Little Timmy WOW!! Now look at all the s p a c e you have... ( hmmmmm. ..... what to fill it with ? Hmmmmmm.....)
WOW!!
Now look at all the s p a c e you have...
( hmmmmm. ..... what to fill it with ? Hmmmmmm.....)
LOL. So far, about 15 new locomotives bought in 2020. 4 more on the way. 6 more pre ordered. Paid for solely with funds from the purge, BTW.
But these are perfect for my standards now.
Part of my error in accumulating so much unwanted stuff was the idea that I could make do with whatever flaw the item had....or put it on the project shelf to improve it.
Then came the realization that my modeling skills will never compete with the new tooling, painting, and fine detail assembly that can simply be purchased RTR. An admission of my limitations.
Now with these more "perfect" locos on the roster, the imperfect ones were relegated to the bench. They wouldn't have ever seen much playing time.
So these new items are perfect in terms of features and quality. No need to improve them, or wait to run them. And there is very little probability they can be improved upon by a new evolution in model train design. I don't see a binge then purge cycle in my future. It took about 25 years to get to the current level of quality now, and I've only got about 20 years (hopefully at age 58) of model railroading ahead of me.
- Douglas
I've probably sold that many train models over the past several years. In fact, I've been steadily purging models that don't fit my needs over the past 15 years, and most of it via HOSwap, so no fees. I've slowed down lately but expect I'll have more purging in the coming months.
For me, purging is kind of an ongoing process. Partly to keep from accumulating way too many trains, partly to fund purchases that fit my interests better, and partly to clear out models I don't plan to use anymore.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Go back and read the recent thread about 'lifetime supplies' with this context in mind.
Perhaps we should be concerned about an analogue to bulemia, where we get concerned with the joy of acquiring bargains followed by the joy of decluttering them...
I have the regrettable trait, or poor fortune, that every time I dispose of something I have subsequent reason to need it. On the other hand I can often remember without too much effort where a particular 'something' is, even if in cluttered piles or an atypical place. (With one awful exception: if I put it carefully in a place I know I won't forget it... )
Pkenty of times I've 'downsized' -- it helps to find some appreciative recipient of the 'stuff' rather than tossing it out at the curb or paying 1-800-JUNK to clear it away. Oddly, it may not matter if the 'appreciation' is actually sincere...
I have a large enough yard-property to have collected up "projects", mostly of the automotive nature. Mostly freebies. Came the day, I knew there's more there than I'll ever have time for. Same thing, in a different scale. And the purge has been VERY liberating! (A few extra bucks didn't hurt either) Just today I hauled off theremains crude storage shed no longer occupied. Demolished it earlier this week.
"S p a c e" is right!
My RR and other hobby related stuff will probably go the same route, but not for a while. All of it still exites me.
On the other side of the coin, resisting ebay bargains can be a challenge, but I've curtailed purchases dramatically.
Congrats on the liberation! Dan
I did my big purge in January of 2017 right when I joined this forum.
I have not regretted it for one moment since then. It took a huge albatross off of my shoulders.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I will be the odd man out here today. I couldnt do a purging or any other kind of - get rid of - routine.
Sold a couple of my trains once, regretted it ever since. I sold them thinking i wouldnt be using them, or didnt need them what ever. And then there's alot of trains from my childhood that are gone too.
Not that those reasons are equal to a purge, the fact being... had the trains once, now theyre gone. Same outcome.
I have been bitten outside of Model Railroading having gotten rid of something, only to pay a higher price for it the second time because i ended up needing one.
I suppose that makes me a hoarder of model trains. Not the worst thing to have on your headstone.
Clear Ahead!
Douglas #2
Rust...... It's a good thing !
I strated the process this week, in Ebay.
I have many items I need to purge!
Mike.
My You Tube
DoughlessAnybody ever feel like the hobby was/is a burden at times? Tasks that get put off and accumulate until they become an albatross? My advice is to purge.
Hi Douglas,
You offer good advice. I'm sure I could get rid of a ton of stuff and reduce the clutter significantly.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good for you Douglas! I have been going through things here and there looking for the things I know that I will probably never use again and wanting to gain back the space they consume. It's just amazing how much a person can collect over the years for "someday". It's all to easy to convince myself that "I may need that", but after it's gone I never miss it.
Ralph
They're gone! Seventeen years of accumulated train junk has been sold on ebay over the past six months. 88 items. That many is surprising to me. It adds up over 17 years.
Stuff that I realized I would never use, build, fix, modify, improve, to the point that it would meet what my goals and standards are today.
Until now, walking into the train room was a mix of vibes. Mostly good vibes, tainted by an aura of being surrounded by stuff that I had a growing realization was going to be more of a burden than a joy. Locomotives, parts, kits, some rolling stock (not much), old decoders....just stuff that happens after going to numerous train shows, bargain bins, vendors and hobby shops of all kinds.
Things that I had legitimate plan for, but a plan that I finally realized would never materialize like I thought it would.
88 items. Gone. What a relief.
Building the new layout made me realize even more how I want to spend my time in the hobby. No more hours spent chasing the elusive gear tower noises, etc. Instead, pack it up and ship it off.
Onward to having more fun.
Anybody ever feel like the hobby was/is a burden at times? Tasks that get put off and accumulate until they become an albatross? My advice is to purge.