So my wife is clearing up the inevitable pile of paper in the kitchen that always seems to accumulate no matter how organized we are. She is about half way down the pile, when she finds a package of window tint film samples, sent to us last summer when we were trying to stop all our prints and pictures in the living room from fading in the sun. I would not let her throw them away. I had to keep the film samples. I might need it for window glazing on a model or something!
I can’t seem to throw anything away anymore without first doing a modeling suitability analysis. Am I sick? Will I always be like this? Is there any hope?[xx(]
Brother, I’ve got decals, clear plastic window sheets, model parts, train parts, people, building parts, etc, etc out in the junk drawer of my train room that I’ve been collecting for over twenty years. 99.9% of the time the stuff is in the way, but when I find something in it I really need or can use, it’s like gold!..
Now as for locos and rolling stock. They come and go with my interests in them.
[:I]If I see something that I can relate to my RR I stash it in a drawer or put it on the tabletop. I have so much junk of this kind I will most likely throw 99% of it away when I fini***he road. Since I have now started to tear down half of my layout, the other half is piled high with the framework I’m saving to start building again. Since it will be all DCC what will I do with all the wire? I’ll save it because you never know when I might need it.[8] My wife says I’m a packrat and I’m starting to realize[V]she’s right. You too will overcome this madness to save every little item no matter how trivial it relates to your RR. When you and I get to the point of knowing we can run trains and our scenery and buildings are as we want them(in our head or on the table) that 99% junk stuff needs to go away because we won’t miss it at all.[:D] Then we can really get down to model railroading. Oh, Yeah! You are not alone. Ain’t it great!!
Archie
Of COURSE I keep everything, doesn’t everyone? I have boxes of duplicate brake-wheels, stirrup steps, ladders, AB brake systems–I figure if the manufacturers gave me extra little parts in the kit it’s because they KNOW I’m going to get klutzy and break them, eventually.
I once threw away some stuff, I think it was 1972 or so. I needed it in 1973. Never again, heh-heh!
Tom [}:)][}:)][}:)]
I am in the middle of the track laying for my layout. Knowing the supplies I need or will need gives my the reason to pack it away. I have boxes, old newspaper, plaster Ive picked up from everywhere.
So to answer your question Yes your as normal as mmr’s get. If your wife is going nuts about it. Your doing it right.
Totally normal. I have several boxes of stuff that I’ve accumulated. Some of it I’ll never use but often when I’m building something I’ll dig around and come up with an item that’s just what I need. I’ve even saved plastic ink tubes out of pens. You never know when you might need some pipe and some of them make good gutters when cut in half length wise. Bruce