This is an interesting thread, but it is near impossible to identify the best item that you have invested in for under $50.
What would be more interesting is the list of tools that you rely upon for certain tasks like laying track, wiring signals, installing decoders, installing locomotive lighting, building structures, etc.
For me, just off the top of my head are Optivisor, foam cradle, rail snippers, set of hobby screwdrivers, soldering iron, heat shrink tubing, Kapton Tape, and on and on and on. In other words, what is your list, your tool box, of indispensable tools.
For the most part, it’s still the same with a few additions.
The tack hammer for the track.
The clamps for building benchwork.
The pliers for wiring.
The hot knife for scenery.
A blender used my making scenery components. (Ground foam and scenery base which is just ground up newsprint.) Not used for food at all.
My Dremel tools. Normally those would be over the $50 threshold but my cordless one was under $50 new IMS and the corded one was like $25 as I got it when a local business was bought out by a statewide chain and they were cleaning out the backroom so to speak. (Early 90s IMS.) Full case, accesories and everything.
Multiple sets of micro screwdrivers.
18V cordless drills and metal index of numbered drill bit #60 to #1.
Hobby knives.
Pencil cup full of paintbrushes as I don’t own an airbrush.
Foam cradle
Probably a bunch more i’ve forgotten but you get the idea.
The two things I have used for my entire 50 years in the hobby are an xacto knife set and flat sided toothpicks.
All the other things listed in this thread are great also, and I have added most of them over the years. In fact I have a Craftsman rolling tool cart with 5 drawers just for my hobby tools - not that they all fit [(-D]
But in a pinch, I could do the hobby with just the knife set and the toothpicks.
A great question and so many great answers. Every one is valid.
For me I have 2 indispensible items. One would be my full set of screwdrivers I picked up at a train show about 1974. Five sizes of Phillips, 5 straightslots and 3 each hex and Allen heads. I think it was about $8 back then.
My other vital item is my airbrush from Harbor Freight for $13. It’s virtually a clone of the Badger 150 and so far has held up just as well for many dollars less.
Thanks for all the replies everyone! Some very interesting products I most definently need to check out.
My personal choice is the Kadee height gauge, for the longest time I didnt see the point in buying one, but now that all my cars have adjusted coupler heights, the elimination of accidental decoupling incidents now just makes the hobby that much more enjoyable!
Not for everybody but was the best choice under $50 purchase for me… Aristo-Craft Train Engineer, provided walk-around control of trains with a DC system. As a solo operator with a small layout, it was the perfect choice for walk-around operation. IMO, given the high cost of startup in model railroading, the AC Train Engineer (plus price of power pack) is an excellent choice for modelers on a budget versus a 5 to 10x higher investment in a dcc system. Trains can be operated sooner on a small budget, important if kids are part of the equation, and not so expensive that it can’t be set aside for newer technology as funds allow. Sadly, they are only available on ebay these days…
This was the first thought that crossed my mind as well, the item I use every single day I am doing any modeling work is my Xacto with a fresh #11 blade. Less than $10 but I would not ever be without it, consider the other $40 spent on packs of fresh blades.
WIth me, I have a very good job that helps. The company I work for has a good profit sharing and had also paid a fair amount in lump sums to its employees.
I also try to limit what I buy to a card that I had a small part of my paycheck deposited to. (Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t. As to the doesn’t, a $60+ freight car I decided I needed and I also bought a boxcar via FB that I probably didn’t need but could use. I have 200+ pieces of rolling stock and I have more rolling stock than I do track to put it on. As for the does, just had funds put on it yesterday and they are already gone for a package of styrene to finish a bridge and some Scultamold to landscape a new hill.)
I used to tease my father about being old and needing an Optivisor. Now, I’m 55, he’s passed on but I still have his Optivisor and use it constantly. He’s laughing at me, I know he is.