Bought More Than I Needed - Happen To Anyone Else?

WM183 Dec 8, 2018

  1. WM183

    WM183 TrainBoard Member

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    Hi folks.

    I have been back into model railroading for less than 6 months, and I've got quite a nice collection of locos and cars, and the layout construction has begun. However, at first I was very scattered; wanted to do this road, that road, this era, that era, and so on, and made many excitement fueled purchases that should have been tempered by a bit of planning. Now that I've narrowed my focus to a time and place i am certain of, I have this extra stuff that I bought and must sell or repurpose; the zeal of something new, I suppose. Has this happened to anyone else, either when you were just beginning, or even later perhaps?
     
  2. Carolina Northern

    Carolina Northern TrainBoard Member

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    Constantly
    I often end up looking at something and asking myself why - I know it's too much or doesn't fit my scheme. Always fighting the idea of buying too many buildings.
    I truly believe I have too many kits to finish in the time I have left.

    Don
     
  3. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    With more than 300 pieces of stock, definitely so.
    I tried to go to 200 from 280 some years ago but could not part with many pieces (a combination of affective value - mine since I was a kid - and low selling price).
    308 and counting
     
  4. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    I tend to overanalyze purchases, so am cautious with my buying. The analysis also includes thought over where I'm going to shelve the stuff in my limited space. I suppose I have some surplus items, but thankfully not too many.
     
  5. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Been there. Done this. A few times. :)
     
    Mike VE2TRV and fordy744 like this.
  6. fordy744

    fordy744 TrainBoard Member

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    same here!
     
  7. trainman-ho

    trainman-ho TrainBoard Member

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    And here I thought I was the only one. :oops:

    Jim
     
  8. Kez

    Kez TrainBoard Member

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    So many times, so many scales.....I've done the same. STILL have all of it...
     
  9. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    It's one of many phases. The Kit collecting is the worse; buying things and assuming you'll build them.

    It's part of why I now tell everyone to build a simple oval layout with no scenery, just to run a couple trains on now and then. Too many modelers get big plans and never run a single train.
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  10. Znewbie

    Znewbie TrainBoard Member

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    Time will tell if I've bought too many buildings, as my layout is still in the planning stage, but if I have, I can always either store the surplus for a later, and I'm sure inevitable, expansion, but as I build military dioramas as well, some of them may well end up as forced-perspective background buildings...
     
    WM183 likes this.
  11. MRLdave

    MRLdave TrainBoard Member

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    No such thing as "too much stuff"..........you just haven't come up with enough uses yet.
     
    traingeekboy likes this.
  12. jpwisc

    jpwisc TrainBoard Member

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    Once I built my layout, I realized I had way more than I needed. I narrowed the focus and sold 2/3 of what I had. I’ll still buy things, but they have to fit my criteria and be an upgrade from what I’m running now. Then I sell off whatever they are replacing.

    Some people enjoy collecting things that will sit forever in boxes, I’m not one of them.
     
    dalebaker likes this.
  13. jtomstarr

    jtomstarr TrainBoard Member

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    One could never have too much train items regardless of ERA !

    Tom
     
  14. Eilif

    Eilif TrainBoard Member

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    Swap "6 months" for "12 months" and you've got my situation exactly. I've been snapping up bargains left and right and have wound up with alot of stuff that I like, but I've already done a few purges such as:
    -Sold off my box of old-style tank cars.
    -Rid myself of any 50' boxcar that I can't easily remove the roof walk from (no roof walks in the 80's...).
    -Just plain getting rid of the chaff that results when I buy a lot in order to get a few pieces that I want.

    My desired level of detail is near about Athearn Blue Box, my era is 80's to 00's, and I've mostly confined myself to a few major lines and Chicago area shorts. the problem is that while these parameters -combined with a relatively modest budget- does narrow the scope considerably, there's still TONS of great stuff (used and NOS mostly) that is available at bargain prices. I suspect ridding myself of chaff, extras and not-fits will be an ongoing part of this hobby for me. I'm about to take a bunch of train and die-cast stuff to a swap meet in January where I've reserved a couple tables. I'm praying that I'll be able to find someone there to bulk-buy whatever is left at the end of the day. Just so I won't have to take it home.
     
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  15. WM183

    WM183 TrainBoard Member

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    I need to do the same; pare down the collection a bit, and put some of the money tied up in things I do not need back into things I do need/want. I'll try listing some of it on the Swap Meet forum, I suppose, and see what happens! I must also resist the urge to dive headfirst into GWR/BR stuff...
     
  16. pthrift

    pthrift New Member

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    Unitrack. I did it for sure. Just started buying this and that.... I’ve got my layout track work finished, but can still make an additional 12.5” radius circle, 5 19” radius circles, and 2 (nearly 3...) 28” radius circles..... not to mention about 5 too many left hand turnouts..... etc etc.....

    You’re not alone
     
  17. dualgauge

    dualgauge TrainBoard Member

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    Should be able to find somebody to buy your collection at the swap. Most will only offer pennies on the dollar.
     
  18. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    I would just keep it. I have kept things for long periods of time because, I find myself switching scale and prototype every few years.

    I had some useless junk that is now the core of my new layout empire. ;)
     

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