In case anyone is interested or already knows that Wal-Mart is handling a lot of vehicles(cars, semi’s,heavy equipment, tractors, military tanks, military vehicles, etc) for N, H.O. & a few other scales of model railroaders & collectors. They handle many vehicles in H.O. scale for $1.67 ea., J.D. tractors in N & H.O. for $2.95 ea., Cat tractors & heavy equip. for N & H.O. from $1.95 to $5.97, Tanks for N & H.O. & other scales from $1.90 to $2.97 ea., semi tractor trailers in H.O. for $3.97 to $4.97. planes & some small boats.
I have a semi collection of over 100 vehicles, H.O. scale cars of over 100 & a lot of other equipment that I have bought for my layout in the past 5 years from Walmart, Target, Big Lots. Dollar Tree, & Dollar General. Have also bought vehicles from train shows.
I know it puts a hurt’in on the Hobby Shops, but, I don’t buy from Hobby Shops unless I’m building a custom layout for someone else & they request That I buy from them.
Gee, then where do you buy your track, locomotives, rolling stock, etc.? Haven’t noticed a lot of that at Wal-Mart.
The HO Malibu International cars are fine, though the selection is limited, and the various pieces of John Deere and Cat equipment are certainly adequate. However, I think you’ll find a lot of the other stuff is neither HO nor N scale. There are a few Matchbox trucks that are very close to HO scale, though if you compare them to a real model, they look distorted because the proportions aren’t right.
The unpleasant truth about the majority of the cheapie diecasts is that they aren’t any scale at all, even in relation to each other. A three-inch diecast car would be the equivalent of 261 scale inches long in 1:87 scale. Of all the light vehicles sold in the world, only the Ford F-350 Crew Cab pickup with the 8-foot bed is lon
Yessir, get those items at Wal-Mart while you can. I’m no economist with a crystal ball, but ever since Norscot started selling el-cheapo versions of their construction equipment at Wal-Mart for 6.00, sales of the higher quality models in my shop have gone down to zero. None. So I’m not saying this is GOING to happen, but if I read someday where Norscot got out of the 1:87 market because LHSs quit buying, I won’t be the least surprised. It takes a lot of sales to make a profit on new models, maybe Norscot can make it on the Wal-Mart models alone…I’m also not their accountant. Will be interesting to see what happens.
And for what it’s worth…and if I’m stepping over the line here (of self-promotion) let me know - but I think the point is worth making if we want to help LHSs out a little…if the price of the John Deere 1:87 scale tractors at Wal-Mart is indeed 2.95, that’s (a little) HIGHER than the price at many hobby shops. (Don’t tell Wal-Mart that though!)