OK guys, I’m doing a little market research of my own today! I’ve decided to sell a Bowser Northern kit I bought back in 1992, and I couldn’t find any on eBay, so I’ve decided to ask here. What should I ask for it? It’s partially assembled and the kit is complete. It was a little out of my league when I bought it and I lost interest in it. Now it just doesn’t fit into what I want to do.
At first I thought I’d just list it on eBay, but now I’m kind of wondering if I’d be better off just to take it down to the LHS and put it on consignment? I’d like to get $50 out of it, but I’m not sure of it’s value. New ones on Bowsers website are $166.00, however not everyone wants to take up where someone else left off! [;)]
I say dump it on Ebay with a $40 reserve. I just looked at 4-8-4s on Ebay, and brass was going for $200, so you’ll do pretty good if you can get $100 out of it. Putting it on a shelf at a LHS will only make it dusty.
Bowser engines DON’T go up in price, only down. Check any/all Bowser auctions on Ebay for confirmation (most are in the $50 range). Remember, people who actually know what to do with or have the guts to build a Bowser (or any other steam kit) are getting pretty scarce. The new generation of RTR plastic stuff is much nicer than most pot metal steamers, and satisfy instant gratification. I now only build steam kits because I like to, not because they’re the only game in town.
I must have had a fluke when I sold my factory assembled Bowser 4-8-4 for $225 over Christmas…
I have no idea what a ‘partial’ (as in partially assembled) Bowser Northern would sell for, but I wouldn’t pay more than about $100 less what a state of the art can motor would cost to remotor the kit.
If you have a Bowser SP Atlantic up your sleeve let me know. THAT I would be interested in.