Be Careful Where you Cut Corners!

[selector]

Tom, you funny guy! [;)]

Where do you draw the line? You really do get what you pay for, but if a cheaper substitute (key word) can be found, it could mean the difference between a cheap line of plastic train set loco or a better one. If you fellows never did make it clear to him that you found his substitutions or his conditions unacceptable, then he was justified in persisting.

How did it go so far? Exactly what was it that set him off? Was there the proberbial last straw?

This is puzzling to me.

-Crandell

[tatans]

How true, Garbage in, Garbage out, sounds typical, I met a guy who thought nothing of buying a $1200.00 brass loco and would hunt around construction sites rummaging for wood scraps, until he was at a construction site that was guarded by a dog, 10 stiches later and new pants and almost a big fine for theft and trespassing, he finally quit doing it, but he is still a cheapskate (being a cheapskate is NOT a compliment, by the way), By the way what is homosote?? sounds like something strange.

[joeyegarner]

Hey maybe he can sell it on Ebay!!

[IRONROOSTER]

I agree, you need decent lighting, temperature, and decent materials for the layout. The solution if you need to save money is to have a smaller layout.
Enjoy
Paul

[trainfreek92]

that stinks!!!!!!!!!!!! sounds like a cheap skate!!! Tim

[mondotrains]

Hi Guys,
We all like to save money and certainly in this hobby there are many ways to cut corners and save money. However, I'd like to share a story with you that will hopefully cause you to think before you compromise and try to save money.

Unfortunately, one of my best MR buddies recently got out of the hobby. I think a major reason for his departure is that myself and others who were working on his layout were complaining too much and he got disgusted.

Our complaints essentially were about three issues. First, my friend had bought the cheap shop lights to mount over his layout. These $5.00 double flourescent fixtures come with the cheapest ballast available and the result is that the lights give off a "flutter" that can drive your eyes crazy and give you a headache. I did some research and because of his mistake, I bought fixtures at Lowe's that cost arount $25.00 each and the light is great...no flutter and no headaches.

His second big mistake was to not use Homosote over his plywood. Instead, he used a cheaper material that looks like the brown cardboard ceiling tiles from the 1950's. He probably saved $50.00 using this material however, when we laid track, we had to dip each spike into white glue so the spikes would hold. Unlike Homosote, the cardboard would not "grab" the spikes. Can you imagine how much time we wasted dipping each spike into white glue before driving it home? Also, it was very difficult to lay curves because the spikes wouldn't hold until the white glue had set.

His third mistake was not trying to make the train room temperature acceptable in the summer. He left his cellar windows open when it was 90 degrees and humid outside. I couldn't convince him that if he'd run his dehumidifier, the cellar would have been dryer and hence would have been more comfortable. He didn't want to spend the money on electricity to run the dehumidifier.

While there are other mistakes that can be made, these all added up to a real problem. I found working on his layout a drudgery. I kept looking at the clock hoping the work sessions would end. Needless to say, it was more like work than fun.

There was an article in MR recently on how one guy made his train room comfortable....sofas, comfortable chairs, a coffee table etc. Maybe some of his ideas are overkill but let's face it.....if you want guys to work on your layout, be careful where you compromise.

It really is a shame that my buddy is now out of the hobby. We spent 11 years working side by side and watching the trains run. Isn't it too bad that he spoiled it to save a few bucks?

Mondo