Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Adam Thompson Model Railroading is fun!
QUOTE: Is the Hobby being priced out of reach?
QUOTE: Originally posted by siberianmo trainnut57 QUOTE: Is the Hobby being priced out of reach? My answer is a "qualfied" yes. Some people have no problems purchasing their first homes for $300k or more. Others think luxury cars are the way to go for their kids graduating from high school, and still others can fork over in excess of $10k just to ride an excursion train. Is the hobby being priced out of reach? Not for them. For people like I used to be - when I first began - absolutely.
Roger Hensley= ECI Railroad - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/eci/eci_new.html == Railroads of Madison County - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ =
QUOTE: Originally posted by celestialsphere The incredible variety that manufacturers offer these days WILL COST MONEY for them to produce. Every different variation means different detail parts, paint, printing screens etc. And we've heard those model railroaders who complain that this manufacturer or that doesn't offer their favourite "North West Alaska and Rio Central Mountain Line" Shay in "that particular black I've always been waiting for...'"! And if some hard working manufacturer does oblige then it's, "Ohhhh NOOOOOOOOOOOO - there's only 52 rivets on the tender rather than 53, I'm not buying this garbage!" Perhaps if all that was available was Union Pacific boxcars behind a generic diesel loco then they would cost 75 cents each, but how boring would that be? Give the guys a break. Enjoy the variety you've got and be thankful that your hobby is so rich and creative. [:P] Celestialsphere Melbourne, Australia
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
QUOTE: Originally posted by siberianmo trainnut57 QUOTE: Is the Hobby being priced out of reach? My answer is a "qualfied" yes. You may have stirred the hornet's nest with this question. Just within the month, a couple of topics regarding Athearn and prices have brought the "wrath" upon anyone with opinions likening to what you've had to say. But, good for you! Some people have no problems purchasing their first homes for $300k or more. Others think luxury cars are the way to go for their kids graduating from high school, and still others can fork over in excess of $10k just to ride an excursion train. Is the hobby being priced out of reach? Not for them. For people like I used to be - when I first began - absolutely. I have to think back to the mid-1960's when I began with HO ... I was in my 30's, in the military, and not making a whole lot of money. My modest beginnings were with Tyco and Athearn. Still have 'em all - now in display cases, "retired" you know. My current HO layout, with all new "stuff" sits with easily $10k plus on the board ....... and not one piece is "upscale" ....... Priced out of reach for the guy who lives payday to payday, not because of an exhorbitant lifestyle, but because of necessity. Not the guy who has all kinds of expendable bucks. There really is a big difference. I understand about things being 'relative,' but I'll tell you this - the prices of "things" today have far outstripped the incomes that I earned (I'm now retired from the military) in 'relative' terms. So, I don't buy that notion one bit. 'Relative' perhaps for the guy who had a decent income when he was in his 20's or 30's - mine was hardly that. Ask anyone who served in the U.S. military in my era (joined in '56 ....... retired in '88). BUT, I must say this for those who disagree. You have a great point when you say that there are CHOICES available to us all. One can still purchase "entry level" loco's and rolling stock ..... no need to "go" for the gold at the onset. It's difficult to look at perhaps your favorite "upscale" loco and 'wish' you could afford it only to have to settle for something less. Isn't that one of the facets of life we all encounter with things much more necessary than our hobbies? See ya![tup] [;)]A-MAN just finished reading your post,you have hit the nail on the head[:D]IMy first train was tyco in 1954( a saddle tank)got it for xmas,being in the military my self for over 20 years.(59-82)I.ve had to watch my money that I spend on MR'ing some of my engines and rolling stock are real old but have steel wheels and kadee couplers on them.Now days I go to the LHS and do a lot of drulling the price for kits are unreal. OLE'IRISH
QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse ..........If you want a cheap, well detailed locomotive, if you want figures that are exactly what you want, if you want the perfect building, get out there and start your own company. Oh, don't have the money for that? How many companies have you seen close their doors after a few years of operation? What happened to their money? There is a pervading belief that just because you own a business that you have lots of money. In most cases it is people like you and me that risk everything they have on a dream. The ones that make it are the ones that find the balance between what you need to charge to make a profit and what people are willing to pay to get your product. A company that does not make a profit will fail. You charge too little you will fail. If you charge too much you will fail. You cannot be greedy and make it. So if the price seem high, either pay it or don't. You can save money on eBay if you are smart...What you don't want to risk your money on eBay?
Best Regards, Big John
Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway
QUOTE: Originally posted by canazar I did some digging ad there babies were considered the best in their day. I have been told they could be compared to Kato or BroadWay Limited. Most still have the stickers on them from Todd's Hobby Shop in Phila, PA. They range from 89.99 to 169.99 for the Big Boy. They were purchased between 1955 and 1970. Thats a helluva alot money back then. 150 bucks for an engine.... When my parents bought there first home out here in Arizona in 1974, the mortage was 350 somehting. So, now I look at my Athearn Geni SD70 which I paid 90 bucks for.... Seems fair to me. Actually a bit cheaper when you factor in the rate of inflation compared to back then. Even for a good mid size steam engine WITH sounds, cost only hundred bucks more for what he spent on his best and biggest engine back then. Again, 30-40 years of inflation, the math would point out that the engine of today, is way cheaper than it was back then.
QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831 QUOTE: Originally posted by canazar I did some digging ad there babies were considered the best in their day. I have been told they could be compared to Kato or BroadWay Limited. Most still have the stickers on them from Todd's Hobby Shop in Phila, PA. They range from 89.99 to 169.99 for the Big Boy. They were purchased between 1955 and 1970. Thats a helluva alot money back then. 150 bucks for an engine.... When my parents bought there first home out here in Arizona in 1974, the mortage was 350 somehting. So, now I look at my Athearn Geni SD70 which I paid 90 bucks for.... Seems fair to me. Actually a bit cheaper when you factor in the rate of inflation compared to back then. Even for a good mid size steam engine WITH sounds, cost only hundred bucks more for what he spent on his best and biggest engine back then. Again, 30-40 years of inflation, the math would point out that the engine of today, is way cheaper than it was back then. The critical point you missed, canazar, is that the Tenshodo et al. stuff are examples of hand made models, while the todays Athearns are a stampled out, mass produced item. This is like trying to compare an original oil painting with a print of the same scene...they just aint in the same class and certainly not of comparable value, past, present, or future. For the technonolgy of the day the former were lightyears ahead of any plastic models (even some of today's!). This is why the brass models increase in value over time, while even the best of today's plastic will only loose value in the future. You are attempting to justify price increases while comparing apples with oranges and that just doesn't work. CNJ831.
QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831 [While there are those who can claim that they've built whole layouts on a shoestring, from personal experience I'd advise any newcomer today that unless they are ready to spend a minimum of 10k for anything beyond a relatively modest 4x8 layout they had better look elsewhere than in this hobby. CNJ831