Am I alone?

[skiloff]

I think part of it for me is like some have mentioned. I don't have a lot of time now, but buying a little here, a little there allows me (in my thinking) to have stuff when I do have more time - at the empty-nester stage or retirement, I won't have to spend a lot of money buying stuff - I'll already have a tonne.

[robengland]

I'm with Billba. If I plug away now I may make a bit of progress, but boy wait til the day I retire! Gonna be some serious progress round here then. In the meantime I'm just accumulating supplies and knowledge...

[richhotrain]

Yeah, you're all alone all right..................................not.

I hadn't even landscaped the layout that took me 2 + years to build when I tore it down 3 weeks ago and started all over with a new layout.

Meanwhile, I have purchased several new diesels and decoders but have yet to assemble them so I can run them on my DCC layout.

Yeah, you're alone all right!

[espeefoamer]

Alone?Youv'e got to be kidding[(-D]! I have kits older than some people on this forum that I haven't built yet[:o)].

[Billba]

No, you are not alone!!!

Sometimes i think that I am "owned" by hundreds of pieces of rolling stock and engines and about a hundred structures. About 40% are assembled in some kind of usable form. I've been collecting for 40+ years. The train room is about 19' x 26' and the layout design is going slowly but progressing.

Here is the theory: I built about 200 model ships, tanks, airplanes, and cars in jr. and high school in about 4 years along with work, sports, and girls. Without to many other pursuits, and with momma's help (she's great with structures and scenery), in about 5 years of retirement I should be able to make a good dent in the pile. Meanwhile we do build kits in spurts, and even do some horse trading from time to time.

Of course we could just sell it all and visit the Museum of Science and Industry's layout in Chicago. Mmmmmmmmaybe not. [V]

I have several friends in local clubs that have as many brass engines as I own plastic and cast pieces. Several of them have been retired for 20 or 30 years, and are enjoying their retirement and their hobby in spite of having "too many" trains. [:O]

Like another recent post (from Tracklayer I believe) asked, some of us think of ourselves as "hard core" or "semi-hard core" hobbiest. Anyone know of a twelve-step-plan for this addiction??? [%-)]

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fiatfan
Last month I was in heaven (Caboose Hobbies in Denver)

Pitty you couldn't have been there about five years ago, in its glory days, back when they actually stocked the shelves with every possible model train thing ever made.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by KenLarsen

WHY do I buy certain models/kits long before I am ever ready to actually do anything with them? Let me spell it out:

L-I-M-I-T-E-D R-U-N....

But they always turn up later. I can't think of a single limited run, that I wanted that I haven't picked up (at a greatly reduced price). I mean look at the original Stewarts with the Kato drive. Their price went through the roof once they sold off the shelves (I recall seeing them on E-bay for about $240 each). But now one can pick them up for a song, cause everyone wants the Genesis, Intermountain, Broadway Limited. The couple of things I did buy because I thought they would never hit the shelves I have kicked myself for.

[fiatfan]

I have an enforced self control. The nearest hobby shop is 100 miles away. I have bought a few items off the internent but most of what I have stocked up right now ws purchased when the only hobby shop in town went out of business about 3 years ago.

Since then I have been slowly building the buildings and getting the cars on the track as I expand the layout. Last month I was in heaven (Caboose Hobbies in Denver) and picked up what will be the most modern power on my layout - a couple of P2K GP38-2's. These will pull a string of coal hoppers as a through freight just to liven up the operations.

Other than that, it's a matter of time (or lack thereof) for getting things done. Yesterday was over 12 hours, today was over 10 hours, tomorrow will be 9-10 hours at work plus a business dinner after that. Add to that the usual honey do projects and the time evaporates in a hurry.

On the up side, retirement is only 2 1/2 years away!

Tom

[grayfox1119]

Absolutely !!! And I am still waiting to see one of the big 3 come out with a well done Berkshire, complete with Alesco heater, in the same design as the Berks of the original Boston & Albany main line for which they were so names. I may be dead before Bachmann, BLI or Walthers/LifeLike come sout with one, even though I have email all three companies....NO.....I'm not holding my breath, but miracles DO happen!!

[hminky]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman
Must be that femine (sp) side we keep hearing that guys have, only engines and cars replaced shoes. Good analysis.

I think it is gender neutral since both genders obviously enjoy hunting for items to possess

Just a thought
Harold

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by hminky

and you all laughed at your wife when she bought another pair of shoes!!

Just a thought
Harold

Must be that femine (sp) side we keep hearing that guys have, only engines and cars replaced shoes. Good analysis.

[hminky]

and you all laughed at your wife when she bought another pair of shoes!!

Just a thought
Harold

[oleirish]

[#ditto][#ditto][#ditto][#ditto]I'am in the same boat as everyone ulse,I went from an medium HO to an 42"X10' and have the big tupperware containers full of buildings,So my small lay out will not suffer for buildings,but saw an conerstone grange building that will go good with my other grange building[:-,][sigh][:P]HUMMMMMMMMMM??
JIM

[nbrodar]

Like Bob, I have cabinet of projects waiting. I bought 40 coal hopper and ore jennie kits at a deep deep discount, and 25 of them are still waiting assembly. I also have a stack of buildings waiting, again purchased at discount.

It's good to have a stock of kits to build. When I'm looking for a quick project, I can dip into the kit collection.

In reality, I do have far more engines and cars then I can ever have on the layout at once, but for me that's part of the fun. One day I feel like Geep 60s and double stacks. The next it could be a 4-6-2 or 4-8-4 pulling the varnish. After that some RS-3s and a mixed freight. Then maybe some FM Trainmasters and a coal drag.

It's all part of the fun.

Nick Brodar

[trainboyH16-44]

I just have too many engines. I got accustomed to buying them with every cent I earned to fill the rather large gap in my roster. Now that I have four engines pulling a 10 car train, I just don't know what to do. So I started another railway in a coffee table (Wach for photos and updates)
Trainboy

[TomDiehl]

I know what you mean about Ebay. I had a soft spot for the old Mantua/Tyco steam loco kits. I have several to be assembled "soon."

Now, if that "soon" doesn't get uproarious laughter.........

[1shado1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tatans

Buy only the locomotives you can use (50????) now I know model train manufacturers stay in business.

You think that's bad? I recently got into a discussion (maybe on the Atlas forum) with a guy that had 64 of one type of locomotive (a particular f-unit), and 30 something of another. We didn't get into discussing how many hundreds of other locos he probably owns. It's a crazy world![:D]

Jeff

[Mark565]

I have done the same thing and it has paid off. Last year I purchased a Walthers Rotary Dumper from my local hobby shop at a decent price. Last week a couple of them went for more than twice what I paid, one even went for over $127 almost $100 more than what I paid.

[philnrunt]

HARHARHAR- alone? My man, you are among the biggest part of this hobby, from all that I've read.
Its all about dreams and hopes, when i pick up that latest DPM model I hope I'll get it built and I dream it will look great on my yet to be built layout.
And I don't beat myself up over it anymore. As Linus Van Pelt said-500 years from now, whos gonna know?

[Tracklayer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher

Well, I can certainly identify with the equpiment / project list. But I REALLY don't eagerly hunt for news of releases. New releases are always over priced. I almost always wait to get things in clearance or 2nd hand. Why buy one now for $100 when in 18 months you can get 3 for $30 each?

You took the mouth right out of my words Texas Zepher... My thinking exactly [;)].

Tracklayer

[ereimer]

ebay is full of model railroad estate sales of kits that were bought and never built , with the plan to build them someday when there's time . i'm trying to do it now while i can still enjoy it , and i'm still accumulating stuff much faster than i can build it . a bad case of procrastination doesn't help either

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by modlerbob
I'm always eagerly hunting for news of a new locomotive release...
I have about 10 years worth of projects ... I have over 50 locomotives ... I have structures that need building,... I know I will probably die before getting to half of them.

Well, I can certainly identify with the equpiment / project list. But I REALLY don't eagerly hunt for news of releases. New releases are always over priced. I almost always wait to get things in clearance or 2nd hand. Why buy one now for $100 when in 18 months you can get 3 for $30 each?

[IRONROOSTER]

I have plenty of kits and parts - in 3 scales yet. When I get to retirement I may catch up, or maybe not. I buy as money and whim dictates and always have one or two kits under construction as well as the layout itself. I have a sort of long range plan, but sometimes I just like to get something neat. The thing to remember is to have fun. I figure in retirement I won't be able to buy as much, but I will have time to build a lot.
Enjoy
Paul

[wjstix]

The problem I've had is I would buy a kit - say a structure - because it fit my plan for the layout back in say 1995. Ten years later, the layout has changed enough that the kit doesn't really fit my plans. OR like Ken says, I'll buy something because I figure I probably will maybe someday use it and it's a 'limitied run' so it's buy it now or forget it.

Course that's why even though I'm in HO I have two 20-year old Lionel O 1/48th scale cabooses (NYC and B&A) in the attic still in their original boxes (and still in the box Lionel mailed them to me in)!!

[robengland]

I just started a new layout in a smaller room so I have some hope of being done in this lifetime. I'm 45.

[selector]

I worry about the acquisitve nature that I seem to have from time-to-time, Bob. I told myself that I would be content with just three or four well-chosen locos, but by Christmas, just under a year into the hobby, I will have six! In my defense, two were gifts, so my purchasing of four over 12 months is still on target for my original plan. However, due to the rate of acquisition, I need to get back to thinking about improvements to my existing layout; I have no place to park everything, and I refuse to 'display' locomotives. I said, earlier this year, in response to a post in which people were claiming to have dozens of everything, that I didn't see the point in having drawers and boxes full of spent money. Now I am in danger of sliding down that slope.

I honestly think that improving your layout, with carefully considered plans, will do more for your enjoyment of the hobby, and your pocketbook, than all the stored and unused kits, locos, rolling stock, decals, scenics materials, and so on.

At least, that is my reasoning, and I intend to capitalize on that premise over the next six months. I don't want to accumulate tasks, material things, and obligations that will eventually hang over my head so much that my wife begins to point them out to me. I need to grow up, so to speak, in this hobby, and getting a grip is the first step.

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by modlerbob

I'm always eagerly hunting for news of a new locomotive release either in MR or online and start salivating when I see something I want.

The thing is I have about 10 years worth of projects (including my mostly unfinished layout) siting in my work room. I have over 50 locomotives that I can choose from to either switch my shelf layout or take to the club. I have structures that need building, various car kits that are waiting for me to start them and I know I will probably die before getting to half of them.

Does this desciption fit any of you out there?

Bob DeWoody

Funny, I use to get things put together, built, painted, etc when I bought them. That is, I knew exactly what it was for. Then somehow along the line, I sort of became a collector and accumulated far more than I could ever use, even if I had that 2000 square foot dream layout. I honestly had more trains and buildings than most well stocked hobby shops do, and in some cases a better selection. At this point, I think that layout would be more of a nightmare though. The model railroad was becoming a second (and sometimes third) job rather than a hobby. It wasn't fun anymore. Then I discovered ebay and my 10-20 year list of projects has shrunk to about 2 years.

No-one asked but I'll offer my advice.. Pick what you really want to keep, what really fits your scheme, and dump the rest to turn it into something else that fit's your scheme.. If you want to chase the limited runs, that's your privilage but personally, I gave up on that years ago.

Jeff

[8D]

[Anonymous]

WHY do I buy certain models/kits long before I am ever ready to actually do anything with them? Let me spell it out:

L-I-M-I-T-E-D R-U-N....

[Anonymous]

I busted my tail to get 15-20 buildings b uilt and painted, then spent countless hours designing the layout and then spent tons of money getting the track and wood to build the base. I got all that done and laid a base scenery. Well then I started to run trains, and hang at the forums. With that I learned that I need or could do weathering of cars and structures.

Now I have 10 more buildings to complete, a road system to install, frogs to get powered, scenery to detail and 300 trees to build, if not more, I realize that in our yard alone there are 4 trees, so I did the math, and I will be short about a 1000 [:(] I also need to learn my airbrush better, and get all the small details that Grande Man keeps showing us. I have decided that I have to restrict my train operations to about 2-3 days a week, start doing about 30 trees a week, pick one area to scenic, build 1 building at least a week, work on a couple of small details and 1 or 2 cars a week to weather, take pictures of the layout and of the real thing, hang out here, and still get all my honey do jobs done. Fortunately I am a stay at home parent, so I can find time to get a lot done, when she is at work [;)]

Add to all this, it seems at least once a week someone brings out a new idea on the forums.

Model Railroading is fun, and a busy hobby [tup]