You know, I was planning on throwing in my 2 cents worth on that “What has happened to the hobby” thread that ran 4 pages, but what is one more reply among dozens on that thread?
So, let’s look at it from the other side:
To those who complain about costs of the hobby:
While RTR has become a significant factor in purchases, the quality level has increased exponentially over the old days. The economics are relative to the times we live in and the requirements of production/consumption in the marketplace- those things are beyond our control. Most of us probably had a father who groused about the price of meat or a dress shirt when we were kids because he remembered prices in the 1930s and 40s. I remember my first Athearn BB of a SP flat car at $1.98 in 1965. I treasure the memory, but I also live in the present, and must deal with it.
Necessity and (economically) adverse conditions- our own personal costs of living versus our desire to enjoy the hobby are not insurmountable barriers.
Buy something new when you can, but navigate the internet for sales, auctions, etc. for bargains.
Get off your duff and spend 4 hours at that local train flea market that is put on every so often, and come prepared to buy, because you WILL find discounts of something that you want (that catches your eye) or need (essential to building your layout). If that is not possible, fall back on the internet.
Don’t assume that improving that old BB kit or building that wood structure kit (that states " for intermediate skill level modelers" on the box) is beyond you- there is a universe of help and advice just a few keystrokes away online. I can’t think of a greater bunch of folks than those on this website from whom I have sought advice and received it for free- I always say thank you, the courtesy coin of the realm on this forum!
Many of us have become adept at looking elsewhere for our modeling needs- or looking at something meant for another use and adapti
Very well put and I totally agree. A few years ago I saw a branchline water tower kit that would be a perfect fit for my then existing layout. So I just scratch built it using the top of an old aerosol can as support for the wooden planks making up the tank. This provided many hours of enjoyment and the total expense was probably 1/10 what the kit would have cost.
BTW: for me if a container is either half full or half empty it means the container is twice the size it needs to be. [:-^]
Seriously, I couldn’t agree more. I am always amazed at the outraged sense of entitlement in some people. Simply, if you can’t afford something, that’s just the way it is. The grownups know not to buy stuff on plastic unless it is absolutely necessary, and they also know if it isn’t absolutely necessary, one needn’t have it. We confuse wants with needs all the time.
A hobby is a diversion, some ‘me’ time. It isn’t “It’s all about me!” time.
Some of the wisest words on this forum, I agree wholeheartily on your comments, if it were not for train shows and their tables of used goodies I would not be in the hobby, I just don’t worry about the guy at the next booth buying another “Big Boy” to add to his collection of five others, just carry on and have agood time— remember to pick up a couple of extra wooden coffee stirrers at your local coffe shop-- makes perfect scale lumber.
You guys should try G scale these days. Makes the price rises in the smaller scales look mild in comparison. At least your track prices didn’t double in price in the last 5 years. The gnashing of teeth about costs going about costs makes thescussion here look a Sunday Tea Party. I agree that it’s all relative,some things are going to be more expensive than others.Kitbashing and scratchbuilding are good options but I’m surprised how few peps will step up to the plate and try it. While some have legit health or other reasonsthey can’t try. Most capable folks are far too content to just gripe about it and whine about prices and lack of availablity of things. I’m looking to try again in G with an indoor urban layout and I will have to scratch almost everything on it. Just comes with the territory if you want something special and not just another cookie cutter layout.
So I assume we’re supposed to simply pay whatever is asked? Before someone gets all wadded up, my hobby expenses are probably far less than most on here. I do scratchbuilding and I still know how to use balsa and paper to build structures that beat a lot of the RTR plastic. But let’s also try to look at this from the new comers point of view. A new comer isn’t going to know how to scratchbuild because no one has shown them. And when they go looking for kits, they will find a lot of RTR at $30 but few kits at $10. Local swap meets? Unless you live in a very model railroad area, those are few and far between in most of the country. Look on ebay? A new comer doesn’t even know what to look for.
I started this hobby in 1971 with a Tyco train set I earned selling Christmas Cards and a “how-to” book from the school library. My first scratchbuilt structure was E L Moore’s Carolina Foundry in the Jan 72 issue, built from balsa and paper. I read that article and said “I can do that.” But today? When they read an article on someone’s railroad, it won’t say how much fun they’re having in 4x8 with two locos on DC. Instead it will tell them they have to have at least a dozen or so locomotives and DCC. Of course, you have to build up to that dream layout, but again the new comer isn’t going to know that. So they’re starting out with too big a mountain to climb.
Instead of slapping the newcomers because they can’t jump right to the top, this hobby needs to be more welcoming. There need to be some basic locomotives and cars readily available, all the time that will run on 4x8. GP 9s, SWs, 2-8-0s. Not limited runs where if you don’t order two years before you know you need it, you won’t get it. The industry needs to do that just to grow those future customers. We also need more basic how-to articles (heck, folks raised cain on here a while ago because MR publ
Well, one should wonder how many newcomers there would be if there were no rtr stuff? Like in the sixties, when most structures, even simple ones were kits and the only rtr was train set fodder, tyco and model power, with ahm making some better rtr stuff.
I think the immigrant Chinese said it best about 100 years ago or more…“No tickee, no laundlee!”
You are most assuredly required to pay precisely the amount they demand if you intend to leave with the product owned by you. No different from any other retail exchange anywhere on the globe.
The whole point to this thread is that there are OTHER ways to enjoy the hobby without arguing about whether the companies that make the products are taking too much money out’n your’n pockets…
Find out how to scratchbuild something, have fun talking about railfanning trips you did…that type of stuff…
I’ve never understood why certain in-DUH-viduals feel the need to impose their standards of hobby enjoyment or ‘correctness’ on others. As if they way they do the hobby is THE BEST way. give me a break…
Find out how to scratchbuild something, have fun talking about railfanning trips you did…that type of stuff…
Er, uh, Barry, the following is not directed at you but is a general comment based on the words above.
Yeah, right. Then someone will go on a rant about how Evergreen is charging exorbitant prices for styrene, Northeastern outrageous prices for scale lumber (makes full size premium lumber look dirt cheap) and that Micro-Mark prices for tools amount to highway robbery. I don’t even dare mention prices for the metal products of K&S Engineering or Special Shapes.
Personally, I’m not totally convinced that scratchbuilding is really cheaper in the long run. It just has the potential of spreading the cost over a longer time period. It also has the advantage of getting you something not commercially offered, which is, to me, the most cogent argument for scratchbuilding.
You want to scratchbuild a USRA light 2-8-2 a la Gordy Odegard in the early 80’s? No problem. Greenway Products will sell you four sets of 63" drivers for $72 plus shipping. Bowser has them considerably cheaper, but that assumes that they are still available. In any case, by the time you add shipping, you’re still somewhere around $50. Oh yeah, then there’s NWSL with their hands out for quarterers, arbor presses, wheel pullers and gear boxes if you plan to something other than the stock Bowser worms and gears. And then there are motors and Cal-Scale/PSC detail parts. 'Course you only have to pay NWSL once for the tools and they become progessively cheaper on a per unit basis if you’re doing a lot of work on locomotives, but you still need to pony up at some point.
You buy a RTR locomotive and all the money goes out at once. Scratchbuild it and the payments can be spread. However, were I a betting man, I’d wager that a scratchbuilt steam locomotive detailed to at least the current standards of RTR plastic would end up being as expensive, if not more so, than one
To me the glass is only half full if I am fillingit. It is only half empty if I am emptying it. It depends on what I am doing with the contents of the glass. I have never taken that statement to be a “philosopy on life” or a “way of looking at things”.
I have a small hobby budget and it is what it is.
I buy Bachamann DCC OnBoard locos to run on my Bachmann EZ COmmand DCC system because that is what i can afford. I don’t even drool over the $300 locos as I can’t imagine putting out more than the lot rent on the trailer I live in is.
I don’t drool over a big layout as I haven’t the room for it. I am basically happy with my 3.5 x 5.1 foot HO scale layout. I would like a 4x8 though I think. We are looking for a “MRRing space with a house covering it”, and when we find it it will still be awhile before I can afford to build a new 4x8 in the basement. Other expenses will creep in with buying the house.
Scratchbuilding? I did that when i was a teen with balsa wood, or 1/4 in luan for my O-O/27 pike. I was not as adept at it as I thought. I like kits. Reasonable prices for them and I get the enjoyment of painting and assembling them.
I couldn’t think of scratch building a loco, so RTR it is. But the reasonable ready to run…like my well serving Bachmanns. I have built a few kit cars, but something always seems to be a tad off that I just can’t fix totally. I am not mechanically or electronically inclined.
SO while I would like a lot, I can’t afford it like other things in life. I would like to afford a more bigger and expensive house, but our budget is on the lower end. We will find something someday we hope.We know that.
I buy stuff only when it is good price, on sale, and/or I have a coupon for it. I seriously think about every purchase I make before I buy it. SOmetimes you have to pay retail, but oh well. I used to be a handy man of sorts, but now I am disabled and limited on what I can do. Ces’t La Vie.