would you buy new models or used ones. some times if you are lucky you can find that perfect loco for $20 used but maybe you would rather buy a new loco with the shiney paint job (soon to be weathered) that costs $80. which would you choose?
It’s kind of like cars–only buy used if you know what you’re buying and don’t mind maybe having to fix 'em. If you’d rather just drive it, go for new.
I’ve bought used cars. I haven’t bought any used locos, but that’s just because the right opportunity never came along. I would have no problem buying a used loco for a good price if I felt the guy I was buying it from was trustworthy (obviously something hard to pin down), like maybe another modeler that I have known for a while.
jmho, but since you asked,
Ed
i have bought used locos before. I got a nice athearn GP-40 for $20. It was the best bargin i have come accross
When I started out in the hobby I bought nothing but used rolling stock, as I intended to use them for kitbashing projects. Stripped a lot of paint off, cut up a bunch of models and re-did them. That’s what my hobby has been mostly about, making things that cannot be purchased.
BobBoudreau
I don’t have a problem buying used stuff, as long as I can see it run before I fork over the cash.
All the used stuff is Athearn BB most were around $20-$30 Canadian.
Gordon
It’s probably a 50/50 propositon,I don’t mind buying used if it’s from a hobby shop becasue you usually have some "return room"I’ll avoid them at shows unless as stated before you know the guy. If your handy and can handle little problems go for it other wise you may be buying someone elses problems. As for used rolling stock and buildings can’t get enough of them as they make for endless kitbashing fodder as fundy said. just my[2C] TB
I buy new plastic and used brass. So long as you know your way around fixing things, getting older engines can be very worthwhile.
It doesn’t matter to me I offten by either It depends on my pocket book
at the time when I want the item.
I purchased a few used Atlas/Kato, Atlas and Stewart/Kato locos and they all ran fine. Only problem one of them was missing a horn.
Mark
http://webusers.warwick.net/~u1015590/
I bought a lot of used stuff at swap shows, hobby shops and on ebay, mostly engines&rolling stock, and I absolutelyI was happy with the results and spared a lot of money. A plus, i got often no more available items.
Hobby’ shop’s second hand offer is, in my opinion, generally worse than privates’ one, could be that good looking second hand is resold as new???
I clearly had a few ‘bad deals’. With them I did not even loose time with triing to fix it, I just wrote them off as losses. Just the used items ned to be cheap enought for compensate the potential bad deals. As at the stock market… earning and risk should be in fair balance!
sebastiano
I bought some Used NYC stuff a couple of years ago. All of them were Proto 2000 Locos and the LHS gave me a 30 day warrenty for function of these locos. I sware they were barely broken in when I got them.
I don’t know if I would buy used off of E-Bay.
Chris
I buy used locos. I bought many used Athearn, Atlas and Kato. But I don’t trust used steam locos…Then again I got a Rivarrossi 2 truck Heisler in good condition for $ 70 canadian… The lights are burned out and I can’t find replacement…
Chris