As we all know the prices of everything is rising but in pertaining to this forum model railroading items increase all the time. Flex track goes up weekly (not litterally) Anyway what items do you feel you should or that you do stock up on for the future layout plans and you know the price will only rise higher so at the time you need it the price will jump from $5 to $7. For me I stock up on
Flex track at the price of $2 at a hobby shop with tons of it at that price. It was expensive 2 or 3 years ago at that price but now it is considered cheap. He has 300-350 left so i slowly purchase them.
roadbed to go with the flex track
Turnouts of all sizes
People figures are important because WS figures are so high now and getting higher and higher. So I buy them used and save them. I find myself always buying them even though I no longer need any on my layout but in the future I am sure I will.
If the prices of MRR stuff goes up my boss just gives me a raise.
No, I just stock up on almost everything. Turnouts, cars, engines, buildings, ect. I buy all of this stuff from Ebay. I just scan Ebay at night, if I come across something I might like I just buy it, sometimes if I need it or not.
I store water, some propane cylinders, and lots of dried food, plus ensure we have some lantern mantles on hand. We have a wood stove, so I always have some seasoned and protected wood to burn in the event that seems prudent.
Like Loathar, I would not place my hobby expenditures high on a list of needs as a hedge against inflation. A car that is more frugal with gas would be a smarter bet in our household, and we did just that 17 months ago. In fact, if I could store it safely and in sufficient quantity, and if gas would retain its intended properties indefinitely, I would seriously consider stockpiling that or maybe home heating fuel…we use oil-fired furnaces in Canada.
And, to get around to actually biting on the question, I have but one purchase left for this layout, and that is a CF caboose for the N&W. I have no other needs for the foreseeable future, and will not spend another red cent on my hobby after I get the caboose, except, and strictly for, replacement.
Seriously though, if I have the funds available, I’ll buy a kit that I want even though I’m not ready for it yet. With the limited runs that go on, I’ll purchase what I can when I can to make sure I have it.
If it ever got to the point where u had to use the stuff like propane, canned food ect. would u really still want to be around to actually do that? Sounds horrible to me.
I used to stock up on scale lumber and paint until I discovered that regular dimensional stripwood and artists oils/acrylics, that are readily available at arts and crafts stores at 50% of what LHSs charge, work just as good.
Why, is that funny. I always purchase twice what I need and stockpile the extra.
As for model railroad supplies, I always stock up on what is on a killer sale. For example I found Proto-2000 hopper kits for $2.99 each. I purchased three cases (all the money I had on hand at the moment or I would have purchased more). Proto-2000 RTR 8000 gallon tank cars for $5 - I bought them all, etc.
The only things you wouldn’t want to buy and stock pile are consumable things that rot with time like glues, paints, puttys, tape, etc. OR electronic components that will become obsolete and cheaper with time.
Some of us would actually enjoy the experience…it would remind us of other times in our lives, such as many occasions in military service, when we had to live with much less. Propane and canned goods would quickly become distant memories if “…it ever got to the point…” Even then, I would still survive for quite a while before the starving ghoulies from the cities got me.[:D]
Then, when they had eaten what little I had left, they’d go on starving.
Seriously, life would take on a focused meaning if things got that bad. Chopping wood, hunting, foraging, perhaps saving seeds from year to year, and so on. But since this is highly unlikely to happen, or for long, putting by some preserves and some fuel is not what I would consider to be a bad idea. I am not an expert, but those who profess to be experts say it is a sensible thing to do. I haven’t found a reason to disagree.
It is not only the price increase, but sometimes need kits go out of production. Some of the new stuff is pre-order only.
A few years back I stocked up on Rail Power SD60 shells, a lot of detail parts and some Athearn SD-40Ts to modify into KCS SD50s as there were none made at the time. I never got started on the project and Athearn and Proto2000 now have nice out of the box SD50s painted and letttered for the KCS.
im a little like jg733 as i have probably 25 or 30 various kits,cars and etc that i really dont need now but will eventually find a place for them after i get them built/finished.their was a time not long ago when funds just werent available for this kind of buying so i feel very lucky that im able to buy these goodies now.terry…
I don’t like to stock up on model railroad supplies for future use and/or inflation hedge because too much of it sees improvements every year or two and becomes dated. If I stock up on anything, it’s tools. You can never have too many tools.
Do you even know what propane is? Millions use propane every day to cook with, generate electricity, and heat their homes with. Even more millions eat canned food every day. Canned food is probably served in 95% of the restaurants in New York City.
I don’t buy ahead to save money. I do buy certain items that fit my long range plan and may not be available in the future. I also buy things that are on sale for a really good price if they fit my long range plan.
Some decades ago, when I realized that I would be leaving Japan and would lose my sources of Japanese-prototype model railroad supplies, I stocked up on locomotive and passenger equipment kits, freight trucks, pantographs, underbody detail sets, etc, etc…
Now that I finally have enough space to build my dream layout, I’m starting to use all those things. In the meantime, the relative prices - in Japan - have easily gone up 1000%!