I have a question for everyone. Do any of you guys ever buy rolling stock that you know you probably will never use on your layout or doesn’t fit the particular theme, era, of what you’re modeling but SAID rolling stock looks good or the price was too good to pass up.
I went to the Dupage County monthly model railroading show and there was this guy who was outside whom I’m guessing didn’t want to pay for setting up a table on the inside with some great stuff at unheard of prices. I’m guessing he got this stuff at a Estate sale or hobby shop closing. He had a slew of Walther’s Structures and rolling stock from Walthers, Exxact Rale, Red Caboose which is expensive, and several others.
Everything he had was 50% off the sticker price on the box it came in.
Therefore I bought several industry buildings for my upcoming layout and I bought at least 6 or 7 types of freight cars that I felt I couldn’t pass up, although I’ll admit I didn’t know I wanted them until I saw them [:O]
Don’t know how I will use them on the layout since I technically won’t have the space but I guess I could just lash them on my short intermodal trains I plan on using and store them off the layout when not in use.
All in all I spent only $85 total for 3 buildings and 6 cars in what would have normally cost me over $250.
No,but,that’s not saying I was never tempted to buy items I had no use for…I try to stay in my 3 chosen eras (78/79,84/85 and 93/ 94.) but,I do buy use cars and locomotives if I need them.
No. The only reason I might do something like that is if I knew a product well enough to turn it around and make money on it. Now if there are awsome prices and I could use the items, sure. I try to focus my limited budget on items that help me keep within my goal of a themed layout so I often pass over great deals - I saw lots and lots at the last Timonium show and with I had a few hundred extra to throw at some of the stuff - even stuff I could use. Self control is still a virtue - crazy as it sounds in todays world.
The short answer is NO. I am very picky about what I buy and will only “pull the trigger” after I do the required research to see if it (fill in the blank) is appropriate for my 1949 C&O. This saves me from putting money in the “wrong things” and justifies me putting the saved cash towards the “right things” (Read usually expensive steam, rolling stock, etc. [:'(]). To paraphase (butcher) an old saying “check twice, buy once”. [:D]
My buying strategy suits my personality, but of course, I can only speak for myself… [:)]
I have to say, I definitely enjoy each new purchase more because I know it belongs because of due diligence before forking out the $$$$.
Lets see. “Need”. You don’t actually NEED anything, not like you need food and shelter. “Fits my layout’s legend and era” is a better phrase. And then there is “want”, as in I want an ABBA lashup of Alco FA/FB units even though my modeled railroad never owned any. But I have a set, run them now and then, just 'cause I like them.
So yes, I will buy things I like when the price is right, even though they don’t “fit” my layout’s legend. Perhaps I will change my legend, or perhaps I will repaint and decal to make it fit, or perhaps I will put it in the display case, or perhaps I will run it just because I can.
Nothing wrong with that. I frequently buy stuff in HO and O even though I’m in S. I look for MDC old timer kits and locomotive kits, but I’ll buy anything that appeals to me if the price is right.
No, no Bowser stuff. That was what originally crossed my mind [:D]
And they didn’t ask him to leave because their were several other guys who did the same thing. They park their vans on the fairgrounds which I guess is perfectly legal and then they unload right there.
This guy wanted all cash so that was his drawback since many people use credit or personal checks.
I bought two steel coil cars which I love although don’t forsee a steel industry on the layout, a few boxcars from railroads that probably never will be seen in the Chicagoland/midwest area, a CNW caboose and a few reefers.
Mind you I was so tempted to get the Metra cars he had. $25/ea which is unheard of. He had both Kato and Walthers and I can always use more of them but I was already at my max spending limit.
Oh well I still got a great deal on the stuff I did get.
I am all too prone to buy stuff that I know to be an outrageously good deal even if I have no “need” (however defined) for it now or in the future. Sometimes I try to convince myself of a need, or a potential kitbash, or trade. I don’t buy to resell as a rule.
I started a thread on these Forums some years ago about the exact nature of my “problem.” To read more …
I thought the guys who park outside at DuPage did pay to be there – just paid far less than for the tables under cover. I know they are all segregated into one general area.
Mike,Just about every train show I have attended over the last 50 years has had “tailgate dealers”.They don’t want to rent table space or all the tables was already rented.
These guys are usually private sellers dumping their stuff for pennies on the dollar…
Whoever’s got the Bowser haul has got to be laying low, unless I’ve missed news if an arrest. The hot stuff is just going to be too obvious to pander in public for awhile. But this is obviously one way to dispose of it if you’re cheeky enough.’
Personally, if the tables are all sold, and everything is kosher with the locals, then I guess it’s cool. I’d probably walk on by, unless they were waving some deeply discounted narrowgauge around anyway. Doing it just to avoid carrying your fair share of the venue is kinda problematic in my book.
I think it was a great idea. Most Walthers structures are generic enough that they can be re-purposed for a lot of different industries with little more than printed signs. Or, as your layout expands and changes over the years, you may find a place for them as is. I have been buying almost nothing but Milwaukee rolling stock for a while, but I’ll pick up other regional cars without hesitation. And, I’ve always got room for a “rogue” car or two.
If a boxcar is cheap enough, you could pick up some decals and try your hand at painting and redecorating it. A couple of weeks ago, I found a Life-Like tanker, complete with plastic wheels, horn-hooks and Talgo trucks. It will be an MOW water car, I’ll have fun upgrading it and I’ll be proud to run it once it’s ready.
No! I could overspend as it is, just buying relevant items for the layout.
That said, how do I explain the SP AC-12 cab forward??
Cheers, the Bear.[:$]
When I first got into the hobby I didn’t have a really good understanding of what was appropriate for the late 50s in Ontario. Once I had a more focused plan I realized that some of the stuff I bought because it looked like a bargian wouldn’t fit in.
However, the biggest mistake I made at first was not knowing what was really a bargain as opposed to just a low price. As a result, I bought some toy train quality stuff like Tyco with talgo trucks etc that turned out to need more work to make them into acceptable models than I really wanted to do. I also bought a few Walthers Trainline flat cars based on the price. They were pretty toy-like too. I also bought several BB Canadian Pacific ‘Spans the World’ where the lettering is too faint.
These days I am more discerning. I still buy the occasional BB freight car if the price is right but I have a close look at things like the quality of the lettering before I buy. For the most part my purchases are focused on specific needs. Right now I am aquiring the last of the turnouts that I need for the layout. About the only thing I buy on a whim is PolyScale paint when I see it. I do not buy locomotives with DCC/sound installed, especially if they are used. Too much of a crap shoot.
As far as a budget goes, I don’t have one so I’m not too restricted in that regard. I do try to limit the total $ spent each month but if I have a need I buy it.
I have pretty much avoided this problem, but it is always tempting. Like JaBear, I looked long and hard and an unlettered IM AC-12 cab forward at a recent show (I think the second time that loco and that vendor have tempted me until smoke was rolling out of my ears(.
At this point, I have more rolling stock than I can use (most of it purchased back when I had a larger space and a larger layout under construction). I defined a tight time period (fall 1958), locomotive preferences, the reason for the railroad, etc and I stick pretty rigidly to that. I think I have a total of about eight various freight cars whose service date is later than fall 1958, and none later than 1960.
I’m not a rivet counter. This rigid view of equipment keeps me from acquiring stuff that winds up sitting in boxes or on shelves somewhere. It is a defense mechanism.
That said, I do have an Athearn UP Big Boy, but that became a planned purchase to commemorate a fallen four-legged friend who was affectionately called “Big Boy.” I also toy with the idea of bringing a bullet train on board to showcase the vision of the Bunter Ridge R&D department, but so far I have resisted that urge.
Well like Mister Beasly said the Walthers building kits were a steal. I got those 3 buildings for under $50 and they’re all modern and expensive on their own. I can modify them if I need to so that they can fit the space or whatever I need. The rolling stock was modern too since I only buy modern stuff. I was tempted to buy the CNW GP50 that someone had customed painted and detailed from this other guy out there and it was sweet and the guy was only asking $40 for it. When I decided to go back and get it they had sold it. I was sad but hey I did good for what I could have paid for it. All I want now are some more Intermountain Auto Racks, a few Trinity Reefers and some oil tankers which I have none of.
As far as motive power, I’m pretty set on the NS Heritage ES44AC, UP Heritage SD70ACE, NS GP38, and ther rest being Chicago commuter or Amtrak trains.
I may buy locomotives or cars that I do not need if I like them and they are a great buy, but I would never buy anything that is outside of my eras that I model…which is anything that would have run in interchange service post 1990.