Is there a cure for this sickness, got to have more stuff?

[Texas Zepher]

I forget the MAC dad has, but I think his weak link is the Pok speakers and my strong point is my DQ 10's and Adcom Mono Blocks to drive them. Carver 4000 T preamp help's the sound stage as well.

Amazingly enough, of all the speaker systems I've been through, I've found the 1979-1981 Advent Series-One to be one of the best sounding.  I wasn't expecting much when I bought them because they were only $129 each, when the JVC studios I really wanted at the time were $450 (that was about two months rent  back then).  They've amazed me ever since.  I just have to be careful with some units because they are advertised as 8 ohms but I've found them to be closer to 4.  Unfortunately I blew a bank of them when I hooked them up to the computer.  I forgot how high I had the volume when I loaded the Jutland (WWI Naval Battle) program and fired a broadside.  Think of the first scene of "Back to the Future".  It knocked things off shelves and really rattled my teeth.  My wife thought something had blown up because is shook the house so much.  Then nothing....   

To little fuel and cam and way to big of ports in the heads. Stock, as soon as the start making power they run out of gas and fall on there faces.

Same with my 351C in a 1970 Cougar.  It would burn N50 tires for about 10 seconds and then it drained the floats and ran out of gas.  It was so bad it would stall the engine.  A Holley double pumper helped, but it really needed a whole new fuel line before it started achieving its potential.  Hmmm I think we've wandered off topic.

[cudaken]

 Darn Tex, you into coins as well? Never started the Liberty Quarter collection, knew that was out of my buget for good ones. Very poor and low stampings, ware very quickly.

 I forget the MAC dad has, but I think his weak link is the Pok speakers and my strong point is my DQ 10's and Adcom Mono Blocks to drive them. Carver 4000 T preamp help's the sound stage as well.

 As far as his GT 350, well it was on a country road we both know well, on the twisty's he could pull a little on me but I just plain over powered him on anything a little straight. His engine is far from being stock, around 400 HP. My Maxie is, well over that, around 520 at 7800 RPM's. As far as the BOSS 429, they taste good BBQ. To little fuel and cam and way to big of ports in the heads. Stock, as soon as the start making power they run out of gas and fall on there faces.

 

            Cuda Ken

[cudaken]

 Beegle55, more then likely you have good taste in gear. But if you are looking for some cars and engines we can talk. I have some Old Atheans BB engines that more than likely will never see track time again on my board. All so the same with rolling stock as well. Nothing fancy mind you but with some work the cheap LL and Bachmans will roll as well as the good stuff. My BLI Class J is draging 25 OLD DUTCH HOPPER'S made by TYCO, Kadee boxes and PK wheels added and pull as well as the Athearns.

 I rather pass them on to someone here than let them sit.

 Let me know here on this posting if you want to talk then PM me. Not working and being 15 you will be able to afford them! Larry that does not most to much helped me out with a MRC 2500 when I could not afford a new thottel, what goes around comes around.

              Cuda Ken 

[Anonymous]

 NO ... no cure as such . My wife keeps catching me on ebay bidding and throws the usual threats ... LOL  I tell her " Oh that's the same one I did'nt get and am trying to bid again on another " .  God does forgive lil white lies does'nt he ?  That nasty eyeball she gives me that only a woman can give is probably the one saint peter will give me !

 

[Anonymous]

I chose my time period to give me the most "options". Conrail in 1978? You could have locos in 20 or more different paint schemes. I am just hoping I can use Athearn BB dummies to get me the variety and spend the bog bucks on some quality units for power.

[beegle55]

I only have around 6 engines and about 30 rolling stock because I'm only 15 and don't have a job yet, but with the minimum wage pay increases, maybe getting a job as a teen is a good thing for my hobby!

 beegle55

[Anonymous]

Hey Ken,

Nope....No known cure except for lack of money!

I am glad that I have this hobby.  To be sure, it one of those hobbies that you can pack away one year and then come back to it like you've not lost a beat.  My Wife was marvelling the other night that she enjoyed hearing me and our Grand Son being downstairs running the trains.  He's has his favorite engines that he like to run, and I've been allowing him to pick up the rolling stock to run behind the engines.  He want to be involved and he still enjoys it.  He's actually a joy to have down there.

Looking at the way my fleet of engines has grown this year, I am running out of space on my 4x8 layout to park everything.  And horrors!!!!  I've even though about putting some of the stuff on EBAY to sell.  That is when I say "I" have too much stuff.  Of course I get well grounded when I see some of the other lists here that are yards longer than my own!  LOL!

Chris 

[Texas Zepher]

I am a Numismatic as well and have a 1916 D Mercury Dime.

How about a 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter?  I haven't been able find one of those anywhere at any price.  Seems the people who got them are planning on keeping them.

Only thing I have bested him on as been Stereo Gear ( his mac's sound good tho)

What do you have that beats a Mcintosh?  I won't even put my Marantzes<sp?> or Thorens up against a tube Mcintosh.  Of course they all produce better sound than the speakers and reproduce anyway, so it is sort of pointless.

and HP Cars. Smacked around the Shelby GT 350 pretty bad with the Road Ruuner, 426 Max power.

Talking apples and oranges there. The Shelby's not in the NASCAR class. The Ford/Mercury equivalent (assuming totally stock) would be the ones with engines made for NASCAR like the Talledega, the Cyclone, or Mustang 429 BOSS.

But to your over arching isssue, it seems you are trying to best your father at what he is good at, instead of focusing on what you are good at.  Could I ever even hope to best my father at accounting - no, but why would I want to.  That is not in my personality profile. 

[cudaken]

 TX Zepher, reason it is doubled spaced is because that is a inventory I have on the keyboard thigie to sort of keep track.

 Slector, funny you brought up a PRR T1, guess what I am after now? That and a Big Boy and Challanger and a 2-8-8-2 I saw by PK2.

 Sometimes I think I enjoy the quest more than having it. Every hobby I get into I need the biggest, most powerfull, the most of or the fastest. Car was the main thing I have done. Do I really need a 69 Charger with a supercharged 440 that make 685 HP at 5200 RPM's? Well no, don't need to get to work that fast!  But yet, I bulit one. Do I need a Audiophile grade Stereo system in the garage with 600 watts a side? No, but yet again I have one. As far as coins, yep I am a Numismatic as well and have a 1916 D Mercury Dime (barss big boy for none coin people) EF-50.

 This may be little deep for this posting, but I think part of the blame needs to go to my step dad. No matter what I did, he did better. I got B's in school (not for spelling) he would point out he got A's. In boy scouts I was Life, but yet he was a Eagle Scout. Coins, well is collection is worth well over $700,000.00. Only thing I have bested him on as been Stereo Gear ( his mac's sound good tho) and HP Cars. Smacked around the Shelby GT 350 pretty bad with the Road Ruuner, 426 Max power.

 OH well, good to see I am not the only person that is not right out there. Time to run some trains.

 Think the best advise so far is stop buying and work on the bench!

                      Ken

[Walter Clot]

I believe Medina had the best idea (although there were a lot of good ones).  Budget your self.  My weakness is the shake the box models that are on sale.  They seem to be costing more and I have several I haven't assembled yet.  I'm now teaching my grand sons to assemble them.  They are 10 & 8.  They've already done some and have enjoyed it. 

Let's call the "sickness" what it really is - lust! 

[johncolley]

I humbly apologise up front for this....but when talking about trains....it's Terminal! Oooohhh...Baaaaddddd. As already stated the best way to contrtol it is to set a railroad and a particular era and limit yourself through budgeted buying only that equipment and structures, etc. that fit your scheme. Even then it is easy to go overboard, eh? jc5729

[jbinkley60]

This is great for model manufactures. Seems to be a lot of modelers afflicted with this sickness. Glad I don't live near a train hobby shop.

At my LHS there is a sign on the counter which say " Your wife just called and said it was Ok"

 

[selector]

Consequently, I now only need a few more...

Please do not take offence, but as a social scientist, this statement speaks volumes to me.

Isn't that what Rockefeller said when they asked him how much money it would take to be satisfied?  As I recall his reply was, "Just a little more."   The human condition of always needing a bit more to be satisfied was part of the great experiment that King Solomon performed and recorded in the book of Ecclesiastes.   If it isn't model trains, then it is cars, horses, real estate, money, power, etc. 

Well, that Rockefeller guy sure knew what he wanted.  I wouldn't mind a PRR T1...this time.

[Anonymous]

 Let us know when you hit a thousand. Than is time for rehab. Know just think do I need it or do i want it6. Works for me. Also budget. Allow yourself to spend a certain amount a month, a week or whatever. And if it is more than your budget than save a couple of your monthly allowances. Remember not ot bring your cards to a trainshow bad bad bad.

 

[aloco]

Just one more locomotive... one more locomotive, and I promise not to buy any more model railroad equipment!  Just one more locomotive!

[Texas Zepher]

Consequently, I now only need a few more...

Please do not take offence, but as a social scientist, this statement speaks volumes to me.

Isn't that what Rockefeller said when they asked him how much money it would take to be satisfied?  As I recall his reply was, "Just a little more."   The human condition of always needing a bit more to be satisfied was part of the great experiment that King Solomon performed and recorded in the book of Ecclesiastes.   If it isn't model trains, then it is cars, horses, real estate, money, power, etc. 

[steamage]

This is great for model manufactures. Seems to be a lot of modelers afflicted with this sickness. Glad I don't live near a train hobby shop.

[SteamFreak]

I'm beginning to think we need to start a 12 step program -- Model Railroaders Anonymous?

One locomotive is too many, and 100 isn't enough...

[Milwhiawatha]

Theres a cure like what happened to me one source of funding had stopped till things get done which wont be for awhile. I ha tons of projects. So my dad cut the funding on that and my business is slow so there went buying anything.

[selector]

 

Consequently, I now only need a few more...

Please do not take offence, but as a social scientist, this statement speaks volumes to me.  Specifically, your use of the word "need" indicates a deprivation that would have a significant impact on your life if it is not assuaged.  This word, and the rationale behind its use, is what this thread is all about.  For something as unimportant as a hobby must be, in terms of life's more salient problems, using this word gives us permission to spend/acquire as if it were indeed a requirement. 

Hobbies generate intense pleasures for us, and feeling acquisitive is part of the process of discovery.  We acquire information willy nilly, but we also spend to get artifacts and models to shore up our experience.  I am not saying it is necessarily bad, because every one of we humans does this to a degree or another.  In Ken's case, I would guess that he is close to $100k into his cars, and his train collection is fast catching up.

I am taking a more serious approach to what I clearly know is a non-serious thread, but there you are..

[IRONROOSTER]

Buy a bigger house. That'll keep you too broke to buy trains for a while.

Enjoy

Paul 

[jbinkley60]

You have OCTSD. Obsesive Compulisve Train Stuff Disorder. I found the only cure is unemployment.

You may be on to something here but what I heard was that he hasn't admitted he has a disorder, he is only questioning whether he might have one.   Unemployment may only put it in remission and not be a long term cure.  I am in denial so I'll keep buying.  I view it as a publuc service to keep the LHS and model railroad industry afloat.  I suppose when I can't walk into the basement any longer due to rolling stock boxes, I may have to admit to having OCTSD.

 

[fwright]

You have OCTSD. Obsesive Compulisve Train Stuff Disorder. I found the only cure is unemployment.

Divorce is also a cure - just a much nastier tasting one.

[BigRusty]

As I see it, it is more like being a coin or stamp collector. One does not willy nilly buy stamps or coins because there are thousands of varities. They mostly fill out an album of the era or type they like to collect.

I started my collection based on an "album" of my life railroad experiences. At various times, I lived along the New Haven in NY/CT, the Pennsy and Reading in PA, and the UP-SP in Bakersfield, CA. I wanted to build a roster that reflected those times and brought back those memories. Hence EP-3 Box cabs and I-5s, GG-1s, MP-54s, T-1s and even cabforwards and big boys. Why, because I saw all of them in operation as a resident of those areas.

Planning a true to prototype model railroad that covers that gamut is really not practical, although I could have run the Pennsy through the Hudson River tunnel to connect with the New Haven at Penn Station, but I thought better of it.

What I have now is a PLAN, not random buying of anything. I am filling out the roster that the New Haven operated in the transition era based on the consist charts of those days. Rolling stock is acquired based on the actual consist of the trains that I will be operating with the appropriate motive power for same.

Consequently, I now only need a few more EP-2s, some EF-1s, an L-1 and maybe a Mogul or two for the Canal Line. T t that's all folks. I have all of the RS 1, 2, & 3s, HH-16, S-1s and 0-8-0s for switching I need. I have lots of PA/PA, FA/FB/FB/FA, DL-109 A/A, and FB A/A C-Liners freight and passenger diesel lashups and I-4 and I-5 steamers to pull any train in the consist as well as EP-2s, EP-3s and EP-4 electrics and MU cars.

That's it. I'M DONE! I don't care what else they bring out. I have the L-1 on order and 2 more I-5's coming but that's it. My album pages will be full.

 I can now concentrate on acquiring more rolling stock. I need the Federal Pennsy consist and the NH Merchant's and Yankee Clipper in both the HW and SS consists and then can concentrate on track work, scenery and buildings.

My PRR, Reading and SP-Up items will all go on e-Bay to finance the rest of my acquisitions.

 

[Texas Zepher]

What is it with my self and other people here that makes us want more train stuff?  ... I have to step back now and wonder why I am doing this. Half the engines and rollin stock is sitting wating to be used if ever again.

Help, help, just the line of items waiting for my paint shop is as long as your list.  I don't believe this forum could contain a listing of everything (especially double spaced like yours - why do you do that anyway?).

I have seen roster posted here that have around 50 to 100 + engines a lone.

Rank Amateurs.

Is it the quest because we want the biggest and best?

No

Is it because we are not happy with are 1:1 life?

No

Is it the trill of E-bay?

Absolutely not.

No one has mentioned the real issue here.  Why would you want a cure?

Ummm, well items I've owned for 20 years but they haven't been out of the box for me to enjoy.  I've got only storage space, space to play with them.

You should set a limit if you want to avoid renting a storage area for the overflow.

I'm already past that point.  10x15 storage unit with a monthly fee!  Sort of defeats the "good deals" I got on some of that equipment.  Grumble, grumble, and every time I go to sell I end up buying more than I sell.

If anyone can figure out the cure, I'll take two please.

Some suggestions-

• As already stated, limit the era, the roadnames, and the locale that you model.
• Improve your trackwork.
• Get into scenery making, super detailing, or structures.
• Hand lay your track.
• Finish something that is functional, but not quite done.
• Explore operation.
• Study the history of your era, roadname, and locale.
• Lighting, animation, and effects.

Some good suggestions, but many of those things INCREASE the desire for more/different items.  My RR research library is part of the problem.  It is only exceeded by my computer library. Every book read/studied creates a new vision of something to be modeled. Every place visited becomes a new "scene" that would make a really neat model.  I belong to 4 different operational groups, each with unique operational rules.  This only increases desire to encorporate the best of each of those into ones own.

[Attaboy]

No one has mentioned the real issue here.  Why would you want a cure?

[Anonymous]

This is far too few trains BUY BUY BUY

 

Why fight it accumulate!

[GAPPLEG]

Got it too Ken,  my problem is I want one (at least one) of every Diesel Loco the SP ever had. That is a real challenge, it doesn't have to be the most expensive or most beautiful, just got to be an SP. It seems like they bought one of everything (not really) it just seems that way.

[alfadawg01]

You have OCTSD. Obsesive Compulisve Train Stuff Disorder. I found the only cure is unemployment.

This is identical to an epidemic found among musicians:  Gear Acquisition Syndrom or "GAS".  Same symptoms and manifestation as OCTSD only more expensive and space consuming.  Don't ask me how I know this......