Picked up these 12 cars for $60 at the Boeing Club Swap Meet Today in St Louis. Prices were very competitive as Dealers seem to want to move items.
I found this little guy in Thayer Missouri, far from home rails. Thayer is old Frisco territory. So I brought him home to Tulsa. He had mis-matched couplers and a good coating of dust. As of tonight, the dust is gone, he sports 148 Kadee couplers and the wheel sets are black. Also some light weathering of the smoke jack to add some rust.
Oxford has come out with some pretty nice vehicles over the last year, especially the really recent ones. I finally broke down and went for it over the last couple of paychecks with the result shown here. First, from left, the newest '46-'48 DeSoto in blue and silver- definitely not a disappointment. Center, although the light has changed the cast a bit, nothing says 1958 like a pink Chjrysler, and right, I finally decided I needed the tan Corvair since my uncle had one back in the day. Second, I've been waiting for the blue and white '54 Buick station wagon on the left and it was (at least in my opinion) worth it. The '42 Chrysler Town and Country (center) is distinctive to say the least, and the '48 Dodge pickup will provide some variety in a world populated by Fords and Chevrolets. In the last photo, I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury, especially one with flames, and I also couldn't resist the metallic green '57 Nomad
As I've stated, I'm not sure if I'm a model railroader with a lot of vehicles or a vehicle collector with a lot of trains. Actually, vehicles both nail the time period down and sometimes bring back memories of stuff you drove back in the day or stuff your dad or your grandfather drove (Uncle Carl's Corvair for example). As far as the cost of these little beasts, these days, they're about half the price of an RTR freight car. Before I retired, I could afford to be more indiscriminate, but now I plan ahead, pick the ones I want and buy several of them at a time to take advantage of free or reduced shipping on multiple items. Last time I bought five of them, more than the usual three and a comparatively good sized chunk of money, but I saved over $16 on the shipping. The whole order was about the same as one high end freight car. They are, as Richard stated, nice models, but also priced within most people's reach
Due to unforeseen circumstances I had no choice but to make one more assault on my dearly departed paycheck. Athearn's GP38-2 in Huron and Eastern livery has been released in a second road number. I picked up the 3865 when it first became available some time ago. The 3867 arrived a few days ago.
Model trains have a knack for gobbling up chunks of paychecks. With our complete cooperation, no less. But it feels so good!
Used to tell my wife I didnt get paid to pull empties, to try and explain some shortages. Didnt last very long.
You make it seem that no longer receiving a paycheck is something bad. These toys can wipe out my punny Social Security Check pretty quickly as well. It was, and is, hard to get the Veterans Disability as well but it helps me relaxe a little more.
I can identify with that. I have a part time job as a community college instructor, so I'm considerably more flush at some times of the year than others. You probably won't see me posting anyrhing here during the summer or over Christmas break. I just try to do things when I have extra income and ride it out when I don't. Sometimes stuff comes along that won't be around forever and you have to grab it or not get one at all. I learned that lesson years ago with the Atlas Detroit and Mackinac C425. I could only afford one. Since the prototype would run as many as three of them on a freight, I tried to buy another one some time later. Unfortunately, the only thing I have ever been able to find was a shell that sold for as much as the complete diesel did new. (I had better luck with my Central Michigan U-boats. I bought the second one from a dealer down south who was probably happy to find someone who wanted it and perhaps got a chuckle out of where he shipped it to.) Since Those Huron and Eastern engines are near- (literally. They show up regularly a half mile from the house) and somewhat dear- (I've been seeing them since the summer of 1993 when they showed up still in ratty P&LE trim), I couldn't pass up collecting the pair.
Stopped in Strasburg yesterday as I had to go out that way. Bought two used freight cars at the Choo Choo Barn. $5 for the boxcar and $10 for the hopper. A fair price compared to eBay anymore.
Right! I took some video of it pulling into Strasburg and a friend said “what a beautiful train” when I showed her. Hopefully it’s not too badly damaged.
I know exactly what you're talking about. So say the following: "I'm a man, but I can change. If I have to. I guess..."