The Model Railroading thread

[August]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

August, I love the steam engines. Post a picture of the mountain steamer. I have a Booth Kelly logger. Purchased 20 years ago. I run it at Christmas.

Here ya go: 4-8-2 Mountain

[AVGWarhawk]

She is nice. Is your collection American Flyer scale? I can not tell if you are running HO scale.

[Sledgehammer427]

Originally Posted by August

Here ya go: 4-8-2 Mountain

I used to be an avid model railroader but the starter set I got sucked and it was basically a christmas present that I wanted to expand on but never really did. I had a N&W J Class 4-8-4, and a bunch of Diesel types but I yearned to have more Steam, leading up to an insane desire for either a Challenger or Big Boy. I moved on to Rail Sims on my PC and frankly, its a lot cheaper.

It's a great hobby! the layout looks great August!

p.s. was that a yellow AMC Pacer or a Pinto in your street shot?

[August]

Originally Posted by Sledgehammer427

was that a yellow AMC Pacer or a Pinto in your street shot?

Yep on both. A company called Model Power makes a bunch of 1960 and 70's vintage ho scale cars and the prices are generally reasonable too.

http://www.hobbylinc.com/model-power...lroad_vehicles

AVG: HO scale. I wanted to go N scale but you never see that stuff in flea markets so it'd have meant going all new.

[AVGWarhawk]

HO scale. Got it. The Booth Kelly 2-6-6-2 is HO. Made by Mantua. I have a few N Scale but HO was more prominent and still is I would imagine. I like the intricate workings of the steam engines. I did have my far share of the diesels.

[Jimbuna]

I'm quickly getting the impression this hobby can be as expensive as collecting diecast if not even more so

[Herr-Berbunch]

That's the thing with any hobby, it can become expensive!

Looking great, August.

Do keep us updated on progress.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

I have a few N Scale but HO was more prominent and still is I would imagine.

Back when I worked at the hobby distributors I spent a fair share of time behind the retail desk. One of my funniest memories is when a wife or mother would be buying a gift, and would ask for something in "Ho scale". I enjoyed explaining about O scale, and that H-O was "Half O", O, or 0 scale being 1/43 and HO being 1/87.

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

That's the thing with any hobby, it can become expensive!

Get a job in the industry that makes your hobby. Then you can get stuff for free. I lost several thousand dollars worth of models in a fire, but I can't complain too much since most of them were freebies from the shop. Most of my books also came from working for years at a book distribution warehouse.

That said, I still spend around 10% of my income on books and models.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I'm quickly getting the impression this hobby can be as expensive as collecting diecast if not even more so

20 years ago I paid $200.00 for this Booth Kelly Logger. 2-6-6-2. She has not lost value nor has she grown in value.

[August]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

20 years ago I paid $200.00 for this Booth Kelly Logger. 2-6-6-2. She has not lost value nor has she grown in value.

That is a sweet looking loco. Is it articulated?

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

20 years ago I paid $200.00 for this Booth Kelly Logger. 2-6-6-2. She has not lost value nor has she grown in value.

She's a beauty Chris, I met a guy a few months ago who lives locally and is in the diecast trade...he was in a small party/group of which I was a part at a small air show and he told me during the course of the day that diecast aircraft were a pretty good investment, so on the way home I invited him and a few others in for a drink and took him up into the man cave to look at my collection on display.

I said "That paperwork lying face down on my computer desk is an itemised spreadsheet of my entire collection including purchase prices....make me an offer on the entire collection then turn the spreadsheet face up".

He made an offer then turned the spreadsheet over and his offer was a little over half the price I had paid

[Wolferz]

Model railroading was a passion of mine that was never given voice. I never had the ideal conditions for starting and building a good layout, and still don't. <sigh>

My father ignited the passion by getting my brother and I a nice Marx 666 electric train set that we usually set up once a year around the Christmas tree. It kept two precocious little boys occupied during the holiday season. I think it was O gauge but I'm not sure.

I found this shot of the die cast locomotive that came with the set. The last time I had the engine out, after 40+ years, it still worked but showed extreme signs of aging. The tender had a missing axle that made it impossible to hitch a load of cars to it. My elder brother was rough on our toys. He always broke his toys, then turned his sadistic nature toward mine. Many a fight ensued. Now, here I am in my golden years, disabled and unable to work, with nothing but time on my hands to pursue my passions and no money to accomplish them. We also had an HO set, but I hated the thing for being too small to set up without some sort of permanent foundation. So I guess I'll just live my dream vicariously through you fine fellows. Please continue posting shots of your goodies.