lol maybe I would I have time for that IF I WAS RETIRED! I have done none of these things in the past month. So does that mean I am not an active modeller?
Whats next? buying RTR makes me not a real ........? because I've read that before too, on this forum.
I'm not retired and I work 10 hours a day. I find time to work on my layout once in awhile and I attend a monthly round robin group. Last weekend I was at a show with some friends. Only posting on a forum does not make you an active modeller. Don't get me started on RTR, lol.
Dusty Solo That's corporate types for you. If they don't like or can't handle the truth then they destroy it. Very dissapointed in our hosts if this was the actuality. Dusty
I'm involved in several hobbies or activities. I don't see model railroading to be any more expensive than R/C Airplanes or R/C sailing. However, I do wish that kits for locomotives where still available. There not, so I need to move on. Almost everything on my layout has been built from kits. I don't need; or, want RTR freight, passenger; or, structures models! Why would I want someone else to do that part of this hobby that I love to do the most?
Good luck in your endeavors!
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
KRISTIAN CHRONISTERI don't find it any more expensive than it ever was. Do I miss 1970's prices? Sure. Do I want them back if I also get a 1970s income to go with them. Heck no. Correct that $ xxx loco price for inflation, compare it to a comparable item from way back when, and you'll find this has remained a pretty much middle of the pack hobby, cost-wise, over time.
Hush, you and your "actually understanding inflation."