That rational has been used to reason with hobbyists that complain about the present day costs of high detail models to show they aren’t really that expensive relative to the costs 30 or 40 years ago.
I have found at train shows prices are all over the place. One guy is selling a kit for $5 and 2 rows over another has it for $25. Actually, I don’t think the prices have kept up with inflation. The size of the show also seems to make a difference, small out of the way shows frequently have much better prices.
There does seem to be less NIB old stuff, especially locomotive kits.
I think as the more cheaply priced items are sold the remaining overpriced items become a bigger share of the market, so it looks like prices have gone up a lot. But really it’s more a case of the $5 kit was sold and the same kit for $25 is still there after years of shows.
Paul
I think one of the keys to this topic is the existence of the HO Collector Magazine. When it was first published in 2017, I was worried about who would be interested in AHM and Rivarossi. Today is the fifth year. It means that there are definitely modelers who need this magazine. And the product introduced in an issue of the magazine will become popular.
I have a couple of the hopper cars from MDC with added details. Other point is tracking prices. I have tracked prices for wood craftsman kits for many years. Recall when built up kits by FSM would go for $1000 if done by a pro and the cheapest kits by them was over $100 (except for real early kits that were not as good as later). For years I searched for their pile driver kit and never wanted to pay the freight of up to $200 or more, finally scored mine for around $100 on e-bay. Now I can buy all I want for around the price I paid. Tracked Campbell kits too, their prices are way down and brass also. Brass has been the biggest loser but their are a few that have maintained value in steam. Diesels have lost the most value along with many narrow gauge (I am talking just HO in all of this stuff). The world has changed in brass in that if someone makes it in plastic of great quality, then the brass version goes way down in price. You could see this comming with the hybreds that came out like the Powerhouse models many years ago. With the wood building kits, cheap lazers and CNC machines ect. have changed the game.
Campbell is still in business and you buy any of it right now online:
https://www.campbellscalemodels.com/default.asp
I would be reluctant ot buy some old stock kit that might be missing stuff when I can just buy a new one from the maker. Their prices are reasonable and in line with inflation adjusted values from years ago when I sold them in the hobby shop.
Sheldon
I need to build that Skull Valley Station that I’ve been hoarding for 30 years.
Their Saez Sash and Door was named after Andy Saez, the photographer at Southern Pacific. I met him, when he was a docent at the Durango and Silverton. He must be in his 80’s now but he had a huge picture collection, which he used to sell at local train shows.
I don’t know about that, my average cost was about $15 vs $55 w
[quote user=“rrebell”]
ATLANTIC CENTRAL
rrebell
I have a couple of the hopper cars from MDC with added details. Other point is tracking prices. I have tracked prices for wood craftsman kits for many years. Recall when built up kits by FSM would go for $1000 if done by a pro and the cheapest kits by them was over $100 (except for real early kits that were not as good as later). For years I searched for their pile driver kit and never wanted to pay the freight of up to $200 or more, finally scored mine for around $100 on e-bay. Now I can buy all I want for around the price I paid. Tracked Campbell kits too, their prices are way down and brass also. Brass has been the biggest loser but their are a few that have maintained value in steam. Diesels have lost the most value along with many narrow gauge (I am talking just HO in all of this stuff). The world has changed in brass in that if someone makes it in plastic of great quality, then the brass version goes way down in price. You could see this comming with the hybreds that came out like the Powerhouse models many years ago. With the wood building kits, cheap lazers and CNC machines ect. have changed the game.
Campbell is still in business and you buy any of it right now online:
https://www.campbellscalemodels.com/default.asp
I would be reluctant ot buy some old stock kit that might be missing stuff when I can just buy a new one from the maker. Their prices are reasonable and in line with inflation adjusted values from years ago when I sold them in the
I remembered that in the old days, the situation in the second-hand market was completely different between brass and plastic. For brass, the model shop published an inventory list in a magazine and sent it to customers by mail or fax. The use of the Internet began in the late 1990s.
On the other hand, in order to get plastic products, it was necessary to visit model shops or go to train shows and swap meets. I visited the United States three times for that.
The online auctions, which started around 2000, have become convenient sources of procurement because of the wide variety of items and the fact that we can see the actual items in the photos. At the beginning there were many bulk-listings, and I was able to save on shipping costs to overseas. Around 2010, proxy bidders who send individual successful bids in bulk appeared and began to request them. I feel that today the number of listings is increasing for each indibisual model.
That’s why I may have contributed to the soaring price. 
The two Flexi-Flo covered hoppers have been repainted from the AHM. It’s cheap! it’s fun! it’s proud! and it’s great! See my blog post.
Kotaro Kuriu, Kyoto, Japan
Love those Flexi-Flo’s. I have a few I’m working on. Plano makes a detail kit for them:
http://www.planomodelproducts.com/photos/10930.jpg
http://www.planomodelproducts.com/chopper_scq.html#Flex
Inspired by Sean Steele’s work with a Flexi-Flo:
http://www.planomodelproducts.com/steele/s-steele.html
Mike.
Thank you for that link.
I love showing his model off. I followed the build when he did on the Diesel Detailer forum.
After that, Keith, owner of Plano, decided to do a kit.
Once again. I have gone [#offtopic], Sorry! [swg]
Mike.
I have been collecting and selling HO trains since the 1980s and if I had to sum up I would say it is a mixed bag out there. Some people have no idea what they have, others know exactly what they have. Then you have to take into account what they each expect to get out of an item. Vintage is much the same.
For instance, recently I have been purchasing MDC ore cars (the smooth or ribbed small straight side ones, not the sloping sides) for my layout concept. I am only willing to pay under $10 for them, so at times progress is slow. But I can usually find a few for around $7 give or take. The newer Walthers runs are pricey.
Certain model stuff is almost always pricey. Brass Shays, Camelback engines and rarer railroads come to mind, $400 at a bare minimum, normally $500-1000 is closer to 2021 reality. As a result, even the MDC shay kits are going for much more that they are truly worth, but it’s because the alternatives are no cheaper (Bachmann @$375+). That is not to say one can’t find any bargains- it is possible to get lucky on a buried item or one tucked away in a less traffic internet area. But you have to be ready to pounce on it.
For instance, I am kind of kicking myself for not buying a Sunset N&W M-2 Class brass loco Howie’s had on his website. It was kind of buried in multiple pages so the normal N&W crowd missed it amongst all the Pennsy loot. He had it at a reduced price of $395. Quite the bargain if you follow those 12-wheelers ($550 is usual). I put it off over and over, then came across a new eBay listing yesterday that looked suspiciously like the one at Howie’s site. Yep, that was it. As I write this it currently has 42 bids and stands at $677. But, that’s eBay and collecting for you.
Modeling goes in cycles too. Right now as someone mentioned, a lot of the older guys are passing on and their collections are flowing back into the market. Some via large clearing houses (with equally large budgets) like Brasstrains or Trainz, others on eBay
As prices have gone thru the roof for the brand new stuff, dealers have ramped up the price of good quality second hand stuff. Nice boxed vintage stuff appeals to both collectors and operators that are exploring some kit building, especially during the current health crisis. There are deals out there, but the absolutely dirt cheap stuff has mostly dried up right now. I myself have prefered the older stuff thru the years, from brass when I was running 2 rail DC powered/DCC HO to now 3 rail AC Marklin in HO. I also have older stuff for my gauge 1 outdoor railway. With so many online venues to shop, doing one’s research is the only way to make sure you get the best deal. Till train shows return around the country/world, online or your LHS(if you have one) is our only choice. Prices will remain high as most all hobby supplies are in high demand as we are mostly stuck at home and need to pass the time somehow! Be safe out there everybody. Mike
Have prices gone through the roof for new stuff?
I see the effect of inflation on values of NIB or NOS old stock, I.e. good old stuff is holding price in nominal terms in many cases.
I do not see increases in price for new stuff that are over and above inflation rates, generally speaking.
Factor in the superb quality both in performance and sound effects and new stuff seems cheaper than ever.
Anybody actually done the math?
Yes, Paul3 and I have done the math repeatedly for years on here and you are correct. Adjusted for inflation and giving any consideration to the value added features, model trains cost less now than they ever have.
That still does not make me in any hurry to buy any $600 steam locos from Broadway or MTH…
But I don’t complain about prices, I buy stuff or I don’t.
Sheldon
Sheldon would roughly have an idea of where this was located, Central and Orleans, but not from a 1900-1920 perspective. Equadistant from the old MB Klein, Hopkins Hospital and Little Italy.
I post it because it is such an ugly building, it would be a great model.
According to the inflation adjusted tools, a $2 gallon of rye should cost $58. You can buy a 5th of Baltimore (Under Armor owner’s distillery) Sagamore Farms for $48. Change the title of the thread to This Drinking Rye Hobby Is Too Expensive
Good Rye is too expensive!
We need to avoid discussing new train prices, or this thread will become part of the “This hobby is too expensive” thread. The OP was asking about vintage trains.
Yes, vintage prices are seemingly going up, but they are all over the place.
-Kevin
Most inflation is an illusion. I track prices for what I buy for many things, sure if you look at what they say is inflation but that is just as bogus as emplyment fiqures (did you know that if you earn $20 a week you are considered employed). Inflation has things like housing but that varies by a persons situation, new car, never done that. Over 30 years ago the cost of a loaf of bread was $1, still can do that, price of peanut butter was $2, still can do, name brand too but hamber has gone through the roof but steaks have not. Hamberger is 5x what it was 30 years ago.
It seems to me that new cars have become more affordable.
My first new car was a 1988 Dodge Aries. It was nicely equipped, and cost over $15,000.00 to buy. My most recent new car was a full size Chevrolet Impala. It is ten times the car that Dodge Aries was, and it cost $34,000.00 in 2015. That is almost the same price when adjusted over the 27 years, and I was able to get a much better car, at a much lower interest rate.
Sorry about that… lets get back on topic…
-Kevin