I am living proof this "collecting to sell later" thing doesn't work. In the early '80s I started collecting a certain manufacturer's 1/24 scale NASCAR and Sprint Car kits. I bought 4 of each. One to build and three to sell. The only reason prices have gone up is because the prices of new model cars are more. Only a few very limited editions are worth much. Now I'm going to try to sell them in complete lots. They take up ALOT of space !!! I'll make a little profit, but definitely not what I pictured in 1982 !!!
Well... IFFF... you get back your original money or a little more... at least you tried and only lost the time/value of holding the collection. The problem is that more often than not... there is an actual loss from original money 'invested' in addition to the holding cost. There are no actual guaranties in any type of investment. At least you own something tangible and usable for your enjoyment with model trains. Sent from my SM-J737T using Tapatalk
It is still to early for N Scale to start thinking about Collectible or Collector's Items. The market is flooded with all kinds of N scale stuff. So much so that finding something that there's only a few left or was made at a time when quality wasn't an issue. I don't think so. Buy'em, us'em, run'em and enjoy'em. They are of no value sitting in a box. I know of a fella who bought up basically junk...(he was advised not to) thinking he was going to make a profit on selling the stuff. Truth is he lost on the deal. He gave up and sold it all off when he found out those knowledgeable about N Scale stuff, wouldn't pay his prices. I felt kind of bad for the guy. Not sure what the issue is with shrink wrap. Everything has been shrink wrapped at one point or the other. We used to shrink wrap blue box kits so no one could steal the parts out of the box. That didn't stop them but gave us a chance to catch them or catch up with them. My two cents. Now running to duck for cover.
I purchased that special run 3 pack to run on my layout during my P&WV era running sessions. Now I have purchased some Micro-Trains cars to add to my person collection and I do not run them. They all have a special meaning to me and that is why they are in my display case and not on the layout. Some examples: Also I believe Micro-Trains and Atlas both have a special relationship with N Scale Enthusiast. As I have the USAF Bicentennial Baldwin and Caboose from Atlas that was commissioned by the N Scale Enthusiast in my collection. Do I ever plan on selling these for boat loads of money, no. I've added them to my collection because they all have a personal meaning to me.
Thinking out loud. You can certainly collect items like the ones you showed us. I have a similar collection of private labeled or fantasy cars. Most are MTL cars. None are wasting away there time in a box. Then there's those I know are only one of a kind because I either scratch-built uhh...err kit bashed would be better said. Painted and lettered the cars as a close facsimile to the 1:1 foot scale. My work train for Santa Fe would resemble such. Looking toward the future. Well, let me start here. The question that comes to mind, is how many customers will they attract, should I want to sell them at some point. At what price? How many customers will consider them valuable enough to buy them? Most who wanted MTL, Atlas or any other versions of quote, "Limited Runs", unquote. Have them and will most likely keep them. It just isn't the same as a true collector's car, like Lionel's, Feather River, W.P. box car. If you know what I mean. Here on TrainBoard they've sponsored a number of what I would call collectible cars. The jury is still out as to whether they will increase in value or not. Kind of a wait and see thing. Although, I have to admit there are two box cars in SP livery I'm looking for to complete a set. I'm not willing to pay a collector's price for them. If you get my drift here. In time, I believe there will be a market for older N scale stuff...but...that would be the stuff we are purchasing today.
I have an interesting take on those NSC cars and sets. I feel they are not worth the inflated 'collector' price... and would be hard pressed to get any return above the price paid. Many of these NSC cars and sets take forever to sell out... indicating generally low interest. On the other hand... there are often Micro-trains which sell out within the month they are released... indicating generally high interest. For that matter... I have seen other manufacturers rolling stock sell out quick... and I got the impression that their production runs may be smaller than Micro-trains. Sent from my SM-J737T using Tapatalk
I already know of a few guys who collect Aurora Postage Stamp and Lone Star Treble-O-Lectric trains. To date none of those items demand the prices of Prewar Lionel, but there is a growing community of N scale collectors. From what I've seen, Aurora Postage Stamp and Lone Star Treble-O collectors are not collecting in hopes of making a fortune, but instead are collecting as a way of preserving the early days of N scale. Believe it or not, even TYCO HO is finding it's way into HO Scale collectors collections.
Us old guys want to revisit our childhoods. If we had Aurora Postage Stamp trains (or admired them in the hobby shop window or Sears Christmas catalog, but never received any), then we want to buy a like new set if we can find one. Same with Tyco and the HO crowd. The stuff likely isn't worth anything other than sentimental value, and certainly nobody is going to get rich off of them.
And then there's my A1G accumulation of course... I had a fair amount of the other manufacturers/distributors items in N Scale from around the same time... hard to resist a freight car for 49 cents at the Two Guys' After-Christmas Sales!... but I decided to "specialize" and then share online.
