Cheap Train stuff off E-bay, Am I doing that bad? Video

[cudaken]

 Someone here keeps blowing me caboose about the cheap stuff I bought of E-bay. I will not mention Mr Gibson name so he will not get nasty with me.

 Yes, I made mistaked buying cheap LL, Tyco, Bachman cars and used Athearns and PK that needed some TLC. Some of the cars got Walther metal axles, some have got Proto 2000 axles. Some still have the horn hooks couplers on there truck.  Thanks to the great people here it running pretty darn good. I have used all the tricks folks have listed.

 But yet I still have someone that blows me caboose about the cheap stuff I run?

 Before you watch the videos I know my bench is junk. First train board I have had and I started Feb of this year. So it is a POS and that is a given. But a new bench is in the works thanks to K-10 Trains. Board has 2% grade due to the garage floor, that will be fixed with the new bench.

 Sorry the video's are so bad, all I have is a camera that will make video's.

 http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/cudaken/?action=view&current=IM000004.flv

 If this worked right the long train is  headed by a SPD-45 Athearn Bloody Nose (E-bay $12.00) FP-45 Athearn Santa Fe War Bonnet that was weathred and detailed (E-bay $15.00) and a Milwakee FP-45 Athearn (E-bay with 5 Athearn cars $15.00)  Yep I had to clean them, take them a part and remotor one ($10.00 LHS). The junk is dragging 60 cars, about 15 bought new by Athearn box count, rest are E-bay junk that I have worked on.

  http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/cudaken/?action=view&current=IM000003.flv

 On the out side line is a nother E-bay buy. Proto 2000 BL 2 Monon it cost $28.00. What it is dragging is a 28 car train of all Horn hooked mounted to the trucks load. They have Walthers wheels and trucks tuned and weight with in NMRA guied lines.

 With the up graded (kadee # 5's Proto wheels on the one's that have them, walthers wheels that LHS sells me 40 8 wheel sets for $10.00, Kadee box'es that he gives me real fair) behinde the triple headed Athearns on the inside line. Then the BL 2 train out side line (few PK wheels and resst Walthers) I have around $600.00 worth of moving stock. Is that doing bad? Will run for say 10 hours than a wheel will go out of gauge, pull the car that is dragging a wheel, fix and have at it again for another 10 hours.

 Lets say I am off 50%, so total is $900.00! That is 4 engines and 88 cars is that doing badly? 

 I have other engines that you might pick out that are not running and lot of them where NIB and from LHS as well.

 I have been told many times by someone I keep buying worn out junk, well they are right. But the way I look at it if I buy them NIB from LHS I will ware them out anyway so might as well learn how to fix them now and not in a year. 

 Was all so told I must like picking up orphans and running a repair shop. Yes I do, picked up a few great dogs that where down on there luck and where my best friends. Plus being in the body shop bussines for 25 year I like fixing stuff.

 So folks, have I learend and got better or just wasted my money??

 

                      Cuda Ken    

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Sounds to me like you learned from your mistakes and are now preparing to push ahead. You now have valueable repair experience that you can use on the new units when they start exhibiting strange behavior. You went through the same thing I did at one time, picking up yard sale and flea market finds, only to find out that they needed massive amounts of work to make them right.

[Railphotog]

You get what you pay for.  Pay junk prices for something and you get junk.

[ngartshore350]

Hi Cuda Ken,

Looks like you've got a pretty good set to run a decent length train! Like all hobbies you learn from your mistakes, I've bought the cheap stuff and noticed it doesn't last as long or runs a bit rough compared to the higher end stuff.

The main thing is your enjoying the hobby!!! I had a set as a teenager and ran it into the ground, but I thought it was the best! I didn't really understand the price differences until I bought a higher end locomotive and saw the light. Ahhh, is that why!

We can't all be purists, save you money for a while and buy a higher end locomotive and see the diffence in the way it runs and the amount of detail you get. But you don't have to it's your choice!

Don't be put off, if your enjoying yourself, what does it matter what someone else thinks.

Regards,

Nigel

[MAbruce]

Looks like you’re having a lot of fun with it.  Isn’t that what having a hobby is all about? 

It seems to me that you’re getting too wrapped up in what other people think of what you are doing.  Do yourself a BIG favor and stop trying to prove to everyone that what you have bought (or what you are doing with it) is really worth it.  You will never convince your critics of this no matter how hard you try.  So stop trying to justify your actions to your critics and focus on having fun with the good work that you have done.  I suspect you’re doing more with this hobby than some of them are, and have a bigger layout than most!

 

[Anonymous]

Ken,

Look at things this way. Here you are less than a year in the Hobby and you have massed a good bit of equipment that you like and that you understand. You have learned from your purchases, upped your skill set and seem to be enjoying things which is REALLY what this is all about.

I've been in and out of the Hobby for the last 20 years. Have no real long main line and swing from thinking I like LONG main line trains to enjoying Switchyard duties with the slowest switcher I can find.

Some of my used Engines are some of my favorites because I can no longer buy these new.

I do very much agree with Nigel that you owe yourself to buy at least one better quality engine at some point. After you experience one of these you will see why we make this suggestion. I don't think we are telling you to buy a $500 dollar engine, but spending $89-120 for an engine will make a huge difference, and if you can find a DEAL on one of these through the Internet, so much the better.

Have FUN, ENJOY!

Chris

[BRAKIE]

You get what you pay for.  Pay junk prices for something and you get junk.

 

 

 

Bob,That is simply not true..I sold many used Athearn locomotives for $12.00..I have also bought a good use Atlas S4 for $15.00.I bought use Athearn freight cars for $3.00 with KD couplers.Bought use Atlas cars for $5.00..Some of my better deals have been found on the use shelf at hobby shops or bought used at the club or train shows.

So,no cheap prices doesn't mean junk.

[BRAKIE]

Ken,First you train appeared to be operating smoothly..I only wish the video was longer..

Ok..There is NOTHING WRONG with buying use equipment and fixing it up if needed..The dollar value of the skills you have learn is-PRICELESS!

The main thing is you are happy and that is what really counts.Why worry about others may think?

After all YOU only need to PLEASE YOURSELF!

 

 

[Anonymous]

cadaken, as was stated earlier, your not going to satisfy your critics, so why bother?  I think you are doing great.  Learning to work on your locos and rolling stock is on of he most important and gratifying aspects of the hobby..  I have not bought any used equipment, but I see nothing wrong with that.  If you can buy something at a cheap price that requires some TLC, but not a lot of parts, you are only out the time spent repairing it.  This is time that you would spend on your layout anyway, so its basically free. On your problem with a piece of rollig stock that a wheel is going out of guage  after about 10 hrs., I put a drop of CA on the back side of the wheel and axle to hold it in position after twisting the wheel on the axle to get it in guage.  The one thing you fail to mention about your e-bay purchases is adding the approx. $10.00 S&H  charge on the items.  This makes some of those buys not as atractive. Just my opinion.  You know opinions are like rear ends in that everybody's got 1!

[Anonymous]

WoW!!  I am very impressed, Ken!  As for what you buy...obviously it's working - does anything else matter at this point? 

It's all about enjoying the hobby.  Let the "purist snobs" say what they may about which products a modeller should buy - they don't have a stake in your railroad.  It's YOURS!

[HoosierDaddy]

Ken,

Don't worry about trying to justify your purchases.  Unless there is someone else on this message board that is funding your hobby, then the purchase price of your rolling stock doesn't matter. 

Enjoy your trains, and continue to learn how to improve and tweak their performance. I think that is an enjoyable and satisfying part of the hobby.  I will however second (or third) the suggestion that the purchase of a new moderately priced engine will give you an idea of what people are saying when they  talk about the difference in performance between a fixer-upper, and a higer quality engine.  You can fix up a Life-Like to run reliably, but it will never run as well as a Stewart.  But you can probably buy two or three Life-Likes for the purchase price of a new Stewart.

Think of it this way, you can buy a beat-up old Ford Falcon and do a complete restoration on it and it will be a nice running, enjoyable car that you can be proud to drive around.  You could also buy an already restored Cuda, for more money, and I imagine have just as much fun or more driving that around.  It's personal preference.

HD

[Anonymous]

I run 80% restored (or previously owned) trains on my layout.  Some were really nice out of the box (P2K SD 60 w/ Sound on ebay for $70 (bargain of the week)) others needed help (Bachmann Plasser & FP-40 or Jeouf TGV for instance).  With some additional lights in front and back, perhaps sound or contact shoes, proper lube and good DCC decoders, these are now some of my favorite locos to run and have been in my collection since I was a kid (I'm 33).  Sure the BLI's and Spectrum Shay  make some noise and run really well, but they get equal run time compared to my restored/upgraded work.  

My Dad put a DCC decoder to a Bachmann Gandy Dancer and it runs like a champ. Talk about a converstaion piece. $45 (including decoder) invested in 'junk' turned to treasure.

I intend to rig up a Bachmann Trackster school bus with operating flashing bus lights etc. in the near future.

Also took a spot light work caboose and installed DCC to operate the spot light, lanterns on the back and installed a seuthe chimney.  This needs a rework on the chimney (too slanted), but it is fun to show.

So what's the point of all this?  I'm more proud of what I made and fixed versus what I bought.   I'd rather show off my talent then my wallet. 

 

[oleirish]

I agree with you , you are doing just fine,I do the same thing myself. Me and E-BAY are good buddies

I'am new to E-bay I/ve made 40 buys and only got burned once,I love working on things,when I was younger It was cars and raceing now its trains!my HO is in storeage so now I'am doing N scale and all my rolling stock came from E-bay! Hang in there it is you railroad have fun thats what I do!!!!

JIM

[cudaken]

 Tweet, CA is glue right? As far as the shipping, I never pay over $5.00 unless it is something speical or I want real bad. Plus one of the main seller I buy from is local so I just pick the stuff up. Bloody Nose SPD-45 and FP-45's and around 30 cars all came from Gary.

 As far as better engines, I don't know if these would be concerted better but I have a pair of Protos E-6's A and a powered E-6 B,  Proto A & B Powered Erie Builts then the Proto BL 2. Not ever thing I have was in the video. Reason the bench was pretty bare is when I re wired the track I stripped all the bulidings and rolling stock.

 What will a $200.00 DC engine do better than the older BB's besides draw less power? Details would be a little lost on me, I sit 8 feet from the board plus my eye sight it not all that great. Slow speed's would be a little better I guess but I mainly run between 40 and 70 sMPH.

 Soory the video is such bad quality and short.

                      Cuda Ken

 

[jfugate]

The main thing with ebay is to watch the price while bidding. I was thinking of bidding on some etched brass pieces that had gotten up to $15 (and I would have to bid more to win) but before I bid, I googled the item.

Once I found out you could get this same item for $14 at some of the better online hobby shops, I was no longer interested in bidding! It finally sold on ebay for $15.75 or so -- heck of a deal.

Moral of the story, do your homework before bidding on an ebay item!

[selector]

Ken, if your way of doing things brings you satisfaction and pleasure, is not fattening or illegal, then I don't see why you should not do it.  It takes a certain amount of self-discipline, confidence, and a generally strong character to approach a hobby from the most basic level without actually scratchbuilding what you want, and to persevere where others have long since given up. 

I will state outright that your approach is not for me, dilettante that I am.  I still don't really have a good handle on adjusting and tuning rolling stock so that it runs well.  So, I buy "good" stuff.  You have wisely taken a different path where you now have good runners and have not gone into debt or run up a huge bill without learning anything.  As I said earlier, you now are an expert on getting other people's junk running very nicely.  The finer couplers, as you decide to swap them out, will come in time.

Now that you have hoards (and I use that word advisedly) of rolling stock, if it were me, I would save up for one decent gulp and golly engine that will boost your pride and pleasure into the stratosphere.

You have survived your self-imposed baptism of fire, and I feel you are much better for it.  Now you can turn your energy to a new bench support system, mayb some terrain, or even try your hand at building some little industries out of styrene or cardstock, maybe even stripwood.  In a year or two, you should be very pleased with your layout.

[ereimer]

if you're having fun you must be doing something right !

[skiloff]

All I can say is Kudos (cudaos?) to you for going through the process of figuring out how to fix up the old stuff.  I wish I had the initiative and gumption to do so.  I'd sure save myself a lot of money.

[BRAKIE]

The main thing with ebay is to watch the price while bidding. I was thinking of bidding on some etched brass pieces that had gotten up to $15 (and I would have to bid more to win) but before I bid, I googled the item.

Once I found out you could get this same item for $14 at some of the better online hobby shops, I was no longer interested in bidding! It finally sold on ebay for $15.75 or so -- heck of a deal.

Moral of the story, do your homework before bidding on an ebay item!

 

Joe,Absolutely! I found the BETTER DEALS of late comes from on line hobby shops..

One  has to watch his/her prices and bids least they end up buying more then the item sells for even at full MSRP..

[Anonymous]

Ken, congratulations, you've passed the gonna sell this stuff mood from this past summer, and you seem to be enjoying yourself. That's why we take up this hobby, but remember when you post on the forum you're going to get both kudos and criticism. It's part of how and why there's a forum.

As for you get what you paid for, not always, you have to know what you want and a given price, found some decent deals at trainshows at rock bottom prices.

[rrebell]

Also remember that the skill will last a lifetime, my buddy rebuilt an old varny steam not to save money but to prove he could make it run as good as any newer item, he did and his greatist joy was showing it off to a 2nd generation hobby shop owner and being told they weren't sopposed to run that good!!!!!  Many a spectrum (which I love) has had to have a tweak or two, got some really good deals from others who did not know how to find and fix minor problems.

[cudaken]

BXCARMIKE, yep the only thing going on E-bay is the stuff (ckeap Like Like engines) that I will never use again.

 

 Selector, you have been very helpful through this jourany. All wise a kind word and help me keep my chin up.  Guess the reason I have taken the time to learn how to fix them is the trash can's where alwise full! Well, there where just so many, seemed a waste to throw them away. Tuning the trucks on the targo (couplers on the truck) is the hard part. Bosters behinde the couplers are tight as heck. I have learned a trick about cleaning them up to take either Walters or Proto wheels. I have runied around 12 sets, working on a way to fix them as well.

 Guess it is the Hot Rodder in many that keeps me from giving up on junk, or making some that is broken and work well.

 Excpet for the TYCO Old Dutch Hoppers I won and stilling looking for more of I am going to stick with Athearns BB kits for now on. Have a pair of Round House 40 Box cars that I have yet to bulid, if I like them maybe some round house stuff.

 If you don't mind when I am done with it I like to PM you a guide to proof read on mistakes I have made and how to fix them before I post it. It should help people that are new to this hobby like me.

 Thanks for all the support folks, still wondering when I am going to get the nasty gram?

 

                       Cuda Ken

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Ken, you've done very well with ahat you have. As for Roundhouse kits, I'm working on one right now. It's an FDC 50' oxcar in Milwaukee road livery.

[GearDrivenSteam]

Ken, my hat's off to you. Your stuff looks like it's running well. One good thing about buying cheap stuff is, should you ever decide to get out of the hobby, you won't have a bundle wrapped up in it. With all the experience you've gained, I don't think you'll be getting out any time soon. Good for you.

[fsm1000]

I really only have one serious question.....
Are you having fun? Then if you are then ignore the others, simple as that. I have experimented with so many ways to lay track, do scenery, make trees, make rocks, detail locos, make structures, kitbash, painting, rough up new stuff, etc etc etc over  the pasr 40 odd years that what it really all comes down to is this for me. AM I HAVING FUN?
I am so the others can go jump for all I care.
I like hand laying track. Cutting a few thousand ties etc is relaxing for me. I even do my tunnels. I know some would go bonkers doing that.
Others want to make sure every rivet is just right on a loco. I could care less. My take on it is this,,, does it run? Good.
We all have areas we excel in and other area we suck in. No one is perfect at this.
It is a hobby for most of us. And hobbies are meant to be fun.
Take your time. Learn as you go [which it appears you have already], and mostly just sit back and enjoy this thing. After all, most of us are going to be doing it for decades.

Yes you do get what you pay for, but think of this. All that effort you put into learning how to make that stuff better is NOT wasted. Just think of how much better you can now make things when the good stuff need fixing later.

You learned some skills many never learn. Enjoy it.

Hope that helps :)

[colvinbackshop]

Yup!!! You've got to do it your way...And if your way is fun for you, then that is all that is important.

I don't want to drop any names, but, some folk get way too caught up in the way they see things should be done...Hey, it's your RR! And you can do it the way you want.

As for buying "junk"...Remember that one man's junk is another man's treasures. I'm always trying to make that silk purse out of a sow's ear...Some time it works, other times not, but it's always a lesson.

A lot of the older Tyco and Life Like (not to mention Athearn, MDC/Roundhouse and Accurail kits) rolling stock is a great value and a great way to build the "inventory". Personally, I can't afford the Kaydee, Westerfeild....(and the list can go on and on and on) stuff! 

And what's with all the RTR that seems to be taking over the market these days. I'll give you that the quality / detail may have improved, but RTR sure does cost a lot more! 

BTW Ken, I sent you an email regarding an "Old Dutch" car I have in my inventory.

[selector]

 If you don't mind when I am done with it I like to PM you a guide to proof read on mistakes I have made and how to fix them before I post it. It should help people that are new to this hobby like me.

 

                       Cuda Ken

 

Ken, I would be happy to do it.  Just send it when you are ready.  I'll send you a PM with my email address so you can attach it.

-Crandell

[Budliner]

cuda thats some setup looks awsome your fillin that garage up

great work looks like a mad friday at the rail yard

setup more photo ops

 

 

Ken

[GearDrivenSteam]

Stephen, I couldn't have said that better. I knew I liked you for some reason. LOL

[cudaken]

Colvinbackshop, did not see the PM so I sent one to you.

On my current board, yep it is big and bad, badly made that is. But that will be changing a little at a time. K-10 train is going to be helping me with my lack of wood working tools. He will make the cuts and plane the wood for me so it will be straight and squear.

 Larry that does not post to much sent me a link of a bench that I starting to like more and more.

                  

 Left side will use the U shaped board I have in places as of now. Center and right side will be all new bench. It will be made in between 36" X 48" and 24" X 48" sections. Left side will be around 19 feet long and center will be 12 to 14 feet long. Have around 154 feet of lumber so far, as soon as K-10 trains has his wood working shop cleared out I will be hauling it down so I can start the sections.

  On the cheap old used Athearns, with the MRC 9500 I have now they are a blast to run. Last night was the first time I ran the Protos in 2 weeks. I seem to like the old Athearns a little better for now. Soft hum of the motor's seem to added a little to the ambience.

 

                            Cuda Ken