Pete locked the "Stimulus" thread, probably rightly so! One post there, though, plus my current experience led me to this question.... Is the best way to curb your appetite for new locos and rolling stock actually to simply work harder on your layout? I have recently finished wiring, and some track work expansions (oddly inspired to add an industry just so I can buy 86' HC box cars) and am now hard at work on scenery. I go to the LHS for plaster cloth, etc., but have very much reduced desire to pick up just one more freight car, etc., perhaps knowing it can't go on the layout when its a mess. On the contrary, in slow building periods, I tend to buy stuff all over the place. My only complaint is that I have tried two different foam cutters and neither lasted more than two days on my layout construction process before burning out! Now, thats getting expensive.... But, do you buy less when building? I recall Armstrong or someone writing that you can build a layout or build a collection, but its hard to do both financially at the same time. True or False?
At a very simple level, working on the layout means you're not doing something else, including going out (or online) and buying stuff. So I would say "yes" on that alone. In addition, working on the layout can also mean taking stock of what one already has, and perhaps being sufficiently alarmed by that to swear off shopping trips for a while. On the other hand, it's also possible that while working on the layout, one finds that something is really needed to complete a project, and then it's off to the preferred venue again.
I can't say that I buy less. My buying comes in spurts or at least at times when something is being offered that I would like to have. I don't have any room left for layout expansion, the room is full. So any layout building involves tearing out what is already there to make improvements. Most of the improvements require additional purchases so you might say that I buy more at those times. Ben
Except for a purchase on TASKAE*, my latest purchases have been items needed for the layout. A turnout here, paints to paint & weather the track there, a Rix bridge or two for hiway traffic elsewhere..........and some more scenery materials and ballast. I also foresee a trip to one of the mega-lumber-and-hardware stores to get some Masonite for a backdrop, as well as to cover the layout front & sides. (*TASKAE - That Auction Site Known As eBay)
I think it's hard to say whether layout work affects spending. After thinking about it a little, I think it might be the opposite! Current situation notwithstanding, any time I have historically been working on a layout, I tend to stop working on "projects" like kit-building, detailing, decaling, couplers, etc. So, it seems like I get my "fix" by ordering/buying more. I also tend to reward myself for layout progress with a new freight car here, new structure there, etc.
Yep I would agree with some of the prior mentioned post; yes less money is spent when your working on your layout. your working on money already spent. but then it comes back around you come up with new projects that cause the spending again.
Doug, You might be right, as are others. Certainly, with the pre-order system, we might be buying things whenever we need to buy them according to the mfgs rather than when we have layout room. My current non desire to buy (as opposed to a few months ago when I was buying the odd frieght car) might have more to do with watching the evening news and fretting about the economy than actually working on the layout! I will say though, getting down to re-scenicking the layout has been soul satisfying this last week. Sometimes, when I buy a new loco I don't really need, I feel good in the store, but about half way home I get buyers remorse. I didn't feel that way with the plaster cloth last week....... BTW, I have often sort of scorned some of the WS products as something you could buy elsewhere cheaper. I have experimented with a few different brands of plaster cloth and it has more plaster on it than the others, somewhat justifying the higher price.
Well, I would say that I spend differently, not necessarily less. When I am in "building" mode I spend money on whatever resources I need to have to complete the project. If that project is expensive (like automating reverse loops and wye tracks for DCC) I spend a lot. If it is a "cheaper" activity like scenery or scratchbuilding houses I spend less than average. To me the lowest cost activity is operation: Operating the layout will probably indentify the need to spend more ("We need more engines to pull the local"), but in general preparing and conducting an operating session is no-cost fun. Cheers Dirk
"in general preparing and conducting an operating session is no-cost fun." I would agree with this line. When you're operating, you're not out spending. Presumably, everything that you've needed to get underway with has already been bought and paid for. The last time I had a buddy over for our "train day", we simply worked on stuff that we had. He, putting in lights for his Walthers passenger cars and I, cleaning wheels and upgrading equipment. Later on, we ran locos, tested lashups and made plans for the next go-'round. Besides some chips and dip and a few beers, there were no out-of-pocket costs.
I normally preorder the models I "need" at my favorite US dealer on the internet, or at my LHS (for German models). So I think that working on the layout does not affect my spending very much. I think that I have far too little time to work on the layout, but this is a different story.
Not likely for me. While building the portion of the layout I presently have (unfinished); I probably purchased MORE stuff to run on the layout. I'm always on the lookout for N scale items... whether it be locomotives, rolling stock, structures or detail items. Construction of layout did not deter my quest to get N scale stuff I like an want... even if I don't 'need' it for the layout.
Right now, I don't need to spend any money for layout construction, but as the scenery phase goes from basic to let's-make-this-look-like-southwestern-Arkansas, I foresee trips to Addison and Denton to get the things I need. Lots and lots of greenery, which wil take some green (or whatever the color they're putting on our money now) to get. Plus, I'm getting the idea to try to build a small creek...........never done one before, but I'm willing to try.
My answer is, "Yes." After reading this thread, maybe not, but I think the more I scratch build and kit bash, the less I spend, overall. Maybe it is because it takes longer to model things.
Definitely yes for the past two years. I've stopped pre-ordering, or even ordering for that matter. Already got too much stuff, and the layout's getting full.
Most assuredly I spend less while I am expanding. I have not purchased a locomotive or a car in over a year.
I have quit the pre-ordering of locomotives. The next locos I get will probably be randgust-made kits, but I have a couple other things breathing down my neck right now, including my anxiety about owning an oil-heated house in this market. My wife and I are working toward either changing or diversifying out heat source, and we're trying to do it before October when it will start getting cold again around here. I tend to spend less when I am actually building something, and if I need more supplies I am much more targeted in my LHS run than just buying whatever strike my fancy that day. Adam
I honestly hope my spending will slow down some after the layout is complete. Being new to this hobby I expected the actual building of the layout to be a major expense. I guess that only time will tell in my case.
