I have been looking for cows to populate my countryside. One manufacturer wants $35.00 for three cows and two farmers! Not a chance I'm paying anywhere near that kind of $ for a few bits of plastic. So behold the junk boxes at the train show, I start lifting out the big stuff and in the bottom I start finding all sorts of animals lying loose in the bottom of some of these beat up cardboard boxes. I don't know what a good wildlife set goes for retail, but I got a good selection, all for 25 cents.
I have also bought beat up used track to practice my feeder soldering on and stuff to practice airbrushing on. Cars and trucks also seem to be cheap at train shows. Jordon products also at give away prices. I don't think I would buy an expensive item at a train show, unless it was from a major local retailer or manufacturer just in case there was a problem.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I have had hit and miss luck with locomotives so I agree to purchase from a reputable dealer, only if the locomotive is out of production, and the price is not out of orbit.
I would add to the not to buy list any type of accessories i.e. signals, automatic switches, etc.
All the best.
Reinhard
Joe F
One thing that is always on my "to buy" list is tools (including glues and cements).
Unlike you I tend not to buy track (other than turnouts) because of the likelihood of damage as I carry it around. If I do buy something delicate like track I hope I can get my hand stamped and get the stuff to my car immediately after purchase rather than lug it around the show. Ditto for assembled buildings which I very rarely purchase anyway.
At one show I got an outrageous deal on very large sheets of cork roadbed such as for yards (it was lightly damaged hence the price). I tried to carry the stuff around but it was incredibly awkward to carry (and I was damaging it more) so I got my hand stamped and took it out to the car.
If I buy locomotives it is usually on the basis that I accept an "as is" status and assume it is priced accordingly. Anything I sense I'd want to return if it was defective I tend to avoid.
Dave Nelson
With the yearly train show in Easley, SC coming next weekend and train show season in general kicking off, I can't help but remember my experiences have been mixed. Somtetomes I've gotten great deals, other times gotten burned. I've come to the realization there are some things to buy at shows and some things never to buy. Ve made a little list.
To buy:
Scenery material, details, structures, rolling stock, track.
Not to buy:
Locomotives (unless buying them from a reputable dealer or they're no longer in production), DCC stuff with the same caveat as locomotives, power supplies (unless you can test them).
what would you guys add to the lists?
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.
www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com