This is my first independent topic on Trainboard, but I have started some others elsewhere. I was talking to a guy in the hobby shop (LHS) yesterday and he basically complained about the prices of new equipment. I told him a large part of my inventory was purchased used either at the LHS, swap meets, auctions, train shows, friends, etc, and I got a sneer, "Oh, you buy used stuff?" Somehow the conversation started to taper off on both of our parts. We were miles apart. He thought of me as a junk trader, and I thought of him as narrow and unknowing. He was telling me how much he was looking forward to the Lifelike RS11, and there was a Kato RS 11 on the used shelf in the box for $30, but he wouldn't go for that because it was used. I did. Although I do buy enough new equipment that 2 hobby shops consider me good customers, most of my acquisitions are of used stuff. I love to buy used stuff, no matter how dirty and grimy. I also know what to buy used, because if it doesn't run, chances are with a little TLC, I can bring it back to life (very satisfying experience). The dirtier, grimier and doesn't run, brings the price down. All it takes is a little alcohol, some swabs, a power pack with test leads wired to it, some oil and some tools and a rainy afternoon. Plus, I love the hunt for some of the old classics that are not made today (Challengers, Kato Hudsons, Big Boys, Mallets, etc). Plus, I always have a newly acquired used loco on hand to work on as a project. Prices are much lower than retail, and even help the retail market, as when the seller gets rid of his old equipment, he will probably replace it with new equipment. Even considering my new acquisitions, when I look at my locomotive collection, everything is in used condition now. So really what is the differnce? Last point is I have been in this hobby long enough that I have a whole bunch of parts that can be used for rehab to some of my purchases. Buying exclusively used or new in my opinion, is not recommendedl; it narrows your choices and your potential. Ken "Steamguy" Willaman
Ken, welcome aboard ... and I agree with your concept! Speaking of used equipment ... I picked up a Con-Cor Hudson a few years back and need some advice in getting it to run better. I think it was made by Rivarossi in early-70's. Its major problem is electrical pickup. It only picks up by two drivers on one side and three on the other. What would you suggest to improve this?
Not buy used stuff? Why not? Does he think he's going to find brand new KATO SD40s, U-30Cs, or C30-7s? I could care less if its used (my wallet likes it though ).Unless the seller thinks it is made from unobtainium. I have close to 100 locos and I brag about the ones I've bought used that run as good (sometimes better) than my new buys.
I agree. Once purchased and place upon the track at home, the item becomes used, test run only or "with little runtime". Either way the item is no longer the pristine item originally purchased. Used equipment is fine by me. You can normally tell if the items are abused. The sentiment of admiring the used pieces that run great or better than the new ones is also felt here. I wish there were local places by me that would deal more in consignment and used pieces, Especially the older stuff no longer made. One persons junk may be another persons treasures.
HANK, I have four of these Con-Cor Hudsons...all running beautifully now after tunning them up and rewiring them, but mine have good Kato type pickups on the tender wheels. Don't yours ????. I think you can still get tenders for these engines from Con-Cor, maybe a bit pricey, but it makes for an inexpensisve good running and good looking engine.
I've recently done some buying on eBay, and alot of what I'm getting is used, or technically new, but might as well be considered used because it's not coming from a "retailer". You're right about finding stuff that is unavailabe. I bought a Kato GP50 at a train show once, it had been converted to high nose, custom detailed and painted in NS colors. When's the last time you saw something like that on a hobby shop shelf?
I was talking to a guy in the hobby shop (LHS) yesterday and he basically complained about the prices of new equipment. I told him a large part of my inventory was purchased used either at the LHS, swap meets, auctions, train shows, friends, etc, and I got a sneer, "Oh, you buy used stuff?" He should live here in the UK, he would have something to complain about, the average price of Atlas and Kato loco's is £70.00($100.00)!!! If I can buy used stuff then I will, although it's not so easy to come by on this side of the pond and prices can be high, my LHS has an Atlas SD35 for £50.00! ConrailPete Conrail lives on in the UK
Hey, Ken. Wish we had some of those rainy days. Most of my stuff is used also. I do buy new engines also, especially if they're Atlas! But, all in all, most of my stuff is used. A little wheel cleaning, a little elbow grease and all is well. I haven't got one item used that I was not able to make work. Wish I could say the same for some of the new stuff (Bachmann!).
I have no qualms about buying used equipment. As Catt says, it is the only way to get stuff like Kato SD40's, etc. Pete, I also do not like the prices here in the UK, so all my purchases are made in the USA, including some from eBay. I think we are all with you on this one Ken
just getting started in n-scale and the only way is to go used and if the wife saw what i was bidding on on ebay and thank god I don't win them all but I've gottin some good deals on there rich
Hi guys, Another Atlas refuge here! Hank the Hudson you mention is a Kato product. You will see Seikisui sp? on the driver plate. These are the worst of the Hudsons, they did not have tender pickup and the drivers are made of a poor alloy and the metal rods often spark against the chassis. Though knowing Ken, I expect he could get one to run correctly, I simply trade/sell those to a guy locally who "plays" with Hudsons almost exclusively. In the cost benifit analysis these particular versions have never been worth my time. However, the later versions also made by Kato (prior to the dissoulution of the CC/Kato relationship) with wired tender and plastic side rods usually run like a clock! I also have purchased a bunch of used stuff, its a great way to get bang for the buck, it also helps to have repair skills, and cheap used basket cases will do more for your repair skills than ANYTHING! Vandy Vandy
I have not bought anything "used" yet (haven't bought much at all recently), but see a lot of potential. I see it like buying a used car. You have to be careful, but you can save big $$ by getting someone else to pay for the depreciation. Of course, this is for equipment bought for running - not collecting. Collecting is a different animal that I don't hunt.
I will buy any Kato or Atlas if the price is right, new or used. Most of my used stuff comes from fellow railroaders and I know what I'm buying has been taken care of. The last NTrak meet I was at I bought a used U25B for $10.00 and an Atlas car! I did not use the Atlas car and the guy liked it, so we were both winners. One MEC U25B comming up! I'm no snob, I'm from NH so I'm a Yankee. Buy cheap if I can. Besides both the BN and the SF bought used equipment, whats good enough for them is good enough for me! If I want to get real picky I could by an Atlas UP GP30, than repaint it in Cascade green and turn it into a BNSF GP39M That is what BN did in the early 90's, now that's real prototype modeling!
Vandy, you're right ... my mistake. I have tried to add tender pickup, but it was marginally successful. The Hudson is now a "Roundhouse" model, left part way out of the house. MEC563, we New Hampshire Yankees may be "Frugal", but never Cheap! Are you modeling the MEC Mountain Division through Crawford Notch?
There is nothing wrong with used equipment... in some cases it is the only way you are going to get a specific item because of the happy fact manufacturers are willing to meet the demand of the marketplace by continuously bringing out new products instead of running the same item number continuously. In spite of the fact that the Tooling for N Scale, as compared to other scales, started off at a high enough level to be acceptable in most cases today even when compared to today's state of the art products..... the Revolution in quality of the last 10 years renders many items out of the box rather clunky in details and lettering & paint for use today. Not to say that that Atlas (or Bachmann, ConCor, MRC, Aurora, or AHM) boxcar can't, with a few minutes of brakewheel replacement, roofwalk thinning, and a trip to the paint, decal and weathering shop be turned into a car that will look right at home next to Intermountain, Red Caboose or DeLuxe 's latest releases. For locomotives, I would be a little more cautious. I have gone through four generations of Alco upgrades (MRC/Mehano, Revell/Rapido, LifeLike original to today's LifeLike split frame FA/FB1 and FA/FB2s.... The steam roster is going to have to have the same thing..... the Atlas/Rivarossi USRA Light Pacifics are just not up to the running characteristics (anticipated) or the detail and appearance of the upcoming Model Power models. I am happy that there are people who enjoy upgrading and tinkering with the older models because it gives the G&S some hope that it finance the upgrading of its equipment by offering older power and rolling stock by sales to other roads. Charlie
Welcome to our family here at the TrainBoard Ken. You are amoung friends here, I don't think there are any "new" smobs here, even though there are a lot of "rick" guys who do by new equipment. I'm on you side, I too like to "restore" older equipment, especially metal ones. When Miss Bobby Hall was in buisness, I bought a lot of the "trade-ins" she had. She was the only one I ever found that would allow you to trade in an older engine on a new one. That was Hall's Hobby House.
I guess the main reason that I buy stuff used, is that I am THRIFTY, (read CHEAP!) I work too hard for my money to toss it around for my HOBBY. I have to put things in perspective. Some things have to be bought new, but a lot of things can be bought used. I get into SWAP MEETS, AUCTIONS, and YARD SALES. Once the word gets around that you will give a fair price for items, people will give you first chance at many things they want to sell. Especially if they know that you want/ need what they want to get rid of. As for the guy that looked down his nose at the idea of buying used, good for him! It is his money and he can spend it any way he wants to. I'll buy what I want, for what I want to pay for it , when I can afford it. It will be in CASH, I don't use credit cards anymore(THANKS DAVE RAMSEY!) Besides, by using CASH I can usually get a little better deal on a lot of items.
It's like the old addage "everyone drives a used car". If you take it out of the box and run it, it's used. Now, like most of our teenagers' laundry piles, we all know there are different levels of "used".
</font>[/QUOTE]I would love to but right now I'm trying to get motivated to finish up my 6X3 foot New England Layout which is just fiction. It has parts that may remind you of the MTN Div though. Tina says I have to finish this one before I start her perminant layout in the Rec room. She and I are doing that one in modern IL BNSF. The things we do for love
I buy a lot of stuff used. I like the prices, and the ability to get stuff that is almost impossible to find, like Kato smoothside cars in GN, or BN SD40-2's in BN from Kato. How about an obscure Con-Cor set of NP North Coast Limited cars? Will you find that in the LHS? I think not. It's fun to make aloco that didn't run work reliably again, all by your own ingenuity.
