How much do you spend or would you spend on cars for your layout?
I usually spend $5-$6 dollars apiece. But, I was at a racing store and saw some 1/43 diecasts that are Really nice and highly detailed. The price on these cars were $14.99 up to…$34.99![wow]
Like you I look for the cheepies. Yatming, from Diecast Direct, are reasonibly priced and look pretty good. I’ve bought some supposidly 1/43’s at Wal-Mart but when compared to others they are probably 1/50, or less. I try to group vehicles in areas so that the size differences are not as noticible. I have a few 1/48 semi’s that are on the highway where they aren’t near the 1/50 trucks that are usually available.
$5-$6 for me too. But at YORK got a few Ford roadster 2 for $15. I will pay up to 15 bucks for something nice but the most part I go for the cheapies.
laz57
Five to ten bucks tops for cars and pickups unless its something really special but twenty is as high as I’ll go and for that it’d better be Thunderbird 2!
Typically, about $4. I use 1:64 diecasts since my trains are all O27 anyway, so for $4 I can get pretty nice stuff.
I’ve paid over $20 for some of the American Highway Legand trucks, and $15 for cars I really like. I’ve had a hard time finding cars from the 40’s & early 50’s that don’t have fat tires and mag wheels. There are some cars that had special graphics and I was able to remove them with nail polish remover and not damage the paint on the car.
Jim
I will pay big bucks when I can find a Grits Hauler for my layout. Using this trailer, I can deliver grits on time to Roseyville, where they gorge themselves on fresh grits.
I’ve spent up to $15 each for some autos to be used “up front” near the viewer. But, for the parking lot scenes and crowded roadways, the cheapies are fine.
Jim
The most was for a NYC truck…$80 with shipping. I have also paid 20-40 for some other trucks, but mostly, I go for the $4-7 cars. Asheville Die Cast and Diecast Direct, also National Motormint have provided most of my vehicles. I also have picked up some at WalMart. I have some military vehicles that I plan on dedicating a section of the layout to. Some sites have some VERY EXPENSIVE cars like the Brooklyn, etc. They want better than $100 per car. I avoid these.
Dennis
In the past I haven’t spent much for cars on the layout from $2-15, but recently paid $50+ for a Model A I had to have and just ordered a 3 Athearn Ford C trucks which totalled $86 including frt.
If it is really something I want then I don’t mind paying more.
I’d pay upto $20-25 on accurate & detailed fire equipment, but mainline undecorated cars and trucks it’s off to Wal Mart!!! $5-10 is just about right for that!
Another good place to check out is “Tuesday Morning”. I have picked up 1/50th scale buses and firetrucks for far below retail. I also found a few Lionel trucks that way too. Some in the $3 range and I believe the bus went for $9.
Dennis
I am like most of the guys here, I won’t spend more than $10.00 for a car unless it is something I just gotta have. I have some Wal Mart specials also.
However I have seen some model cars in catalogs for almost $100.00, and I ask myself how can someone justify paying $100.00 for a diecast model that just sits there, not sure if the high price model has lights or anything.
Lee F.
I have almost as much invested in my die cast car collection as my trains. I think the most I have spent on a car was $65.00, Franklin Mint. I have just a few of them.
And I have many at the $15 to $25 dollar range
And to think, this is just a few of them. And yes, most are O gauge (1/43 to 1/50)
Spankybird,
Where do you get the Mopar Muscle cars from? I like the 1970’s Superbird by Plymouth with the extended nose cone on the front and the tall spoiler on the back, I have a street version Plymouth Superbird in 1/32 scale, it’s an electric race car.
Lee f.
Spankybird- NICE collection!
I’m with most guys here…I would spend $20 bucks if the car was somethin’ I really wanted. I did find this car on ebay I might just have to get!![8D]
Spanky, you have in bigger scale what I have in HO (Hot Wheels)…their all over the place!!
this is an album of some my larger scale collection, many are Franklin Mint
too bad they are too big for the layout (but I tried[:)])
I have very high standards for the 1940’s-50’s diecast cars that go on my small layout, as well as club modules, even though I run semi-scale trains. When I look at train magazine layout photos, the cars and people figures are the first things I look at. I have a few nice ones at $4.95, but the average car on my layout is in the $20.-$30. range. I have one that cost me $98. I’ve gotten a number on eBay for 1/3 to 1/2 their origional cost.
I grew up in the 50’s, and these cars are sort of a second hobby for me. As pointed-out in the new Sept. CTT, the cars can be of great interest to “non-train” people viewing your layout. Joe
I’m addicted to detailed looking trucks as well. I stay mostly with the 1:48, 1:50 and 1:64. Mfgrs are Teckno, DCP, Joal, Winross and Corgi [of course] for trucks. Cars, the Ertl mostly for the RK auto carriers.
I also buy quite a large number of truck loads that come made for these trucks, a lot of them are separately offered at dealers and ebay. some come from a company called DUHA, as i look at them they appear to be similar to the Weaver flat car loads, but really cheap an a larger variety for the cars, avail thru diecast direct. They really supe-up the flatcars and areas around operating accessories.
I have a very large collection of trucks…as for price…They all call them limited edition, so you know you will pay…some of the corgi are only available in the UK, sell for 100+gbp and ship at ^45gbp. Teckno is a Netherlands company. If you have never seen a Teckno Tanker, the detail is excellent and for those who like kits, they come that way also…
That is the 'shadow of the intermodal crane in the picture. These pictures don’t do the trucks justice, and this is before i really got collecting. but i think this is the first set of pictures i have posted!.
ralph