Is it time to hold back?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
21

I, too, am having a little trouble with this concept. I had a list of the locomotives I wanted for my layout. Exactly 14 of them, no more, no less. I selectively acquired them at the best prices I could find, and I’m done now. If I had one that I wanted, I waited until I could find it on sale (although I admit that when IHC went under, I acquired two of their Command XXV line steam locos at fire-sale prices – as in $60 for a loco with an MSRP of $180 – but in the incorrect road name). Now, granted, you don’t have to have the same philosophy as I do, but I personally can’t see buying locos just to buy them.

And as far as restraint, I agree with Mr. Beasley (as usual). I have such a backlog of kits requiring building and painting, as well as miniature figures to paint, that I really shouldn’t purchase anything else until I get a little caught up.

22

To be in any hobby is an individual choice.

To spend what may be “necessary” in that hobby is an individual choice.

How much one can afford is an individual choice.

There ARE more expensive hobbies than MRRIng

How many locos one “needs” is another individual choice.

I have 14 locos, both steam and diesel and never paid more than $120 for OnBoard DCC BRAND NEW. Most cost around the $50 mark BRAND NEW, DCC EQUIPPED.

I did make a mistake the year before and last year. I preodered some pasenger cars {4 to be exact at $50 each plus shipping and taxes} the year before, but didn’t have to pay upfront {I wouldn’t have anyway} and I had the money for them when I ordered them. But when they actually came in, I was also facing a major vehicle repair, a new roof badly needed more than I thought and a new heating system before winter really set in. Although I could charge them in installment payments {which I did}, I should have declined them period, as I really could not afford to pay them off. I will never do that again.

So I have now cut out 100% of hobby money this year. ANd I think I only spent minmal dollars last year. I have other payments ad bills to pay. I have also dismantled most of my layout as I had intended to increase its size, but with $0.00 in the hobby budget, I think NOT.

I don’t kvetch over it, I am now an “interested armchair modeler”. ANd happy with what I have.

Perhaps you could do the same?

[8-|]

23

I think it’s an age thing.[(-D] I am looking out the window at my 12 year old truck and 9 year old Honda Civic. While I can afford to replace them, I just don’t care about running around in beaters any more. Plus they both run fine. I am very content with where I am and what I have.

I think " the grass is always greener" syndrome is a young persons dilemma. I’ve reached a time in my life where I realize what really matters and find that comforting. I think I’ll go get on the Deere and cut the grass, I enjoy my hour of solitude. I use to hate cutting the grass, and looking back I have no idea why?

Must be an age thing.[*-)]

Brent[C):-)]

24

I agree, Either “PAY TO PLAY” or “STAY AWAY” It’s that simple. And dont snivel about it.

Truck.

25

I have over 150 locos, But in my defence I like to collect all the different models. But I do pay attention to prices also. I am still collecting. looking to get an EM1 and a 2-6-6-2 next in HO scale. I have stuff that has never even been taken out of the box.

I have been told I am infected. And no not hoarding. I have been given stuff that as soon as I got it it went right into the trash if I could’nt get nothing usefull off of it.

But I do have an extencive collection of N scale also.

Maybe it is the mechanic in me. That is attracted to all the different styles and models.

Some people come over and ask why so many? and I have to point out that they are all different.

They could’nt tell a GP from an SD untill you point it out.

Truck.

26

“Snivelingly” to two posts ; Sounds like 'I got mine-- you get lost" mentality, thankfully a few responders that did not snivel, replied with very substantial comments on their ability to remain in the hobby and truly enjoy it, how many locomotives do you have again?

27

I think you both are way off the track here.

Actually one doesn’t need to sink a small fortune in this hobby to enjoy it.

I can build a ISL buy,1 or 2 Trainman or Athearn RTR engines,30-40 Trainman and Athearn RTR cars,scratchbuild the structures from card stock(like cereal boxes or mattboard),buy track,switches and a MRC Tech II for around $ 1,500.00 by buying at one line discounts.

Once can cut more corners by buying the newer Bachmann or Walthers Trainline locomotives.

Notice I didn’t add the things you don’t need-DCC,sound,high end locomotives and cars.Those are nothing more then expensive “eye candy”.

However.

If one must have the higher end cars and a high end sound equipped locomotive or two then that ISL will cost around $1,000.00 more at discount…A MRC Tech 6 will control the sound,lights and horn plus set a few CVs in the proces

28

Larry, if it wasn’t for the higher end boxcars and locomotives, DCC and sound I for one wouldn’t be in the hobby. There are people out there that want this stuff and shy away from the lesser models like Bachmann etc.

29

Brakie, I agree that ANY hobby is as expensive as the individual wants to make it. DCC & Sound are great features, but they don’t interest me…YET!

I’m always looking through Kijiji & eBay for stuff, new & used. A hobby doesn’t need to be expensive.

The most I’ve ever spent on a locomotive is $170, but the average sits around $50. Same with rolling stock. I’m always on the look-out for deals, especially second-hand ones.

80 + locomotives, 300 + cars - still looking & waiting to see what comes my way.

Gordon

30

I guess you miss this part? [:O]

However.

If one must have the higher end cars and a high end sound equipped locomotive or two then that ISL will cost around $1,000.00 more at discount…A MRC Tech 6 will control the sound,lights and horn plus set a few CVs in the process.

Again one doesn’t need those things to enjoy the hobby…

31

First of all, as has already been pointed out, the average cost of a single locomotive nowadays is not $265, it is some amount far less.

Second of all, if you are sitting there wondering if it is time to slow down and hold back on engine purchases then, rest assured, it is time to slow down.

The problem with many of us in the hobby is that we enter the purchase and accumulation phase of the hobby and don’t think it through. Then, we look back and reflect and conclude that we own too many locomotives.

I was guilty of this, having purchased over 50 locomotives, some steamers, some diesels, some sound, some not. I have a fairly large layout with a double main line. But, as a sole operator, I cannot reasonably run more than 4 trains at a time. So, what’s the point of owning 50 locos? I finally started selling locos on eBay.

If I could start over, I would define in advance my goal. In my case, I have settled in my mind on a Dream Layout that would feature passenger operations dominated by six railroads in the 1950’s - - Daerborn Station in Chicago. To accomplish this, I only need about 12 of the locomotives that I still own, so I will sell off the rest.

If your objective is a specific prototype or railroad, just stick with that. If your objective is freelance, is your main interest steam or diesel? What time frame? Just stick with that.

I cannot put a number on it, but I ask myself, how many locos do I need? What is the maximum that I should own? I can tell you this. I have no business owning 50 or 100 or 200 locos even if I could afford it.

OK, I arrived at a number. No one should own more than 12 locomotives. LOL

Rich

32

Hi!

As my second cup of coffee has kicked in, and I’m a little bored, I thought I would beat the dead horse too.

How many locos (or cars or books or tools or guns) a person has is strictly a personal choice. And, the decision to buy more, not buy more, or sell any or all of one’s locos is also a personal choice. What I or the OP does or doesn’t do in the regard affects no one. It just doesn’t matter.

The calculation of average cost is very subjective and the parameters must be qualified. In example, the average price of each BLI or MTH loco is going to be significantly higher than the average price of every P2K loco. But really, who cares? The only price that concerns me is the price of the next one I will buy - or sell.

To buy, or not to buy - “who cares”?

33

A lot of this sounds like my post at the beginning of this thread - make a plan and stick to it - set goals and work toward them - even if it is slo

34

[quote user=“BRAKIE”]

TA462:

BRAKIE:

Actually one doesn’t need to sink a small fortune in this hobby to enjoy it.

I can build a ISL buy,1 or 2 Trainman or Athearn RTR engines,30-40 Trainman and Athearn RTR cars,scratchbuild the structures from card stock(like cereal boxes or mattboard),buy track,switches and a MRC Tech II for around $ 1,500.00 by buying at one line discounts.

Once can cut more corners by buying the newer Bachmann or Walthers Trainline locomotives.

Notice I didn’t add the things you don’t need-DCC,sound,high end locomotives and cars.Those are nothing more then expensive “eye candy”.

However.

If one must have the higher end cars and a high end sound equipped locomotive or two then that ISL will cost around $1,000.00 more at discount…A MRC Tech 6 will control the sound,lights and horn plus set a few CVs in the process.

The hobby is as expensive as you want to make it.

The choice is yours and yours alone

Larry, if it wasn’t for the higher end boxcars and locomotives, DCC and sound I for one wouldn’t be in the hobby. There are people out there that want this stuff and shy away from the lesser models like Bachmann etc.

I guess you miss this part?

However.

If one must have the higher end cars and a high end sound equipped locomotive or two then that ISL will cost around $1,000.00 more at di

35

TA462,

I agree, if you can’t have, buy, do, accomplish what you want, why bother at all.

That said, if the whole hobby was just buying high end RTR I would not be in it.

You won’t “settle” for lower detail levels, I won’t settle for just buying what anyone else can buy.

I won’t settle for some “other” layout theme, and I won’t settle for goals and objectives dictated by the hobby press or by what is “popular”.

You may settle or even be satisfied with what is “available” in the high end RTR market - I am not.

But a lot of people to settle for less - their choice.

Sheldon

36

I have to apologize for my rather blunt statement.

I joined this forum a little over three years ago and have, since then, seen many a thread like this one. Of course, there are ways to keep control of the cost of our hobby, scratchbuilding being one of them. But whatever you do, there is always a price tag attached to it. Fact is, at least at my end of the Big Pond, that the cost of model railroading has risen a lot more than the cost of living or incomes. Just an example: In 1968, I was given a Märklin class 44 Decapod for Christmas. At that time, the price tag was 68 Deutschmarks, equaling 35 Euros in our today´s currency. My father´s net income in those days was 1,700 Deutschmarks or 860 Euros. Today´s Marklin class 44 sells for 400 Euros, that´s 11.43 times as much. My father´s income (or mine) would have to be in the range of 8,800 Euros or a little over 52 Euros ( that´s roughly 70 $!) per hour! We are talking net income! This unrealistic figure is about 5 times the average income. In terms of hours, we talk 7 hours then vs. 40 hours now.

Time to hold back? I don´t expect things to get cheaper. Granted, those locos back then were rather crude when compared to the detail they have now. DCC & sound was not existent, but hardly anybody missed it. And they were much more robust! R-T-R actually meant ready-to-run and not ready-to repair!

As much as I would like to be able to turn back the times sometimes, I know they don´t come back and that´s quite OK. If I can afford to stay in the hobby, fine. If I can´t - well, it is sad.

I for myself have no option other than to leave the hobby.

37

But a lot of people to settle for less - their choice.

Sheldon

And there lays the whole truth of the matter.Some are quite happy with a Athearn GP7 a handful of cars on a 4x8’ plywood central.Other wants the grander things in the hobby that’s well and good too since we are all different and more or less march to our own drums in the way we model or operate…

I have no desire to go DCC and I’m not all that thrilled with some of the current white noise makers…I’m impress with Bachmann’s sound equipped S4…That thing even has the whistling noise so common with Alcos…Should I decide to buy one my Tech 6 will suffice for sound and light control.

It has always been my policy to show prospective modelers one doesn’t need to spend a small fortune in the hobby to enjoy it…I have even suggested starting simple by joining the club to see if the hobby is what he wants.

38

Ulirch,

He is the problem with your situation compared to the US.

In 1968 that loco represented 2.6% of your fathers income.

In 1968 the average income in the US was $8,632 with a net of about $6,500.

2.6% of that is $169 in 1968 dollars - most brass was not that expensive in 1968, let alone what most people bought - Mantua, Athearn, etc. Athearn diesels were about $20 then.

I can’t speak for your country, but as has been posted by me and others, here in the US, adjusted for inflation, most items in this hobby are not dramaticly more expensive then they ever have been.

On average, I barely spend $168 on a single powered unit TODAY, and my most expensive loco was only about twice that. My income is more than 10 times that 1968 number.

I WOULD NOT CHOOSE to be in this hobby if a single loco cost 2.6% of my net income - not then, not now. Oh yea, that’s why I don’t buy $2500 brass articulated locos with DCC and sound.

Something just under that number is my whole anual hobby budget - it is money I can aford to spend, just like eating out at a restaurant.

That Athearn diesel in 1968 was .3% of an average income, I suspect the average HO loco purchase in the US is still around .3% of the buyers income.

Sheldon

39

That Athearn diesel in 1968 was .3% of an average income, I suspect the average HO loco purchase in the US is still around .3% of the buyers income.

Sheldon

And if you was working in a union shop(and there was thousands of union manufacturing jobs back then) you could buy a brass steamer for around $40.00 and still have money to live and pay bills.

I not to sure those inflation figures takes in a lot of stuff that is far different back then it is today…

40

Sheldon,

how right you are! Unfortunately, I live in a country where manufacturers think they can rip us off. We have seen nearly all of them having to file bankruptcy at one time or another, but miraculously, they returned into the market.

Would you believe that the German made Mercedes GLK costs twice as much in Germany than in the US? Only part of it is taxes…