Purchasing Lifetime Supplies

[SeeYou190]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Kevin, You do know that Scalecoat is still available?

Yes. I was just using that as an example of something I have already bought a lifetime supply of, because I need it for my painting.

-Kevin

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

SeeYou190

 

 

richhotrain

doesn't it bother you to think that you may be purchasing Kevn's used shirts?

 

 

My used shirts are in a-1 top condition. Anyone like me, who wears size XXXLT, is happy just tio find any shirt that fits.

 

 

DAVID FORTNEY

Why jam your space with in the effort to save a few dollars or buying it because it may not be available ever again.

 

 

Because sometimes a product you depend on can cause serious problems if it is unavailable.

The military colours in Testors Model Master line are causing serious heart-ache in the military model building world right now. My German WW2 army need "Lichtgrau" for the base color, and now I cannot get it.

I use Scalecoat II 2014 as the standard STRATTON AND GILLETTE freight car colour. If I ran out, that would be a serious problem.

-Kevin

 

Kevin,

You do know that Scalecoat is still available?

https://www.minutemanscalemodels.com/category-s/127.htm

But I agree, it is most frustrating when things become "unavailable".

Sheldon

[SeeYou190]

richhotrain

doesn't it bother you to think that you may be purchasing Kevn's used shirts?

My used shirts are in a-1 top condition. Anyone like me, who wears size XXXLT, is happy just tio find any shirt that fits.

DAVID FORTNEY

Why jam your space with in the effort to save a few dollars or buying it because it may not be available ever again.

Because sometimes a product you depend on can cause serious problems if it is unavailable.

The military colours in Testors Model Master line are causing serious heart-ache in the military model building world right now. My German WW2 army need "Lichtgrau" for the base color, and now I cannot get it.

I use Scalecoat II 2014 as the standard STRATTON AND GILLETTE freight car colour. If I ran out, that would be a serious problem.

-Kevin

[DAVID FORTNEY]

I may be the complete opposite of some of the guys here. I only order what I need at the time I'm going to use it. I can order anything I'll ever need and have it in a few days. 

Why jam your space with in the effort to save a few dollars or buying it because it may not be available ever again.

It seems to be a waste of money on bulk buying, yes you may save a few bucks now. But I rather save that money now and just buy what I need at the moment. 

I mean really who needs a thousand of anything? Heck if I buy 5 of something and use 2 the other 3 are returned.

That's how I do it,

Dave

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

richhotrain

 

 

tstage

And I've found some great deals on new/nearly new short-sleeve dress shirts at Goodwill for only a few dollars each.  That's about the only clothing apparel that I can reasonably purchase at stores of that ilk.

Tom 

 

 

 

Tom, doesn't it bother you to think that you may be purchasing Kevn's used shirts?   

 

Rich

 

You are funny.....

The Goodwill stores around here have tons of product donated (written off) by TARGET and other major retailers. 

We also have a number of high quality consignment shops that are very fussy about what they take in. All sorts of stuff for the grand children at a fraction of buying new......for stuff they will just out grow anyway........then it goes back to the consignment shop.........

Sheldon

[richhotrain]

tstage

And I've found some great deals on new/nearly new short-sleeve dress shirts at Goodwill for only a few dollars each.  That's about the only clothing apparel that I can reasonably purchase at stores of that ilk.

Tom 

Tom, doesn't it bother you to think that you may be purchasing Kevn's used shirts?   

Rich

[tstage]

And I've found some great deals on new/nearly new short-sleeve dress shirts at Goodwill for only a few dollars each.  That's about the only clothing apparel that I can reasonably purchase at stores of that ilk.

Tom

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

SeeYou190

 

 

hon30critter

Dianne and I have been getting better at ridding ourselves of useless items and clutter. After we went through the months long process of cleaning out all the junk from my parents' home, we vowed that we would never do that to our son.

 

 

My wife and I went through our closet today and came up with 4 giant bags of clothes to go to Goodwill.

-Kevin

 

My wife shops at Goodwill, and constantly donates to Goodwill.

She is quick to be rid of things no longer of use.

Sheldon

[SeeYou190]

hon30critter

Dianne and I have been getting better at ridding ourselves of useless items and clutter. After we went through the months long process of cleaning out all the junk from my parents' home, we vowed that we would never do that to our son.

My wife and I went through our closet today and came up with 4 giant bags of clothes to go to Goodwill.

-Kevin

[hon30critter]

SeeYou190

Every year I purge a lot of stuff out of the house. This year was extreme since I had a 20 foot dumpster in the driveway.

Hi Kevin,

Dianne and I have been getting better at ridding ourselves of useless items and clutter. After we went through the months long process of cleaning out all the junk from my parents' home, we vowed that we would never do that to our son. My brother had a 14' trailer. We filled that 17 times to get stuff to the dump!!! They grew up during the Great Depression and were taught that nothing gets thrown away.

We have great curbside pickup! We can put just about anything out at the curb and it will be gone quickly!

Our only problem is that the garage is still full!!!

Dave

[SeeYou190]

BMMECNYC

I would take the long view of buy what you expect to use in the next year and no more. 

Every year I purge a lot of stuff out of the house. This year was extreme since I had a 20 foot dumpster in the driveway.

-Kevin

[Anonymous]

I would take the long view of buy what you expect to use in the next year and no more.  Many hobby consumables don't store well.  

Another concern would be fire/flooding/hurricane/tornado destroying your overstock of items before you ever get to use them.  

By that logic I shouldn't have stuff for layouts I haven't built yet... oh well.

[richhotrain]

Lastspikemike

Now a lifetime supply of scotch whisky sounds like a good idea....except for the storage costs.  

Buy it by the barrel.

Rich

[SeeYou190]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

there will always be left over supplies no matter what you do.

Yes, and I also try to save what can be used later somewhere that it can be found when needed.

I think this is just good practice.

-Kevin

[wrench567]

I used to be a hoarder. Now that I'm not working anymore I've become a collector. It's all about perspective. To my wife, I'm still a hoarder. To me I'm a collector of maybe useful stuff. Having over 100 locomotives, 40 passenger cars, 300+ hopper cars may be a lifetime supply but I still keep collecting.

  Someday I'll even have a layout to run them on.

      Pete

[rrebell]

I have found a few, I didnt know I had that items but for the most part, I am organized, also in my storage shed. I have picked up a few great deals on bulk, one time it was wood scale lumber, a whole collection, one time a styrene collection and last a modular DPM collection. I have used enough to have paid for these stashes many times over, accually just selling off the (never will use) proubly paid for the lots. I also have alot of Kadee #5 couplers that I bought for 5cents a pair for like 50 pairs.

[SeeYou190]

York1

When I retired several years ago, one of my first projects was to organize.  I've done pretty well, but I still have several more things to work on.

My middle baby moved out more than 10 years ago. Since then, her former bedroom has been my model workshop. The oldest daughter's bedroom was the train room.

I was always very proud of how perfectly well my shop was organized. Everything was easy to find, and everything had a home.

I was living a lie!

When I packed up the room for the house remodel, I found tons of items in the wrong places, never put away in the first place, or just tossed onto a shelf and forgotten about.

I will do better next time...

-Kevin

[York1]

I haven't read through all the posts, so this may have been mentioned.

My problem has always been that I have a part I need, I just can't find it, and I end up buying another.  Five years later, I happen across the part I needed.

When I retired several years ago, one of my first projects was to organize.  I've done pretty well, but I still have several more things to work on.

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

I work in construction (virtually all of the trades) and do mechanical work as a hobby, there will always be left over supplies no matter what you do. As long as I have room, I try to save and eventually use what ever I can.

Like Kevin, I can get frustrated when needed suppplies are no longer available. My selection of model train parts and supplies does refect this.

I have a 25 year old high quality garden tractor, parts are getting harder to find and more expensive. I am stocked up on what I think might wear out in the next 20 years.

I recently replaced the engine in the tractor, I could have rebuilt it, but that would have taken longer and cost at least 1/3, or maybe even half of the price of the newer more modern engine.

I had a stock of spare parts for the old engine. I was able to sell the old engine, and all its spare parts for nearly what it would have cost to rebuild it, reducing my cost to replace it, or recovering most or all of the investment in spare parts, depending on how you look at it.

Sometimes spare parts on hand are well worth the time they save when repairs need to be made, or like the engine parts prove to be exceptable long term investments.

Sometimes spare parts or extra supplies don't get used and prove to be a less than good investment. I try to balance that with my experiance, with my work, caring for the house, the cars, the tractor or in my hobbies.

Yes, I do have some "stuff", what might you need?

Sheldon

[IRONROOSTER]

gmpullman

I needed some construction screws for a recent project. At the local Big Box I was confronted with a choice of 1 pound for $9. 5 pounds for $25. and 10 pounds for $30. Will I ever use the ten pound box? Well, I guess that's a gamble but in my mind it was simple economy to get the "jumbo" size.

That sounds like the 50lb box of finishing nails my brother bought and gave to me after we used 5 lbs finishing his basement rec room.  30 years later I still had over 40 lbs and finally tossed them when I moved.  In the mean time the box sat on a shelf taking up space. 

When I retired and moved, I was amazed at how many boxes, jars, cans, etc. of good deals I had accumulated and never used even half of - some I never used at all - just couldn't pass up the "good deal".

These days I try hard to avoid the "good deals", but still succumb now and again.

Paul

 

[gmpullman]

SeeYou190

Oh yeah! That was an unbelievably good deal.

I needed some construction screws for a recent project. At the local Big Box I was confronted with a choice of 1 pound for $9. 5 pounds for $25. and 10 pounds for $30.

Will I ever use the ten pound box? Well, I guess that's a gamble but in my mind it was simple economy to get the "jumbo" size.

I usually use the same philosophy in model RR purchases. I just bought a thousand 1K resistors for $20.

Perhaps when I'm gone somebody is going to wonder why I "needed" so many resistors but I'll leave 'em guessing.

Cheers, Ed

[SeeYou190]

tstage

So the 1000 #78 drill bits (readily available) must have been a deal too good to pass up?

Oh yeah! That was an unbelievably good deal.

-Kevin

[RR_Mel]

Well I’m older than dirt so a lifetime supply is relatively small but I still buy LEDs and Arduino components in bulk.  I also keep a good supply of scratch building supplies on hand, there is nothing worse than having to wait on something to complete a project.

With the demise of model railroad hobby shops and electronic parts stores stocking your own goodies has become a necessity.  Fortunately I can still get a lot of my scratch building supplies at a local RC Hobby Shop, Styrene, basswood, K&S brass.

The Craft Stores here do stock Craft paints but not much more than paint and glue, I still have to order Sculptamold and Paper Mache online.
 

Mel


 
My Model Railroad  
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 

[tstage]

SeeYou190

Items like fasteners and Xacto blades I figure will always be available, so they are purchase-as-needed.

Kevin,

So the 1000 #78 drill bits (readily available) must have been a deal too good to pass up?

Tom

[IRONROOSTER]

Being in a minority scale, S scale, I tend to buy more than I need of scale specific items because they can easily become unavailable.  Things like track supplies tend to be spotty and S companies frequently go out of business.  Same for couplers and trucks.  I probably have more of these than I will ever use, but I won't run out in the years to come either.  I also buy S scale items that appeal to me even though I may not have an immediate use.

Non scale specific items like knife blades I don't worry about and tend to buy quantities to have enough on hand for current use knowing that in the future I can get the same or similar items.

Paul

[SeeYou190]

sandjam

Old technology, old components, old wiring, they are iffy (IMO) at best.

The Troller Autopulse 2.5 power packs are pretty close to the top of the peak for a quality DC controller. Them and the MRC Tech II 2500.

The reason I opted for the Troller is because it can be flush mounted in a panel.

Inside, they are top quality, and even at 40 years old they are reliable and nearly perfect.

The only modification I do is running a ground wire to the metal case.

If you know of a better DC controller option... I am eager to hear.

-Kevin

[sandjam]

Not a hoarder, but I love them.

That’s where the best bargains come from at estate sales, and train shows, and eBay.

Widows just want rid of their deceased husbands “crap”.

Lots of that happening here in Florida every day even more so with covid 19.

I have made lots of money that way.

I have bid many times against my LHS at estate auctions. Won some, lost some.

I have bought 2 of those Trollers NOS, one for $5 and one for $6, flipped them both together on eBay.

Got $40 plus $20 shipping for both. They seem to be a dime a dozen here.

Personally, I would think twice about buying electrical components 30-40 + yrs. old for personal use.

Old technology, old components, old wiring, they are iffy (IMO) at best.

However, there is still a market, albeit it dwindling.

And they make me extra hobby dollars, when I find them at those prices.

Old unopened kits are the same. Lots of profit to be made.

 

The only thing I have a lifetime supply of, is Life Insurance.

[SeeYou190]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

How many will be in use at the same time?

Three will be in use at once. One for each loop on the double track main, and one for the local/switching jobs.

tstage

I don't see the need to stock up on something beyond the next few projects. I don't have a ton of extra space in my abode. <SNIP>  Supplies such as LEDs, fasteners, and X-acto blades I do purchase in bulk.

I am the opposite. Items like fasteners and Xacto blades I figure will always be available, so they are purchase-as-needed.

Where I keep getting burned is on items I need to complete projects, but then become discontinued, and I am in a bad situation.

Most recently... Model Master Paints. All my 15mm wargaming paint schemes are based upon Model Master colours, now I am scrambling to get what I will need.

Previously: Floquil Paints, Shinohara Track Components, Scalecoat Paints, Red Caboose undecorated freight cars, Troller power packs, Ral Partha paints, and so on.

This is what triggered buying "all-that-I-will-ever-need" in one bulk puirchase once I decide on a certain product. I do not want to be left out in the wind again.

MisterBeasley

Not a planned lifetime supply purchase,

I also have stumbled upon deals too good to pass up. Recently I bought 8 boxes (24 cans) of Testors Dullcoat #1260 because a store accidentally ordered too much and was blowing it out for $2.50 a can. Yes sir! I will take it all.

-Kevin

[MisterBeasley]

I bought a lifetime supply of inkjet decal paper.  Not a planned lifetime supply purchase, but this was during the decal paper shortage some years ago.  I bought a 25 sheet pack from an online source for what I used to pay for 3 sheets at a hobby shop.  25 sheets will last a lifetime.

[tstage]

I suspect - in general - that most "life time supply" purchases end up not being as economical in the long run as purchasing "as needed".  And some things do have a shelf-life - whether they are used and not.

I don't run a business so I don't see the need to stock up on something beyond the next few projects.  And I don't have a ton of extra space in my abode.  (If I purchase a lot of something, it has to be stored somewhere)  I also don't care for clutter; nor does my dear wife.

So, "as needed" (and maybe one or two extra) is how I operate.  Supplies such as LEDs, fasteners, and X-acto blades I do purchase in bulk...but in manageable amounts.

Tom

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

How many will be in use at the same time?

At their age, they could be unpredictable, but I suspect with normal use they will be fine for many years.

Sheldon

[SeeYou190]

Serious question on this topic:

I have decided to use the Troller Transpak 2.5 as the control packs for my next layout. I expect this layout to have a useful life of 20-25 years.

Three of these power packs will be needed to operate the layout.

I have 12 of them now, and 2 of the Troller Trakker walk around throttles.

Should this be enough to last 25 years, or should I be seeking more of these to have my lifetime supply?

-Kevin

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

I never purchased a CFL in my lifetime. Send me the 100w bulbs....

Sheldon

[richhotrain]

Kevin, you can't just dump those incandescent bulbs in the trash. That would be totally wasteful. Sell them on eBay, donate them, do something.

Rich

[SeeYou190]

richhotrain

Pray tell, Kevin, how many you got?

I have 40, ten boxes of four. I have never opened any of them.

rrinker

I went LED when I moved here 6 years ago, instead of CFL.

Same here. That is why all those incandescent bulbs are a waste. I have dimmable LEDs now, and they are so much better. No more CFLs in my house.

-Kevin

[rrinker]

 Well, they kind of are, because they have mercury in them. And not very reliable. Which is why I went LED when I moved here 6 years ago, instead of CFL. Every light, even my outside floods, are LED, and not one has failed in 6 years thus far. 

 Paints, at least for trains - that does not concern me as much. The real railroads varied in color, so using different brands as ones come and go is probably MORE realistic than making sure you have enough of a particualr color so that everything is painted with the same brand and color. The real shades varied over time, and even by location - a rialroad might SAY all their house cars were "standard oxide red" but one painted at the East car shops the same week as one painted at the South shops could and did look different. Between three brands of locos all factory painted the 'same' color - I have 3 variations. Life Like's color is not the exact same as Stewart/Bowser is not the exact same as Athearn's. And which I am going to use on all those undecorated Atlas locos....no clue. 

                                       --Randy

[richhotrain]

SeeYou190

I do have a lifetime supply of 100 watt incandescent light bulbs that I bought foolishly. I listened to the idiots that said that CFLs were dangerous and we needed to hoard these older style bulbs to keep our dimmer ciruits functional.

Pray tell, Kevin, how many you got?  

Rich

[SeeYou190]

I am currently filling the construction dumpster in front of my house.

Kind of amazing, it is mostly cheap furniture that is going inside of it. I thought there would be a lot more poor purchases that would go in.

I did a first-pass in the garage, and maybe one cubic yard of stuff I was saving that I do not need.

I honestly thought I over-bought more than I have.

I do have a lifetime supply of 100 watt incandescent light bulbs that I bought foolishly. I listened to the idiots that said that CFLs were dangerous and we needed to hoard these older style bulbs to keep our dimmer ciruits functional.

These will be in the trash. That was a dumb purchase.

-Kevin

[jjo]

I too am a graduate of PSU..Fine school. Good memories...This year for the football program will be a challenge with the virus etc. Go PSU!!!

[SeeYou190]

Eilif

I've got an awful lot of paint

Well, I have a terrible relationship with paint. It seems when a line goes out of production, I am left in a mess.

When Partha Paints went out of production, there was no source for a good metallic red armor color. My 40K Orks needed this color.

Then Polly-S Fantasy went out of production. No one makes a color comperable to Ogre Flesh from this line, and it was the perfect green color for wheel well interiors on US WW2 aircraft.

Then Floquil Railroad Colors went away, and all of us were scrambling to get what we could.

Citadel reformulated all their painted about 8 years ago or so, and there was nothing comperable to Boltgun Metal in the new line. I bought every bottle I could find in Florida.

Anyway, hoarding paints that you need might just be a fact of life.

-Kevin

[gmpullman]

richhotrain

That is awesome, Ed. Gotta ask the brand? I love Scotch.

Thanks for asking, Rich. It is a bottle of OBAN 18 yr. old Single Malt. I enjoy a sip now and then. I'm savoring it and in two years time the bottle is still half-full.

Yes, a very thoughtful neighbor 

Cheers, Ed

[Eilif]

Never wanted to believe I'm the guy who acquires for forever, but I've got an awful lot of paint and I just bought a box of 45 turnouts when my present plan only calls for 8 more...

[richhotrain]

gmpullman

 

SeeYou190

Fortunately, I have a good set of neighbors right now that know how to show appreciation and always return tools and say thank you. 

Ditto! I did a little excavation work for a neighbor and he graced me with a bottle of eighteen-year old Scotch in return  yes, good neighbors. I'm the "new arrival" since we moved in in 1984!

Cheers, Ed 

That is awesome, Ed. Gotta ask the brand? I love Scotch.

Rich

[gmpullman]

SeeYou190

Fortunately, I have a good set of neighbors right now that know how to show appreciation and always return tools and say thank you.

Ditto! I did a little excavation work for a neighbor and he graced me with a bottle of eighteen-year old Scotch in return  yes, good neighbors. I'm the "new arrival" since we moved in in 1984!

Cheers, Ed

[SeeYou190]

gmpullman

I guess I'm looked upon by friends and family members as a Mr. Hainey from Green Acres. Well, Mr. Douglas, I just happen to have one on the truck.

You know that neighbor that every neighborhood has, where you can knock on the door and that guy has the parts and the tools... I'm that neighbor.

Fortunately, I have a good set of neighbors right now that know how to show appreciation and always return tools and say thank you.

drgwcs

Model railroading can very much be a buy it when you see it because you may never see another one hobby.

True. I always buy whenever I see unique loads, detail items, problem solvers, etc. made by small companies. These probably won't be on the shelf very long.

When NWSL went away, I bought everything I could find. Same with Scalecoat, then both of these came back. Whoops.

I thought I had a lifetime supply of Floquil Railroad colors, I did not.

-Kevin

[BRAKIE]

richhotrain

I can say this. When old, dormant threads are resurrected, I always notice how many screen names appear that are now long gone. In any event, in my opinion, this forum definitely is not what it used to be. Rich

Rich, That's the sad part.. Some was banned,others left because of various reasons including quitting the hobby. Then some may have passed without our  knowledge..

Of course there are many modeling and layout SIGs  on face book and some may have went there because of those groups. I belong to three such groups, shelf layouts, CR modeling and model railroading.. 

 

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

zugmann

 

 

richhotrain

How about a wet bar?

 

 

maybe if the heater core goes?

I get it though.  I like my old explorer.  4.6L, gas guzzler, but it's a tank.  I honestly don't know of anything current that I'd like to replace it with.  I mean, tehre's things I'd like to have in addition (cough challenger cough), but unless I move somewhere with more parking, 2 is my max. 

 

We had a couple of those in the family over the years, great vehicles as well.

I flipped a 1995 Explorer on some black ice, and I mean flipped. I was up side down, looking back the way I came. Then it righted itself and landed on the wheels in a snow bank.

I walked away with literally only a scratch.......

Sheldon

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

zugmann

Do you have the in-car fridge? 

 

No, we have grandchildren, so we have the real back seat, not the rear bucket seats. Ours is a 2015, but I don't think the fridge has been available these last couple of model years.

We have the multi panel vista roof, most of the top of the car is glass. Not something we really wanted, but it was on all the available cars that had the other stuff we wanted.

We have the Eccoboost engine, everybody should have a 4800lb station wagon with twin turbos, 365 HP, 360 lb/ft torque, paddle shifters, and all wheel drive, that goes from 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and does a 1/4 mile in just over 15 seconds.

There is a guy on Youtube who has modified an Eccoboost FLEX and it runs in the mid 12's.

It parks itself, it has adaptive cruise control, It stops on a dime, and it is comfortable beyond most anything I have ever driven.

And while not a sports car, just like the driveline is shared with the police interceptor/SHO Taurus, so is the suspension, handles pretty good for a station wagon.

Sheldon  

[drgwcs]

I think several things can contribute to these things. Model railroading can very much be a buy it when you see it because you may never see another one hobby. Limited runs and out of production items contribute to that. Some of us buy deals too. I'm not a hoarder but do I have too many things in some ways. I have on several occasions bought bulk deals- For example I have enough stripwood and plastic to last me a very long time even with a lot of scratchbuilding. That was a result of a couple of deals. A file box full of scratchbuilding supplies for $10 who could pass that up. That was in an estate sale. There is quite a difference between having quite a bit of supplies and hoarding. I have seen a few of those both train and not that were an absolute mess. Helped to clean out a hoarding situation a couple of times. They were a different level that a good supply of kits. To be honest I wonder if a lot of kit stashes are getting smaller right now. Just my 2 cents

[gmpullman]

When does preparedness crossover to hoarding?

I got a call from my wife's nephew about two hours ago. "My well pump quit. Looks like the pressure switch failed and all the stores that might have one closed at 6PM. My animals need water."

"I know you have shelves full of 'stuff' and wondered if you have one"?

I guess I'm looked upon by friends and family members as a Mr. Hainey from Green Acres. Well, Mr. Douglas, I just happen to have one on the truck.

Sure enough, I had a Square D pressure switch "just in case" and he just called to report that everything was back to normal with his well system. I had the 1/4 x 5" brass nipple and plenty of pipe dope, too.

Same thing happened to my nephew's furnace 24V. transformer. Burned up on Christmas eve two years ago during a frigid cold snap. Guess who had a spare? And I don't even have a furnace!

Maybe I got this way working in maintenance where we had a huge stockroom and tons of repair parts were on hand 24-7. Then a management change in the mid '80s took on this, "We can order whatever we need and have it the next day"

Well, it wasn't long before the maintenance guys started stockpiling the things we knew we were going to need on a frequent basis. There were several instances where many, and sometimes ALL of the production people were sent home due to equipment being down for lack of a simple repair part.

Sure, you can't anticipate every failure but you sure can be ready for some of the more common ones.

Regards, Ed

[zugmann]

richhotrain

How about a wet bar?

maybe if the heater core goes?

I get it though.  I like my old explorer.  4.6L, gas guzzler, but it's a tank.  I honestly don't know of anything current that I'd like to replace it with.  I mean, tehre's things I'd like to have in addition (cough challenger cough), but unless I move somewhere with more parking, 2 is my max. 

[richhotrain]

zugmann

Do you have the in-car fridge?  

How about a wet bar?

Rich

[zugmann]

Do you have the in-car fridge? 

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

SeeYou190

 

 

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

In my humble opinion, from an ergonomic standpoint, most cars,

 

 

The only ergonomic complaint I have about the Flex is the position of the power mirror adjuster. Its location seems very poorly thought out.

-Kevin

 

Well, our FLEX is a LIMITED, so it has memory mirrors (and seats, pedals, steering wheel postion), so I have not had to adjust a mirror in? Well, I can't remember. I know I know I adjusted it when we bought the car.

OK, I do touch it to fold them in at the car wash......

Sheldon

 

[SeeYou190]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

In my humble opinion, from an ergonomic standpoint, most cars,

The only ergonomic complaint I have about the Flex is the position of the power mirror adjuster. Its location seems very poorly thought out.

-Kevin

[richhotrain]

Sheldon, don't wait for the real estate sale. Buy it now. Keep the older one too.

Rich

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

richhotrain

From what I read, dealers that still have them are anxious to move the 2019 Ford Flex off their lots. Better act now, Sheldon.

Rich

 

I know, but my practical side says the other one is not worn out yet, it only has 85,000 miles on it. I expect it to go 250,000 like the last FORD pickup did.

The Flex is truely one of the only cars I have seen in in my life that fills the practical needs of a car as well or better than our Checker Marthons did. And remember, when I have not been busy as a carpenter/house designer, I sold MATCO tools, worked in the car business and restored old cars.....I have spend a lot of time around a lot of different cars......

In my humble opinion, from an ergonomic standpoint, most cars, and most SUV's/crossovers (still station wagons to me), today are total crap. Hard to enter/exit, too low, or too high, too bulky/bulgy for no reason other than style (not a style I like), to hard to see out of, and lack interior utility. Not to mention ride like crap due to short wheel base platforms.

But if all the houses sell soon, the wife might be convinced it was her idea.........his and hers......

Sheldon

[richhotrain]

From what I read, dealers that still have them are anxious to move the 2019 Ford Flex off their lots. Better act now, Sheldon.

Rich

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

zugmann

 

 

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

I'm so practical the last two cars we have owned were nearly identical. In 2012 we bought a FORD FLEX. It was totaled in a crash in 2015. We bought another FORD FLEX with nearly identical features and options. And for those who don't know, the FORD FLEX has not really changed in its 11 years of production. I will be sad when I cannot buy a third one...........

 

 

Still some new 19s on the lots.  Go grab one!   

 

I have thought about it........

Right now working on selling about a million in real estate I no longer want. If that somehow sells soon, I just might invest in one last FLEX.

Easily one of the best automobiles I have ever owned.

Sheldon

[zugmann]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

I'm so practical the last two cars we have owned were nearly identical. In 2012 we bought a FORD FLEX. It was totaled in a crash in 2015. We bought another FORD FLEX with nearly identical features and options. And for those who don't know, the FORD FLEX has not really changed in its 11 years of production. I will be sad when I cannot buy a third one...........

Still some new 19s on the lots.  Go grab one!   

[York1]

When I was growing up, our garage was a storehouse of things my father used.  If you needed a nail or a washer, he had coffee cans and jars full of them.

The problem was that nothing was sorted.  You could spend a half-hour looking for just the right bolt.

I fell into the same trap, and for years, after looking through my bins and containers, I would just go to the hardware store and buy more.

When I retired, one of my bucket list projects was to take care of that.  I collected about 30 plastic peanut butter jars, bought a label maker, and I sorted every single bolt, nail, washer, nut, and screw I had.  I ended up with a nice organized collection.  I also threw away a bunch of things that I would never use again.

Now I have jars of nails and screws that I will never use in this lifetime, but they are all neatly arranged on my shed shelves for my children to throw away after my funeral.

[richhotrain]

SeeYou190

 

richhotrain

By the way, can you spare a few #78 drill bits?

 Rich, They are packed away in boxes right now for the remodel, and I cannot get to them easily enough right now. 

Just kidding! I have never actually used a #78 drill bit.

Rich

[SeeYou190]

richhotrain

By the way, can you spare a few #78 drill bits?

Rich, They are packed away in boxes for the remodel, and I cannot get to them easily right now.

Only 5 days until the dumpster gets delivered! I am so excited!

-Kevin

[rrebell]

No hording is an impotant subject and large numbers of things tend to go there in these times. Model railroading is unique in this as we buy stuff over the years for a purpose but we really don't know all the facts at the time of purchase. I bought out a local hobby shop of all the code 70 track they had (they were only going to carry code 100 and I got ba fantastic bargin). This was 20 years before I got the time to use any but a few peices. Finally I just sold all the #8 turnouts on e-bay, #6 may be next as I use mainly #4's.

[richhotrain]

SeeYou190

Rich, got your point.

I did not foresee that the conversation would go that far down the rabbit hole of hoarding.

-Kevin 

LOL

I knew you would, Kevin, and you took my comment in the spirit in which it was intended.

I will say this. My innocent comment to Brakie about this forum isn't what it used to be has apparently generated a lot of controversy, none of which I intended.

By the way, can you spare a few #78 drill bits? After I read your initial post, I checked my supply, and I only have one left.  

Rich

[jjo]

I do have the "packrat" mentality of don't throw away anything..You might need it someday :) 

But then , periodically, I have to do a thinning out and throw out the junk, telling myself "you're never going to use/need this item"...Oh well....

[SeeYou190]

Rich, got your point.

I did not foresee that the conversation would go that far down the rabbit hole of hoarding.

-Kevin

[richhotrain]

SeeYou190

I started this thread to talk about purchasing lifetime supplies all at once instead off a little at a time. I do not want to discuss hoarding.

SeeYou190

It started with #78 drill bits, I bought 1,000 of them at once because I never wanted to buy them again.

Is this something normal, or is it a sign of hoarding.

[Tinplate Toddler]

SeeYou190

I actually found a brass locomotive I forgot I had!

That happened to me, too. A little over 40 years ago, that loco was packed up and stored in a moving box, which moved unopened a number of times with us. I rediscovered that treasure only a couple of years ago. Still runs nicely!

 

[SeeYou190]

I started this thread to talk about purchasing lifetime supplies all at once instead off a little at a time. I do not want to discuss hoarding. Can we please drop the hoarding discussions, or you can start a new thread if you think this is a problem that needs to be worked out.

My house is neat, everything has a place where it can be put away, and I have no problem throwing away items that are not needed.

We used to have three daughters here, now we have space for our hobbies. Not a bad thing at all.

-Kevin

[SeeYou190]

MARTIN STATION

As far as "stocking up on a lifetime supply" of things, as I have been cleaning out and organizing my Train Room during this "shelter in place" down time, I discovered that I have been doing just that with many things over the years and didn't even know it! I have been pleasantly surprised at some of the treasure I am finding.

I have also been cleaning a lot. This has nothing to do with the lockdown, but my remodeling of the bedrooms. I have been packing up the workshop that was constructed in one bedroom. The other bedroom was my 30 by 30 photo diorama studio.

I actually found a brass locomotive I forgot I had!

For the most part, I am pretty happy with all the things I am finding. I have purchased quite wisely.

My only mistake was about 7 years ago I went on a 1/48 scale military model building binge. I bought about 12 armoured vehicles and another dozen aircraft kits that are all still sealed in the boxes. These were a poor decision, but I might get back into it one day.

-Kevin

 

[SeeYou190]

rrebell

This used to be just an extra forum untill the one I was really involved in was sold.

I ended up here after I was booted off of the wargaming forums.

I don't have time for more than one forum, and Model Railroading has always been one of my hobbies, so here I am.

hon30critter

Personally I am quite happy with the forums. Everyone is polite and supportive, and the moderaters are doing a great job of politely keeping us all in line.

Me too, 100% agree.

MARTIN STATION

I always thought of the Fourm as a group conversation like people used to have at the hobby shops on Friday night or Saturday mornings except we use our fingers instead of our tongues

Me too again, and I enjoy the "Coffee Clutch" mentality that some like to complain about. I think we are a great social group.

York1

But I can get help when I need it, I can report on things I've done, I can talk to people I probably wouldn't otherwise, and when a forum gets too political, I just don't read it anymore. This site is now about the only online site that I regularly use. I really hope that Kalmbach keeps this going.

This is the only social interaction on the internet that I have. I do very much appreciate it, and throw my support back to Kalmach in appreciation (subscriptions to MR, FSM, SAE, and MR V-P).

-Kevin

[York1]

I really like this forum.  I've only been a member for a couple of years, so I can't say what it used to be.

But I can get help when I need it, I can report on things I've done, I can talk to people I probably wouldn't otherwise, and when a forum gets too political, I just don't read it anymore.  This site is now about the only online site that I regularly use.

I really hope that Kalmbach keeps this going.

[rrebell]

I have been downsizing for years now, still got a bunch to go, mostly craftsman buildings (to be built) and rolling stock. I have always been a bottom feeder so the way I fiqure it, when done, is I broke even with the hobby costing nothing. I will tell you the price of things on e-bay in the train area are down, glad I sold a majority of the extras, years ago. Used to get close to $20 for a new in the box Shinohara switch but now closer to $10, which is about what I paid.

[MARTIN STATION]

 By the way, I found lot's of stuff from scenery material, tools and even BB locomotive parts (and the locomotives to go with them) as well as building kits to build a retro 80's layout in HO.

Ralph

[MARTIN STATION]

Hi all,

  I always thought of the Fourm as a group conversation like people used to have at the hobby shops on Friday night or Saturday mornings except we use our fingers instead of our tongues. Everyone had an opinion but we could all be respectful. And just like then I learned a lot more by listening to what everyone had to say and testing it out for myself. The fourm still one of my most important tools.

  As far as "stocking up on a lifetime supply" of things, as I have been cleaning out and organizing my Train Room during this "shelter in place" down time, I discovered that I have been doing just that with many things over the years and didn't even know it! I have been pleasantly surprised at some of the treasure I am finding. I have spent some happy moments enjoying some of those "someday projects" with some of the advice and knowledge I've learned right here. And with that I will say a heartfelt "thank you" to all of you and get back to work.

Ralph

[rrebell]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

 

 

richhotrain

 

 

BRAKIE

 

richhotrain

That is really true, Tom. Technical threads draw a small audience of truly dedicated forum members. Post a whimsical thread with a clever title and you will draw hundreds, if not thousands, of views.

Rich 

Rich, Was this forum ever that serious? I reall the flame wars over just about everything when I join back in 2001.  I think this forum is more  like a club then anything technical other then the DCC forum..

The only "serious" forum I know is the Atlas Rescue Forum and there is a lot of complaining there about models some times even a member that has a different view gets yelled at. 

Be that has it may I am a member there because I can get the detailed reviews of new releases including any minor or major flaws. I simply judge what is being said about a certain model to see if it fits my guide lines.. My IM GP10 was such a locomotive as was my Scale Trains "Operator" SD40-2.  

 

 

 

Was this forum ever that serious? Larry, you raise a good question. I really don't know the answer.

 

Back in 2004 when I joined the forum, it seemed a lot more serious than it is now. Maybe it is because so many serious modelers have left this forum for other forums and so now the whimsical threads are more prevalent.

I can say this. When old, dormant threads are resurrected, I always notice how many screen names appear that are now long gone. In any event, in my opinion, this forum definitely is not what it used to be.

Rich

 

 

 

 

Well, that was my point to Jim earlier. Whenever I take a more serious view, I am either bombarded with negitivity (which never really bothers me) or there is little interest.

When I joined this forum 10 years ago, I was ridiculed by more than a few people because I dared to challenge the idea that DCC was the perfect control system for every layout.

I will simply continue to post what I am doing that I think might interest others, and offering my opinion to other posts if I feel so inclined.

Sheldon

 

 

I  am with you and only got into DCC because I got a deal and it was a Digitrax Zepher and an MTH engine with sound and other parts for $200 out the door. The control didn't grab me, it was fine but I don't run mutiple engines at the same time but the sound, that was the game changer. Then I bought some DCC sound engines from Bachmann and wow has that company improved and they were dirt cheap too, a 2-6-0 for $90 and an S4 for $65 if I remember right from a bigbox mailorder store to boot.

[rrebell]

tstage

 

 

riogrande5761

Sometimes I wonder if this forum is a kind of "therapy" for some of the members.  The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now.

 

 

Truer words have never been spoken, Jim...

 

 

I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time.

 

 

Someone recently commented to me that, should that happen, someone could start an "MR Rescue Forum" like they did over at the Atlas website.  That way some folks won't suffer from delirium tremens of not having the forum around.

 

This used to be just an extra forum untill the one I was really involved in was sold. It still exists but is a shell of its former self. I liked that one because a alot of the constant posters were running model railroad manufacturing. Also they really didn't moniter things but let thing die a natural death and the people with a program just faded away very quickly. Now maybe MR can't because they are venders of generaly distributed items like their magazines.

[snjroy]

Sheldon, I don't know if it's human nature, but I think we are more tempted to reply when we disagree with someone than when we agree. I probably agree with the vast majority of statements made here (even contradicting comments can be correct, depending on the circumstances), but I guess I don't want to clutter the forum with simple "I agree with..." statements.

Simon

[Marc_Magnus]

Back to the title of this thread

 

I have a good inventory of what I have acquired during 45 years of dream modeling.

I have always dream about the construction of a huge layout; now I'm sixty, and this dream has come true.

The dream follow a big move from Europe to Quebec already more than six months ago.

I have the unique chance to move with my layout and all the suff acquired in this long period of dreaming.

Because an inventory was necessary for the move and the customs, I have bring with me, not included the layout around 5 m³ of train stuff put in boxes, this includes, materials, paints,  tooling equipment, benchwork, model trains, model structures, electrical and electronic stuff and my collection of magazines and trains books.

Never had believe I had so much things about train; some where a rediscovery when i put them in boxes for the move.

But I have buy all these things with the idea my dream come true one day.

So basicaly 98% will find a use in my new project; I have try to buy stuff which can be used in my layout emphasis and no stuff which can't be used for the big layout project.

The new ongoing plan includes already for the most all the structures I have in stock, acquired during a 45 years of dreaming time.

So I'm sure I will not stay with a lot of stuff unused in a near future.

In fact I already need more.

 

 

 

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

richhotrain

 

 

BRAKIE

 

richhotrain

That is really true, Tom. Technical threads draw a small audience of truly dedicated forum members. Post a whimsical thread with a clever title and you will draw hundreds, if not thousands, of views.

Rich 

Rich, Was this forum ever that serious? I reall the flame wars over just about everything when I join back in 2001.  I think this forum is more  like a club then anything technical other then the DCC forum..

The only "serious" forum I know is the Atlas Rescue Forum and there is a lot of complaining there about models some times even a member that has a different view gets yelled at. 

Be that has it may I am a member there because I can get the detailed reviews of new releases including any minor or major flaws. I simply judge what is being said about a certain model to see if it fits my guide lines.. My IM GP10 was such a locomotive as was my Scale Trains "Operator" SD40-2.  

 

 

 

Was this forum ever that serious? Larry, you raise a good question. I really don't know the answer.

 

Back in 2004 when I joined the forum, it seemed a lot more serious than it is now. Maybe it is because so many serious modelers have left this forum for other forums and so now the whimsical threads are more prevalent.

I can say this. When old, dormant threads are resurrected, I always notice how many screen names appear that are now long gone. In any event, in my opinion, this forum definitely is not what it used to be.

Rich

 

Well, that was my point to Jim earlier. Whenever I take a more serious view, I am either bombarded with negitivity (which never really bothers me) or there is little interest.

When I joined this forum 10 years ago, I was ridiculed by more than a few people because I dared to challenge the idea that DCC was the perfect control system for every layout.

I will simply continue to post what I am doing that I think might interest others, and offering my opinion to other posts if I feel so inclined.

Sheldon

 

[hon30critter]

richhotrain

In any event, in my opinion, this forum definitely is not what it used to be.

Rich,

Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I'm not sure I understand your point.

Personally I am quite happy with the forums. Everyone is polite and supportive, and the moderaters are doing a great job of politely keeping us all in line. I used to get stressed regularly by some of the responses to my posts because of my depression issues, but the offenders are long gone (good riddance!).

Dave

[Tinplate Toddler]

Bob Dylan put it in better words!

 

[gmpullman]

richhotrain

Not sure I get your point. Rich

I think the point is, this forum is like a flowing river. There are similarities from day-to-day but the current is forever changing and the water you see flowing by today is not the water that was there yesterday.

I'll get off my philosophical soap box now.

I rather embrace change and new ideas. We are here to discuss those ideas. I believe Ulrich's reference to Waldorf & Statler is that you can get stuck in a rut and pine for the "way it used to be" but the current will continue to flow, participants here will fade away and others will soon arrive.

The only constant is change.

 

       2 ¢  —  Cheers, Ed

[richhotrain]

Tinplate Toddler

 

richhotrain

this forum definitely is not what it used to be. 

So is the world! Things are changing, whether you like it or not. Joining the ranks of Waldorf and Statler doesn´t help. 

Not sure I get your point.

Rich

[Tinplate Toddler]

richhotrain

this forum definitely is not what it used to be.

So is the world! Things are changing, whether you like it or not. Joining the ranks of Waldorf and Statler doesn´t help.

[richhotrain]

BRAKIE

 

richhotrain

That is really true, Tom. Technical threads draw a small audience of truly dedicated forum members. Post a whimsical thread with a clever title and you will draw hundreds, if not thousands, of views.

Rich 

Rich, Was this forum ever that serious? I reall the flame wars over just about everything when I join back in 2001.  I think this forum is more  like a club then anything technical other then the DCC forum..

The only "serious" forum I know is the Atlas Rescue Forum and there is a lot of complaining there about models some times even a member that has a different view gets yelled at. 

Be that has it may I am a member there because I can get the detailed reviews of new releases including any minor or major flaws. I simply judge what is being said about a certain model to see if it fits my guide lines.. My IM GP10 was such a locomotive as was my Scale Trains "Operator" SD40-2.  

Was this forum ever that serious? Larry, you raise a good question. I really don't know the answer.

Back in 2004 when I joined the forum, it seemed a lot more serious than it is now. Maybe it is because so many serious modelers have left this forum for other forums and so now the whimsical threads are more prevalent.

I can say this. When old, dormant threads are resurrected, I always notice how many screen names appear that are now long gone. In any event, in my opinion, this forum definitely is not what it used to be.

Rich

[Renegade1c]

Three Things I keep in abundance. Drywall screws, LED's and 1K resistors. I literally have bought all three by the thousands. I have red, green, yellow, orange, warm white cool white, and blue LED's that I always have around. The warm white ones are surface mount (0603 and 1204) and cool white is 0603. The cool whites one I use for industrial lighting. For example I have installed well over 200 LED's throughout the refinery. I really need to get them all hooked up and get a night shot. The red, green, yellow and orange are used for control panels.

As for drywall screws, practically the entire layout is built from them and 1x4's

[SeeYou190]

Southgate

I'd have stocked up on those switches that you did, and other commodity items.

I bought the DPDT toggles at Skycraft in Orlando. One day they had boxes of 50 of them for $100.00, so only a couple of bucks each. You cannot say no to that price.

richhotrain

Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them.

Well, that is not me, hardly anything in that description sounded like me. I love throwing things away. My wife says I look at an empty garbage can the way an artist looks at a blank canvas.

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

But if you need a wire nut, or screw or other mechanical wigget, there is a good a chance I will have one........

Same here. Virtually anything that goes wrong in the house can be fixed with supplies on hand and with tools that are here. I even have supplies to patch back together after a hurricane. 

That is all just being a respsonsible homeowner.

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

But here is the list of things purged when or before we moved:

Only six days until my roll-off dumpster gets delivered, and oh-boy-golly will there be a purge then.

Here is a partial list:

About 600 DVD movies

2 Desks

2 End Tables

1 Train Layout Segment

All kinds of damaged wargames terrain

1 Set of Patio Furniture

1 Set if Bedroom Furniture

3 Bookcases

Plus everything that has to be demolished from the house for the bedroom remodel.

-Kevin

[BRAKIE]

richhotrain

That is really true, Tom. Technical threads draw a small audience of truly dedicated forum members. Post a whimsical thread with a clever title and you will draw hundreds, if not thousands, of views.

Rich

 

 

Rich, Was this forum ever that serious? I reall the flame wars over just about everything when I join back in 2001.  I think this forum is more  like a club then anything technical other then the DCC forum..

The only "serious" forum I know is the Atlas Rescue Forum and there is a lot of complaining there about models some times even a member that has a different view gets yelled at. 

Be that has it may I am a member there because I can get the detailed reviews of new releases including any minor or major flaws. I simply judge what is being said about a certain model to see if it fits my guide lines.. My IM GP10 was such a locomotive as was my Scale Trains "Operator" SD40-2. 

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

BigDaddy

 

 

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

What do I do to that original Athearn car? Remove the tandom axles on the trailers, relocate the landing gear on the trailers, paint the rims, paint the tail lights, and use some of the extra tires I removed to add spare tires to the trailers (common in the 50's). Then I cut apart the "trailer cradle" leaving only the prototypical rub rails, and I glue the on the flat car. I use the left over wheel/axle piece from the trailer wheels as a 5th wheel jack (not exactly prototypical, but back then several designs floated around), and I add bridge plates and the tall stakes that typically held the chain that kept the bridge plates up in transit. The Athearn trucks get replaced with my signature Kadee sprung trucks with Intermountain wheels

 

 

This is the kind of information that I wouldn't know to do.  I am a few years older than Sheldon, but I don't remember that sort of detail from the 50's.  I suppose there are Kalmbach or other books I could study and figure it out, but I'm not inclined to buy a bunch more reference books.

Thanks for the simple explanation.  I hope you start your own thread, like Randy, when you are further along in your design.

 

Thanks Henry,

I did start a thread on the layout design concept in 2018 when we first moved to the new house, it has come back to the front page from time to time.

The past year and a half has not gone exactly as we had hoped.......... 

And I will update it or start new threads as I progress on the new layout.

I'm only 62, but I model 1954, and have done considerable research into that era, with piggyback being a particular special interest.

Shedon 

[BigDaddy]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

What do I do to that original Athearn car? Remove the tandom axles on the trailers, relocate the landing gear on the trailers, paint the rims, paint the tail lights, and use some of the extra tires I removed to add spare tires to the trailers (common in the 50's). Then I cut apart the "trailer cradle" leaving only the prototypical rub rails, and I glue the on the flat car. I use the left over wheel/axle piece from the trailer wheels as a 5th wheel jack (not exactly prototypical, but back then several designs floated around), and I add bridge plates and the tall stakes that typically held the chain that kept the bridge plates up in transit. The Athearn trucks get replaced with my signature Kadee sprung trucks with Intermountain wheels

This is the kind of information that I wouldn't know to do.  I am a few years older than Sheldon, but I don't remember that sort of detail from the 50's.  I suppose there are Kalmbach or other books I could study and figure it out, but I'm not inclined to buy a bunch more reference books.

Thanks for the simple explanation.  I hope you start your own thread, like Randy, when you are further along in your design.

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

ROBERT PETRICK

 

 

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

I agree, but I am between layouts and without time to set up my work bench, so no current modeling to discuss or show pictures of.

I have posted at some length about my design concept, and hope to finish and publish the track plan soon, but that seems to be of interest only to a few.

I'm not particularly interested in which sound decoder is best, or how much someone likes their latest high end RTR loco or rolling stock purchase that they will not weather or kit bash.

And I full well accept that those guys are not interested in my budget kit bash projects or "close enough from three feet" modeling.

So what would you have us talk about Jim?

If I start talking about signaling, or advanced cab control, or freelancing, or selective compression, one group says I'm behind the times, the other group falls asleep.

Sheldon

 

 

 

 

I'm interested in seeing your track plan, and I'm perfectly okay with a hand-drawn version. In fact I'd really like to see a well-drawn-by-hand image. I started my career back in the Stone Age (70s) as a pen-and-ink draftsman, and I know many who were (are) very talented in that regard.

I'm also interested in the "close enough from three feet" idea. I think it was Tony Koester who wrote about the concept of "layout quality structures" vs "contest quality structures".

Robert

 

Robert, trust me it will be hand drawn. and it pains me that it has taken so long, but family and work have been a real challenge this last year.

But it is coming along, it will show up.

As for "close enough" modeling, I am a "big picture" kind of guy when it comes to model trains.

Don't get me wrong, I like a well detailed accurate model as much as the next guy. At 15 I was installing complete brake system rigging and piping under my freight cars.

But I like big scenes and long trains, and not every freight car needs to be museum quality, they just have to look the part. Like these:

Are they ubber accurate? No. Do they have reasonably good proportions and convey the feel of early piggyback cars? YES.

I have about 100 early piggyback cars. Many are these early Athearn cars, with a number of simple upgrades to make them more correct, without going crazy.

There will be three 35 car trains of these making their way around the layout, getting sorted in the yard, etc.

Guess what? Not one of the current "high end" brands makes a good model of this type of early piggyback car. And while I have the skills, I don't have the time or desire to scratch build, or major kit bash 100 flat cars.

So I employ "minimum effort modeling", taking something close, and doing just enough to eliminate the obvious flaws, making it a much better version of "close enough".

It's fun, its easy, and it meets the goal which is that 35 car train rounding that 40" radius curve, lead by an ABBA set of F units.....

What do I do to that original Athearn car?

Remove the tandom axles on the trailers, relocate the landing gear on the trailers, paint the rims, paint the tail lights, and use some of the extra tires I removed to add spare tires to the trailers (common in the 50's).

Then I cut apart the "trailer cradle" leaving only the prototypical rub rails, and I glue them on the flat car (or sometimes I make rub rails from scratch). I use a left over wheel/axle piece from the trailer wheels as a 5th wheel jack (not exactly prototypical, but back then several designs floated around), and I add bridge plates and the tall stakes that typically held the chain that kept the bridge plates up in transit.

The Athearn trucks get replaced with my signature Kadee sprung trucks with Intermountain wheels, and there you have it, a budget 1950's piggyback, or 75 of them.......

In many cases the trucks represent a bigger investment than the rest of the car....

Just one example of "close enough". 

 

One note, none of the cars pictured had yet made it to the paint shop for some light weathering.

Maybe the next installment will be passenger cars.........

Sheldon

PS - Rich, 75 Athearn piggyback kit bashes requires first hoarding 75 trailer hitch/bridge plate parts sets from Athearn 85' flat cars.........

 

[richhotrain]

That is really true, Tom. Technical threads draw a small audience of truly dedicated forum members. Post a whimsical thread with a clever title and you will draw hundreds, if not thousands, of views.

Rich

[tstage]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

riogrande5761

Sometimes I wonder if this forum is a kind of "therapy" for some of the members.  The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now.   I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time.

I agree, but I am between layouts and without time to set up my work bench, so no current modeling to discuss or show pictures of.

I have posted at some length about my design concept, and hope to finish and publish the track plan soon, but that seems to be of interest only to a few.

I'm not particularly interested in which sound decoder is best, or how much someone likes their latest high end RTR loco or rolling stock purchase that they will not weather or kit bash.

And I full well accept that those guys are not interested in my budget kit bash projects or "close enough from three feet" modeling.

So what would you have us talk about Jim?

If I start talking about signaling, or advanced cab control, or freelancing, or selective compression, one group says I'm behind the times, the other group falls asleep.

Sheldon

Sheldon,

I think Jim's comment is more directed towards threads that are merely conversational/social in nature vs ones that are more geared towards "informative discussion" - like the examples you have given.  And it doesn't take long before you notice that complaining/negative threads will garner far more views and comments than those that are positive in nature.  I can't tell you how many good "How to" threads I've seen posted that quickly descend to pg. 2 and beyond because few find them interesting or beneficial or even bother to look at them.  Sad but true.

That said though, don't let that stop you from posting something that you feel might be a benefit to others - even if it's only one or two people.  And if you're secure in what you are doing, who cares what the naysayers think.

Tom

[ROBERT PETRICK]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

I agree, but I am between layouts and without time to set up my work bench, so no current modeling to discuss or show pictures of.

I have posted at some length about my design concept, and hope to finish and publish the track plan soon, but that seems to be of interest only to a few.

I'm not particularly interested in which sound decoder is best, or how much someone likes their latest high end RTR loco or rolling stock purchase that they will not weather or kit bash.

And I full well accept that those guys are not interested in my budget kit bash projects or "close enough from three feet" modeling.

So what would you have us talk about Jim?

If I start talking about signaling, or advanced cab control, or freelancing, or selective compression, one group says I'm behind the times, the other group falls asleep.

Sheldon

 

I'm interested in seeing your track plan, and I'm perfectly okay with a hand-drawn version. In fact I'd really like to see a well-drawn-by-hand image. I started my career back in the Stone Age (70s) as a pen-and-ink draftsman, and I know many who were (are) very talented in that regard.

I'm also interested in the "close enough from three feet" idea. I think it was Tony Koester who wrote about the concept of "layout quality structures" vs "contest quality structures".

Robert

[ROBERT PETRICK]

maxman

riogrande5761

become a sort of "coffee clutch"

 

Klatch! Klatch!   Cars and trucks have "clutch".  Coffee has "klatch".

 

Klatsch. (No repetition, no exclamation points)

Robert

[mbinsewi]

tstage

someone could start an "MR Rescue Forum" like they did over at the Atlas website. 

That could be interesting.  Not a site for the perpetually offended.

Mike.

[maxman]

riogrande5761

become a sort of "coffee clutch"

 

Klatch! Klatch!   Cars and trucks have "clutch".  Coffee has "klatch".

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

riogrande5761

Sometimes I wonder if this forum is a kind of "therapy" for some of the members.  The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now.   I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time.

 

 

I agree, but I am between layouts and without time to set up my work bench, so no current modeling to discuss or show pictures of.

I have posted at some length about my design concept, and hope to finish and publish the track plan soon, but that seems to be of interest only to a few.

I'm not particularly interested in which sound decoder is best, or how much someone likes their latest high end RTR loco or rolling stock purchase that they will not weather or kit bash.

And I full well accept that those guys are not interested in my budget kit bash projects or "close enough from three feet" modeling.

So what would you have us talk about Jim?

If I start talking about signaling, or advanced cab control, or freelancing, or selective compression, one group says I'm behind the times, the other group falls asleep.

Sheldon

[richhotrain]

mbinsewi

 

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Other things I hoard: 

Rich, It seems your therapy is working, Sheldon is beginning to open up..

Mike. 

Mike, that is such an important development: acknowledgment.

I strongly believe that Sheldon is on the road to recovery. Ahh, the power of prayer. 

Rich

[tstage]

riogrande5761

Sometimes I wonder if this forum is a kind of "therapy" for some of the members.  The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now.

Truer words have never been spoken, Jim...

I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time.

Someone recently commented to me that, should that happen, someone could start an "MR Rescue Forum" like they did over at the Atlas website.  That way some folks won't suffer from delirium tremens of not having the forum around.

[mbinsewi]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

But here is the list of things purged when or before we moved:

Actually, we are in that process of purging.

Mike.

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

mbinsewi

 

 

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Other things I hoard:

 

 

Rich, It seems your therapy is working, Sheldon is beginning to open up..

Mike.

 

But here is the list of things purged when or before we moved:

Aprox 400 VHS  movies, and 200 DVD movies

Three rooms of antique and reproduction Victorian furniture

A small lumber yard of wood moldings, many custom milled

A dozen or so older power tools, spare air compressor, etc.

Several specific collections of Victorian knickknack's

Several spare beds and bed frames

Several collections of magazines, not train related.......

About 25% of the books in the house....

Still to find a new home:

Upright piano

1927 Victrola

We started clearing out rooms years before the move (kids and their stuff, as well as our own)

Sheldon

[York1]

riogrande5761

The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now.   I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time.

 

That's exactly why I get upset at forum members who complain about the moderators or the rules.

I can feel for the company that provides something valuable for free and gets criticized for it.

[mbinsewi]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Other things I hoard:

Rich, It seems your therapy is working, Sheldon is beginning to open up..

Mike.

[York1]

When my father died, I was the closest in location of the four sons, so it fell to me to clean out the house and garage.

I was amazed at some of the things my father kept.

He had some things in his dresser drawer from WWII -- not mementos or artifacts, but just various odd things.  They obviously meant something to him since he kept them, but they meant nothing to me and got thrown away.

That experience has made me look at things I have kept.  It's important to me or I wouldn't keep it, but when I die, it won't mean anything to my daughters and will get thrown.  Kind of makes you get sentimental about important things in life.

[richhotrain]

Sheldon, I am not without sin, so I should not cast the first stone (John 8:7). My new layout is guilty of gigantism as well. As soon as I finish it, I plan to dismantle it, sell all of my locos and rolling stock, and keep only a couple of Santa Fe passenger trains. I yearn for a smaller layout and simplicity.

Rich

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

Other things I hoard:

Kadee sprung trucks

Intermoutain wheel sets

Specific CalScale detail parts

American Limited diaphragm

Kadee couplers

Specific undecorated freight cars when they show up at the right price

No longer produced Roundhouse Commonwealth 4 wheel passenger trucks

No longer produced Central Valley passenger truck brake beam kits

Replacement gears and wheelsets for Proto2000 diesels.

Sheldon

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

richhotrain

 

 

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

 

Rich, it will not be real hoarding untill I get to 2500 freight cars and 300 locos, because the layout is designed for about 1200 freight cars and requires the 140 locos to protect the schedule.

 

 

 

Sheldon, I agree. What you describe for your layout is not hoarding.

 

That said, your layout is suffering from gigantism. That's another form of MR disease. 

Rich

 

Well, maybe so, but it will be smaller than the layouts of a number of my modeling friends and acquaintances in this region of country.......

And while it will be big, it is not very complex. Remember, a double ended yard with 8 tracks, 20 feet long, is no more complex than one with 8 tracks only 12 feet long. 36" and larger curves use up real estate fast, and so does scenic depth.  Many scenes with only the double track mainline will be 2-3 feet deep. The "city" scene will be 5 feet deep, but all the track will be in the front 3 feet. Parts of the city will lift out for access.

The thing that requires the rolling stock is the number of staged trains, about 30 total.

Sheldon

[rrebell]

riogrande5761

Sometimes I wonder if this forum is a kind of "therapy" for some of the members.  The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now.   I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time.

 

 

You got it!

[richhotrain]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

 

Rich, it will not be real hoarding untill I get to 2500 freight cars and 300 locos, because the layout is designed for about 1200 freight cars and requires the 140 locos to protect the schedule.

Sheldon, I agree. What you describe for your layout is not hoarding.

That said, your layout is suffering from gigantism. That's another form of MR disease. 

Rich

[richhotrain]

riogrande5761

Sometimes I wonder if this forum is a kind of "therapy" for some of the members.  The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now.   I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time. 

Jim, that is very perceptive on your part.  

Rich

[NittanyLion]

The only thing I plan to acquire in large numbers is switch machines. I want everything to match and I'd hate for the choice I make to leave production. 

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

Doughless

I like practicing just-in-time inventory for the layout, but I wish that I would have hoarded some Cascade Rail Supply Homabed that I had on my ebay watchlist for abot a year.......

 

And there you have the reason why I try to buy the full quantity I expect to need once a product is selected. And that is the one I missed too. I have some in stock, but not enough........

Rich, it will not be real hoarding untill I get to 2500 freight cars and 300 locos, because the layout is designed for about 1200 freight cars and requires the 140 locos to protect the schedule.

But that will never happen, I am mostly done buying rolling stock and locos. I may have a lot of stuff, but I am actually a very disciplined hoarder..........

Sheldon

[rrebell]

richhotrain

 

 

SeeYou190

In the past couple of years, an interesting thing has begun to happen. I am purchasing things in "lifetime supplies" when I can.

Is this something normal, or is it a sign of hoarding.

 

 

 

According to Mayo Clinic, it is not normal, and it is definitely a sign of hoarding. Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about this disorder.

 

Overview

Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs.

Hoarding often creates such cramped living conditions that homes may be filled to capacity, with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. Countertops, sinks, stoves, desks, stairways and virtually all other surfaces are usually piled with stuff. And when there's no more room inside, the clutter may spread to the garage, vehicles, yard and other storage facilities.

Hoarding ranges from mild to severe. In some cases, hoarding may not have much impact on your life, while in other cases it seriously affects your functioning on a daily basis.

People with hoarding disorder may not see it as a problem, making treatment challenging. But intensive treatment can help people with hoarding disorder understand how their beliefs and behaviors can be changed so that they can live safer, more enjoyable lives.

Symptoms

Getting and saving an excessive number of items, gradual buildup of clutter in living spaces and difficulty discarding things are usually the first signs and symptoms of hoarding disorder, which often surfaces during the teenage to early adult years.

As the person grows older, he or she typically starts acquiring things for which there is no immediate need or space. By middle age, symptoms are often severe and may be harder to treat.

Problems with hoarding gradually develop over time and tend to be a private behavior. Often, significant clutter has developed by the time it reaches the attention of others.

Signs and symptoms may include:

Excessively acquiring items that are not needed or for which there's no space

Persistent difficulty throwing out or parting with your things, regardless of actual value

Feeling a need to save these items, and being upset by the thought of discarding them

Building up of clutter to the point where rooms become unusable

Having a tendency toward indecisiveness, perfectionism, avoidance, procrastination, and problems with planning and organizing

Excessive acquiring and refusing to discard items results in:

Disorganized piles or stacks of items, such as newspapers, clothes, paperwork, books or sentimental items

Possessions that crowd and clutter your walking spaces and living areas and make the space unusable for the intended purpose, such as not being able to cook in the kitchen or use the bathroom to bathe

Buildup of food or trash to unusually excessive, unsanitary levels

Significant distress or problems functioning or keeping yourself and others safe in your home

Conflict with others who try to reduce or remove clutter from your home

Difficulty organizing items, sometimes losing important items in the clutter

People with hoarding disorder typically save items because:

They believe these items are unique or will be needed at some point in the future

The items have important emotional significance — serving as a reminder of happier times or representing beloved people or pets

They feel safer when surrounded by the things they save

They don't want to waste anything

Hoarding disorder is different from collecting. People who have collections, such as stamps or model cars, deliberately search out specific items, categorize them and carefully display their collections. Although collections can be large, they aren't usually cluttered and they don't cause the distress and impairments that are part of hoarding disorder.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hoarding-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20356056 

 

 

Hey thanks, have been trying to clean up siters house for years.

[MisterBeasley]

Back in the decal paper shortage a few years ago, I found some online.  It was in packages of 25, which I realized would last me forever, but that's the least I could get.

I either lose stuff or it dries out anyway.  On the other hand, I'm 73 and have heart issues and diabetes, so a lifetime supply doesn't have to be very big.

[rrebell]

SeeYou190

 

 

rrebell

I bought Sinohara code 70 rail joiners 50 packs

 

 

I sure did stock up on those Shinohara rail joiners when they shut down production.

The two compartments in the upper left hold 14 of the 50 packs for code 83 rail. There are code 70 rail joiners to the right.

Along the bottom there are 20+ packs of Peco track pins.

According to my calculations, this should be all I need to build the layout.

It cost in excess of $300.00 to fill this box. That is about 20 Tortoises, these bits of metal are expensive!

-Kevin

 

I bought my Shinohara rail joiners for 90 cents a package or less for the 50's. After I finished my last layout I bought turnouts to replace the ones I used (about $7.50 each). Then bought more when Walthers closed out their stock and sold the last of there flex for a little over $4 a stick. All but the joiners were bought in the last 5 years with Walthers clearance being a little over a year ago.

[riogrande5761]

Sometimes I wonder if this forum is a kind of "therapy" for some of the members.  The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now.   I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time.

 

[Doughless]

I like practicing just-in-time inventory for the layout, but I wish that I would have hoarded some Cascade Rail Supply Homabed that I had on my ebay watchlist for abot a year.......

[richhotrain]

mbinsewi

 

richhotrain

According to Mayo Clinic, it is not normal, and it is definitely a sign of hoarding. Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about this disorder. 

Hmmmm...it seems Rich's post has brought on some defensive replies....

Or are discussion topics getting worn and thin. 

They say that recognizing a problem is the first step to correcting it.  

Congratulations Kevin, you've made that important first step.  One small step for most of us, one giant leep for Kevin..... 

Mike. 

LOL

I agree with you Mike. Kevin has already taken the first step toward recovery, i.e., acknowledgement of the problem.

From the Mayo Clinic description and the replies so far, the only other hoarder that I can determine with certainty is Sheldon who is still in the Denial stage.        

Rich

[snjroy]

I must have about 25 un-built kits on my shelf - locos and cars mostly. My rule on that is to not buy another kit before completing one. I am not retired yet, so I bought a few more expensive kits that I probably won't be able to afford when I retire. Some are also getting harder to find (loco kits). 

But I do keep a healthy supply of craft paints, good paint for grimy black, and glues. Turns out that the "hoarding" of paints and glue really helps me go through the pandemic. I am still working from home for my real job, but evenings are dedicated to model railroading. And I have managed to do a lot of things without going out there or ordering parts. Paint and glue, it goes a long way!

Simon 

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

Doughless

Maybe we all have a sense of insecurity in the hobby.  Better buy it now at a good price in case I might NEED it later and will be stuck buying it at a higher price, or not be able to find it at all.

I don't think drill bits are in that category.  They wil likely be used up.

I used to accumulate kits, and locos, and rolling stock, and structure kits for the day that I would build that bigger layout.  

I then decided that nothing I owned was all that rare or valuable, and whatever I need could be picked up on ebay pretty easily. I sold a bunch of stuff that fell into the "some day" category and kept the stuff that was in the "use now" category.

"Some day" will probably never get here.    

There was a certain amount of relief to shedding stuff that wasn't going to be used in a reasonable time frame, and the cash gneration was a nice benfit.

Now I practice just-in-time inventory methods for the layout build.

Having said that, I'm fresh out of #78 drill bits.

 

I have run real businesses most of my life. I have never been a fan of "just in time". It has been a blessing and a curse in many industries, model trains being one of them.

That said, I only buy model trains that fit the size and scope of the CURRENT layout plan, and with money others might use to take an expensive vacation. We don't take 5 digit, or even mid 4 digit vacations........

Having a few days off to do what I want at home, or near home, is the best vacation you can give me........even before the virus...........

Sheldon

[dknelson]

I think genuine hoarding would be buying those 1000 #78 drill bits and then being afraid to use even one for fear it might break.  Or buying a replacement immediately for one that did break.

We have all (I suspect) had the experience of intending to get around to buying some hobby supply or kit or whatever, and waiting too long and missing out, or waiting too long and now it is an expensive and rare collectible.  I noticed at this February's train show in Madison WI that one or two guys seemed to be reaching for all the same Jordan kits that I was reaching for.  So a certain buy it when you see it mentality sets in.  

And a buying frenzy sets in when a major manufacturer calls it quits, only to have the line revived anyway, making it look like you were hoarding.

And some people just get quirky about things.  I know a guy who has this odd "thing" for Athearn 0-4-2T "Little Monsters" and he probably has over a dozen of them.  He has no idea if they run or not.  I guess he wanted one as a boy and was always disappointed.  

It wasn't that kind of quirk but more like bad memory: years ago I told myself I kind of casually wanted a certain kit, so I bought it at a train show and added it to the shelves for someday.  I forgot I'd done that so I bought one at another train show and added it to the shelves for someday.  And you guessed it, it happened a third time!  And that is when I noticed the other two sitting there.  I only sort of wanted it so actually buying it did not trigger a major memory in my head I guess.    

But I know one guy, a model railroader and railfan, who is a genuine, clinical, hoarder.  Eventually he begged for help and a group of us, wearing masks and latex gloves, agreed to try to clear out his house.  It was depressing and disgusting and filthy and even though he had asked for the help he fought us every step of the way and kept going out to the Bagster to retrieve what we were throwing away.  We found well over $1000 in cash and checks and coins on the floor.  He didn't care or thank us.  And the crunching noise we kept hearing as we walked over the 18 or so inches of newspapers and other refuse, some of it disgusting, that covered every bit of the floor turned out to be -- Lionel trains, HO trains, and other railroad models on the floor.  The floor was nearly covered by trains. And 35mm railroad slides.  And then two feet of papers.  We had no idea.

I can't bring myself to describe the refrigerator or the bathroom. 

We eventually just had to give up as he was bringing back inside everything we were throwing away (dead plants, empty milk jugs, decade old calendars, unused tickets to baseball games, and unopened bags of fast food that had been allowed to rot, but he had written summaries of daily weather on the bags).  One of our crew has refused to talk to him or even acknowledge his presence ever since.

I wouldn't want a rat to live like this guy lives.  That is hoarding, and it is a real disease, not just a personality quirk.   

Dave Nelson

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

ROBERT PETRICK

A coupla thoughts come to mind. In no particular order . . .

If the kids need new shoes and you buy that 4 pack of covered hoppers instead, that might be a problem.

If you still have the alternate nozzle for that leaf blower you bought in 1992 and discarded in 2008, that might be a problem.

If you already have 12 leaf blowers and you buy another one at a garage sale because it cost only five bucks, that might be a problem.

For some reason that classic Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith as the last man on Earth and he wanders into a library and stacks up all of the books he plans to read for the rest of his life and then he steps on his reading glasses . . . not sure how this applies, but it came to mind.

Robert 

PS  Like Mel, I also buy 10 packs of CA glue in little tubes, and for the same reason.

 

 

My kids always had shoes, they are grown up now. In fact, I started and finished the kid thing at a young age, I am 62, my oldest is 43, my youngest 33, so by 50, my time and money was pretty much my own.

I only have one leaf blower, because I bought a good one, in fact, only owned two in my lifetime.......

Sheldon

[mbinsewi]

richhotrain

According to Mayo Clinic, it is not normal, and it is definitely a sign of hoarding. Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about this disorder.

Hmmmm...it seems Rich's post has brought on some defensive replies....

Or are discussion topics getting worn and thin. 

They say that recognizing a problem is the first step to correcting it.  

Congratulations Kevin, you've made that important first step.  One small step for most of us, one giant leep for Kevin..... 

Mike.

[Doughless]

Maybe we all have a sense of insecurity in the hobby.  Better buy it now at a good price in case I might NEED it later and will be stuck buying it at a higher price, or not be able to find it at all.

I don't think drill bits are in that category.  They wil likely be used up.

I used to accumulate kits, and locos, and rolling stock, and structure kits for the day that I would build that bigger layout.  

I then decided that nothing I owned was all that rare or valuable, and whatever I need could be picked up on ebay pretty easily. I sold a bunch of stuff that fell into the "some day" category and kept the stuff that was in the "use now" category.

"Some day" will probably never get here.    

There was a certain amount of relief to shedding stuff that wasn't going to be used in a reasonable time frame, and the cash gneration was a nice benfit.

Now I practice just-in-time inventory methods for the layout build.

Having said that, I'm fresh out of #78 drill bits.

[ROBERT PETRICK]

A coupla thoughts come to mind. In no particular order . . .

If the kids need new shoes and you buy that 4 pack of covered hoppers instead, that might be a problem.

If you still have the alternate nozzle for that leaf blower you bought in 1992 and discarded in 2008, that might be a problem.

If you already have 12 leaf blowers and you buy another one at a garage sale because it cost only five bucks, that might be a problem.

For some reason that classic Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith as the last man on Earth and he wanders into a library and stacks up all of the books he plans to read for the rest of his life and then he steps on his reading glasses . . . not sure how this applies, but it came to mind.

Robert 

PS  Like Mel, I also buy 10 packs of CA glue in little tubes, and for the same reason.

 

[RR_Mel]

The only stuff I buy like that is stuff I use a lot.  Early on I didn’t buy in bulk but when the hobby shops and electronic parts stores closed I did it to it. 

 

My worst fault is patience, I have negative 100%.  I hate being on HOLD for anything.  As a result I buy LEDs, bulbs, connectors, resistors and capacitors in bulk. 

 

I also stock scratch building supplies, Styrene, Basswood, K&S Brass and scenery material. 

 

I really like the Harbor Freight Super Glue .1oz ten packs, I keep several of both regular and gel on hand.  Much better tossing a .1oz tube than a shot half full bottle.

 

The only problem is storage, I now have six 60 drawer parts storage cabinets and need more.  Keeping every thing labeled and inventoried is also very time consuming but much better than having to wait for something.

 

Not hoarding, just avoiding the wait prolonging my health from high blood pressure disaster.

 

I do the #78 thing too but only a couple of 10 packs at a time.

 

Mel

 

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[BRAKIE]

While I no longer collect IPD boxcars I started collecting boxcars,covered hoppers and tank cars but,limited them to 100 boxcars, 80 covered hoppers, 60 tank cars and 50 miscellaneous cars..   

I  never like using the same cars over and over  and over-Oh look there's that dented Railgon again or there's that MR&T boxcar again...

 

I don't consider it hoarding since my house remains clutter free.  

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

richhotrain

 

 

SeeYou190

In the past couple of years, an interesting thing has begun to happen. I am purchasing things in "lifetime supplies" when I can.

Is this something normal, or is it a sign of hoarding.

 

 

 

According to Mayo Clinic, it is not normal, and it is definitely a sign of hoarding. Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about this disorder.

 

Overview

Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs.

Hoarding often creates such cramped living conditions that homes may be filled to capacity, with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. Countertops, sinks, stoves, desks, stairways and virtually all other surfaces are usually piled with stuff. And when there's no more room inside, the clutter may spread to the garage, vehicles, yard and other storage facilities.

Hoarding ranges from mild to severe. In some cases, hoarding may not have much impact on your life, while in other cases it seriously affects your functioning on a daily basis.

People with hoarding disorder may not see it as a problem, making treatment challenging. But intensive treatment can help people with hoarding disorder understand how their beliefs and behaviors can be changed so that they can live safer, more enjoyable lives.

Symptoms

Getting and saving an excessive number of items, gradual buildup of clutter in living spaces and difficulty discarding things are usually the first signs and symptoms of hoarding disorder, which often surfaces during the teenage to early adult years.

As the person grows older, he or she typically starts acquiring things for which there is no immediate need or space. By middle age, symptoms are often severe and may be harder to treat.

Problems with hoarding gradually develop over time and tend to be a private behavior. Often, significant clutter has developed by the time it reaches the attention of others.

Signs and symptoms may include:

Excessively acquiring items that are not needed or for which there's no space

Persistent difficulty throwing out or parting with your things, regardless of actual value

Feeling a need to save these items, and being upset by the thought of discarding them

Building up of clutter to the point where rooms become unusable

Having a tendency toward indecisiveness, perfectionism, avoidance, procrastination, and problems with planning and organizing

Excessive acquiring and refusing to discard items results in:

Disorganized piles or stacks of items, such as newspapers, clothes, paperwork, books or sentimental items

Possessions that crowd and clutter your walking spaces and living areas and make the space unusable for the intended purpose, such as not being able to cook in the kitchen or use the bathroom to bathe

Buildup of food or trash to unusually excessive, unsanitary levels

Significant distress or problems functioning or keeping yourself and others safe in your home

Conflict with others who try to reduce or remove clutter from your home

Difficulty organizing items, sometimes losing important items in the clutter

People with hoarding disorder typically save items because:

They believe these items are unique or will be needed at some point in the future

The items have important emotional significance — serving as a reminder of happier times or representing beloved people or pets

They feel safer when surrounded by the things they save

They don't want to waste anything

Hoarding disorder is different from collecting. People who have collections, such as stamps or model cars, deliberately search out specific items, categorize them and carefully display their collections. Although collections can be large, they aren't usually cluttered and they don't cause the distress and impairments that are part of hoarding disorder.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hoarding-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20356056 

 

 

Well, I can't speak for Kevin, but that does not decribe me.

Despite how much stuff I/we may possess, our home is neat, sparse and clutter free.

I have adequate storage space for the "stuff" and that too is neat and well organized.

And despite the stuff, I am very quick to make a dump run, and be rid of things of no value.

The 1000 freight cars, 140 locos, 100 turnouts, 500 relays, 700' of flex track, tractor parts, tools, construction materials, nearly complete collections of MR and RMC, 1700 vinyl records, 700 music CD's, etc, etc, barely put a dent in the available storage space, which we have less of now at the new house.

Lots of questionable stuff did not even make here from the much larger old house...........

But if you need a wire nut, or screw or other mechanical wigget, there is a good a chance I will have one........

Sheldon 

[Tinplate Toddler]

Some people call it hoarding, to us it is known as model railroading.

[richhotrain]

SeeYou190

In the past couple of years, an interesting thing has begun to happen. I am purchasing things in "lifetime supplies" when I can.

Is this something normal, or is it a sign of hoarding.

According to Mayo Clinic, it is not normal, and it is definitely a sign of hoarding. Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about this disorder.

Overview

Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs.

Hoarding often creates such cramped living conditions that homes may be filled to capacity, with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. Countertops, sinks, stoves, desks, stairways and virtually all other surfaces are usually piled with stuff. And when there's no more room inside, the clutter may spread to the garage, vehicles, yard and other storage facilities.

Hoarding ranges from mild to severe. In some cases, hoarding may not have much impact on your life, while in other cases it seriously affects your functioning on a daily basis.

People with hoarding disorder may not see it as a problem, making treatment challenging. But intensive treatment can help people with hoarding disorder understand how their beliefs and behaviors can be changed so that they can live safer, more enjoyable lives.

Symptoms

Getting and saving an excessive number of items, gradual buildup of clutter in living spaces and difficulty discarding things are usually the first signs and symptoms of hoarding disorder, which often surfaces during the teenage to early adult years.

As the person grows older, he or she typically starts acquiring things for which there is no immediate need or space. By middle age, symptoms are often severe and may be harder to treat.

Problems with hoarding gradually develop over time and tend to be a private behavior. Often, significant clutter has developed by the time it reaches the attention of others.

Signs and symptoms may include:

Excessively acquiring items that are not needed or for which there's no space

Persistent difficulty throwing out or parting with your things, regardless of actual value

Feeling a need to save these items, and being upset by the thought of discarding them

Building up of clutter to the point where rooms become unusable

Having a tendency toward indecisiveness, perfectionism, avoidance, procrastination, and problems with planning and organizing

Excessive acquiring and refusing to discard items results in:

Disorganized piles or stacks of items, such as newspapers, clothes, paperwork, books or sentimental items

Possessions that crowd and clutter your walking spaces and living areas and make the space unusable for the intended purpose, such as not being able to cook in the kitchen or use the bathroom to bathe

Buildup of food or trash to unusually excessive, unsanitary levels

Significant distress or problems functioning or keeping yourself and others safe in your home

Conflict with others who try to reduce or remove clutter from your home

Difficulty organizing items, sometimes losing important items in the clutter

People with hoarding disorder typically save items because:

They believe these items are unique or will be needed at some point in the future

The items have important emotional significance — serving as a reminder of happier times or representing beloved people or pets

They feel safer when surrounded by the things they save

They don't want to waste anything

Hoarding disorder is different from collecting. People who have collections, such as stamps or model cars, deliberately search out specific items, categorize them and carefully display their collections. Although collections can be large, they aren't usually cluttered and they don't cause the distress and impairments that are part of hoarding disorder.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hoarding-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20356056 

 

[BRAKIE]

I only stock up on Kadee #148 Couplers,knuckle springs, both sizes of Kadee washers,  Intermountain metal wheels,  Atlas locomotive detail parts like horns, mu hoses,  cab sunvisors, various colors of paint, various sizes  paint brushes, alphabet decals, various sizes of screws especially 2-56, freight car stirups and drill bits and I restock as needed since I don't have a lifetime supply.

 

[Southgate]

Hoarding? I wish I had more notice Radio Shack was gonna close shop. I'd have stocked up on those switches that you did, and other commodity items.

I bought a set of Harbor freight drill bits with the fractional, number and letter bits. The bigger bits are plenty good enough. But I ate a lot of the smaller, number bits. SO!

Having had great results from Norseman fractional bits, I spent good money on TWO sets of Norseman number drill bits, cuz I HATE it when I break a bit and the project depends on having it. Then I found a seller who does sell those singly. Thats good. (Those, I do not lend!)

I've bought "life time" supplies of some things, and used 'em up. Some others I'll have for my life time.

Edited in: I bought a 4x8 sheet each of .040 and .060 styrene, my 2 most used sheet styrene sizes. SO nice to know I have it! I keep it behind a 4'wide cabinet where it takes up almost no space. Dan

["JaBear"]

#78 by Bear, on Flickr

[Tinplate Toddler]

Silly me thought you were talking about a lifetime supply of toilet paper, noodles and bottled water

I never bought more than what I would need in the foreseeable future and I have not regretted it at all. Life sometimes wanders off in directions you did not or could not foresee. It´s better to travel through life with only a light luggage. Too much ballast slows you down when you have to run.

[SeeYou190]

rrebell

I bought Sinohara code 70 rail joiners 50 packs

I sure did stock up on those Shinohara rail joiners when they shut down production.

The two compartments in the upper left hold 14 of the 50 packs for code 83 rail. There are code 70 rail joiners to the right.

Along the bottom there are 20+ packs of Peco track pins.

According to my calculations, this should be all I need to build the layout.

It cost in excess of $300.00 to fill this box. That is about 20 Tortoises, these bits of metal are expensive!

-Kevin

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

Well Kevin,

I am 62, and 25 years ago I bought a very high quality, heavy duty garden tractor that I full well expect to last the rest of my life. It was very expensive at the time. This brand is known to last 40-50 years with only basic care and maintenance. Mine still runs like new, and cleans up pretty nice.........

And because they stopped making these tractors in 2002 after a 32 year run, I have stocked up on a number of wear parts.

I told the wife the day we wrote that check it would be the only tractor we would ever have to buy.....she laughed.....she believes me now.

I have always bought good tools, and being a professional carpenter, retired electrician, and pretty experienced hobby auto mechanic, they see a lot of use, and do wear out from time to time, but I have many hand tools and power tools that are decades old.

In the 1980's I was a MATCO TOOLS dealer, still have tool boxes full........

I'm guilty of "keeping some inventory" on some sorts of things, drill bits, fasteners, etc. Some of it is planned, some is just the side effects of the construction business........

As a teen and young adult our family owned three Checker Marathon automobiles, every one went over 250,000 miles lasted a decade or more.

So I get it. I'm very practical like that too. Can it boarder on hoarding? Maybe, but if you have the space and money it's not hoarding in the bad sense.

I'm so practical the last two cars we have owned were nearly identical. In 2012 we bought a FORD FLEX. It was totaled in a crash in 2015. We bought another FORD FLEX with nearly identical features and options. And for those who don't know, the FORD FLEX has not really changed in its 11 years of production. I will be sad when I cannot buy a third one...........

I have been stock piling supplies for my layout for years. Tortoise switch machines, 24v control relays, Dallee detectors, Atlas track, equipment, locos, structures. All on a carefully planned list of future needs.

Sure I was building a layout at the old house, but I typically bought near the total quantities I expected to need, not just what I needed at the time. 

So the new layout has a good start, some stuff never used, some stuff easily salvaged.

I think you are perfectly normal Kevin.

Sheldon

[SeeYou190]

I wonder if any of it had to do with buying power.

Since 2015 I have had plenty of disposable cash for the first time, Maybe I figured since I have the money I should just get all I will ever need.

This was not a pruposeful decision, but it may have happened without me knowing.

Now I am, trying to live frugal so I do not need to go back to work. Maybe now I am realizing I was spending on things I might not need.

I will ponder this for a while.

-Kevin

[rrebell]

Sometimes the bulk deals are the same as buying a few extra. Even though I don't pay retail, years ago whe I bought Sinohara code 70 rail joiners 50 packs were about 50% higher in price than 10 packs, so buy 15, get35 free.

[gmpullman]

SeeYou190

Is this something normal, or is it a sign of hoarding.

I'm 63 and sometimes I chuckle at myself when I see some of the things I "thought" I was going to need sometime in the future and now realize that future is now. Still, I don't regret having some excess on hand.

I live pretty far from most supply houses and rely mostly on Amazon, eBay, Grainger and those sorts of mail-order places. Same with railroad supplies, Walthers, MB Klein, etc.

It may be difficult to anticipate future needs but there's another thing I consider when I purchase an item that I think I'll need an abundance of for the layout and that is, will that item still be available when I need one again? Tenax comes to mind. Jordan Vehicles and many of the now "retired" structures and rolling stock models. Glad I got 'em when I did.

I never really know what project may pique my interest so when I get "creative" I'm glad I don't have to wait to fill an order for, say, styrene shapes, paints, adhesives and all that kind of "stuff".

It helps, too, to keep an eye out for price reductions from time-to-time. Recently, someone mentioned a "shortage" of Testor's Dullcote. I bought a four-pack from Amazon back in January and the price was $18.00. So it helps to keep an inventory. Of course some things have a limited shelf-life so you have to watch that. Amazon prices will fluctuate considerably. If you keep an item in your "want list" you can check prices and buy when it is on the low side.

Yep, as far as kits and things like that I have enough to keep me busy well into my second lifetime.

Cheers, Ed