My current plan is, once I am finished building the portable layout for my current portable Hy-Vee Savings Express train set I am going to focus on an N scale permenant layout. This may change however to building 4’ x 8’ themed layouts that I set up and tear down for storage and walk around when running the trains. I would have a good selection to choose from at Bradford Exchange.
I’ll see how it goes with the layout I am building and decide after that.
The problem with theme trains is that BEx gets a tidy sum for them. I have one that my sons family got me. Only problem is it is set in 2004 and I model the transition era. When I get a layout big enough to run it, I will, though to some folks it will look out of place.
A layout can be built and the era adjusted by changing vehicles and trains. Buildings have a long life, so unless you use some really modern ones changing era isn’t much of a problem. Even buildings can be made removeable/changeable if you want. Doing that could focus your layout to the theme of your train.
If I go this route the layout will be theme specific.
For example if I were to create one for the Star Wars train I would include on the layout Star Wars action figures, Imperial Walkers, tie fighters, X-wing fighters, the Millennium Falcon, even the Death Start if I could find one small enough. With this kind of application I would not worry too much about the scale of the Star Wars toys I would include with the layout.
The thing I do not like about the Bradford sets is you cannot purchase the entire set at once. At least the sets I want. You purchase issue one, then have to wait for the next issues to come out.
LOL - I can see why Paul (who is very focused on prototype inspired layout design) was confused by the term “themed train set”.
We are not talking about “theme” as in “Appalachian coal railroading in the 1950s”, “narrow gauge logging roads in Maine”, “modern urban switching in Miami”, “Switching a Pittsburgh Steel Mill”, “Granger road branch line in Iowa the 1940s”, “ethanol unit trains” or stuff like that here
Correct, they are collectibles too. But I am the type of person who will not just simply put these train sets on a shelf, unless I am not running them. I would actually build an individual layout for each one, use better quality track and DC controller and run them as trains. Heck I’d even go as far as playing a sound track of Star Wars music when I would run that train, an Elvis song when I would run that one, music from Star Trek when running that set, etc.
I think what I’ll do is see how well it goes with the current layout I am building for the Hy-Savings Express train set. If it goes as well as I hope it will I’ll consider sticking with theme sets only and sue the space in my basement for the building, set up and storage of such
While they are nice to look at, they’re quite impractical, since they rarely fit the theme of one’s layout The one I have is a “running train”, although the cars are ALL underweight, and I’m not going to go to all the trouble of making them NMRA compliant.
Well, I’m glad this hobby has something for everyone.
I can see the ‘Themed Set’ for your employer, or something you have ties with, & that is great.
I never knew there were many ‘special sets’ until I saw one in Casey’s when I got gas & a doughnut a few years ago…
Since I enjoy modeling the prototype, & guess I have something I could call following a ‘theme’ too…
Here is an example of Implements (JD, Volvo, & CAT), & one of UPS.
Whatever strikes you, have fun with it!
Stupid is in the eye of the beholder. People collect all kinds of things. There are many people who think a grown man playing with “toy trains” is stupid.
“Collectibles” are what they are. I think paying millions of dollars for art that looks like it should be hanging on someone’s refrigerator is stupid. So I would never buy a Picasso. But some people do. It is not for us to judge.
If collecting those trains makes him happy then he should be able to do it without fearing ridicule.
Well, there is buying, and then there’s collecting. I agree that we should be able to buy what we want. And if that happens to be, for example, a football themed train set, so be it.
However, to me at least, “collecting” means buying a themed train set for every football team. This is okay also, unless these purchases are made with the idea that there will be some increase in value as the “collection” ages. At that point we would be lax in our duty to not mention to the prospective purchaser that what Rich says is basically correct.
maxman, as I am sure that PV knew when he responded to my comments, I did not ridicule the OP of this thread for his interest in themed trains.
Truth be told, I have been into “collectibles” as well, at one time maintaining 4 different Department 56 villages until I finally realized that I could never complete a “collection”. Because, no matter how many they retired, they produced new issues faster than they retired the old ones.
Investing in collectibles is sort of like playing the slot machines. Most of the time, you’re lucky if you break even, but every once in a while you can get really lucky with them. Timing is everything. But ultimately, if either activity gives you pleasure (and you don’t go overboard) there’s no reason not to enjoy them.
Of course, at some level all of our model railroad stuff can be considered collectibles, but that’s a whole 'nuther can 'o worms…
I have no illusions that these collectible theme train sets would not go up in value. That would not be my intention of building of purchasing them. I think I have my intentions clear if I choose to go this route with a layout or layouts.
If someone thinks it is stupid or foolish to combine a sci-fi themed train with things from today, so be it. That is your opinion, you are welcome to it, but I don’t disagree with it. I have been told, since I started this, I can do what ever I want or what ever my imagination leads me to do and one person even stated the only way anyone else can have a say or a vote that means anything is if they marry me. While I will listen/read your opinion I will not always agree with or follow its advice.
I do have a question though. am I now being told I cannot follow my imagination and do what I want with building a train layout? Is that the opinion of some? It seems that the opinions of some of you are, yes you can do what you want and to follow your imagination, but only to a point. It seems in the case of the topic of this thread theme train sets are crossing the line in your opinion. Is this what you are saying with your opinion?
Oh one more thing. Not for nothing, but the story of Star Wars happened “A long time ago. In a galaxy far, far away.” So with the Star Wars train set the layout would be the past combined with today, or the future.
First a correction. My statement about disagreeing with someone opinion should say, “I don’t AGREE with it.”
Second I just called Bradford Exchange. It took a long time to get someone on the phone to answer my question. which was can someone order an entire train set and not wait for each piece to be sent to them on the subscription basis. The answer is yes but it can only be ordered over the phone and if the pieces are in stock. The person who helped advised It takes the first 3 pieces to create a running set because each piece comes with something else to make the train run. The first piece is usually only the loco, the second included the track and the third the power pack. While I would use different track and a better power pack I would still want the first 3 pieces and a caboose as it would get kind of boring just running an loco.
I asked about pricing on one of the sets. While it is a bit expensive it is not a huge draw back or turnoff for me not to purchase it. What is a turnoff and will probably be the reason I will not do this is the train set I inquired about has a total of 11 pieces to the entire consist. In HO scale that is a long train and not something conducive to a 4’ x 8’ layout. The person who helped advised that is one of the shorter sets they offer. Most run an average of 15 to 25 pieces to the consist.
If I use my current Hy-Vee set as a base for length of HO sets at 4’ long with its 6 pieces an 11 piece consist could be up to or over 8’ long and a 25 piece set could be as much as 16’ or longer.
I may still go with 4’ x 8’ layouts for themed train sets, but not the ones from Bradford Exchange.
One of the primary reason that “things” are sold by subscription, whether it is Bradford Exchange, Franklin Mint, Time Life, or even Walther’s, is so that people don’t realize how much they paid. Most buyers never actually add up the total of all the individual shipments in the subscription.
That may be the consequence - - collectors not realizing how much they paid in total, but that isn’t really why manufacturers produce items in a series.
The primary reasons are affordability and volume.
If the entire series were offered all at once, many potential buyers could not afford the one time purchase price all at once. And, if the buyers could pick and choose, instead of having to acquire the entire series piece by piece, the manufacturer would not be able to generate the same volume as is possible in a continuing series.
And, of course, the manufacturer can determine future production requirements far more accurately once the first pieces in the series have been acquired by the collectors.
That’s what the OP discovered when he contacted The Bradford Exchange about the theme trains.
I bet that if you put the entire (train set, chess set, CD collection, or whatever) into one shipment and offered a payment plan you wouldn’t get 10% of the sales you do with the subscription.
