Tualatin Valley Model Railroad Club had their swap meet today. Its pretty much the closest swap meet to my house, so it was a no brainer. They had a full length table that was all estate sale stuff that was basically at fire sale prices. I picked up 3 Athearn BB SD40T-2 shells 2 SP and 1 SSW in various states for $6. 4 sets of Front Range TOFC/COFC "Impact" kits for $8 total. 26 Containers various sizes, Walthers for $20 total. 4 DPM built buildings plus a super basic Metal siding style warehouse kit for $15 Athearn BB Dash9 SP Athearn BB SD40T-2 UP Walters Trainline Dash 8-40B for $20 a piece. All were missing handrails, the Dash 9 was missing a fuel tank side, but for the price, these were all a steal. 1 near HO scale Truck and Trailer for $3 Grape juice container of crushed rock, looks like dirt $0. It was a good haul. The UP Tunnel is going to get one of the SP shells so with the Dash 9 I'll now have a 3 unit SP set.
That's why I go to just about every model railroad show and swap meet within reasonable driving range. There's always something that catches my eye or tickles my fancy, be it locomotives, rolling stock, or the occasional sentimental piece that is identical to one I had thirty-five years ago when I was a kid. I've had my share of sweet deals and some more expensive but very satisfying finds. And the hunt is half the fun. :mbiggrin:
Swap meets are my favorite place to get the stuff I'm looking for- and it's usually for sale at my favorite price (cheap). I don't believe in paying full retail price if I can get it cheaper elsewhere.
They're about the only place you have a chance of getting stuff at a good value. The guy I bought the containers from had 3 ho kato dash 9s with decoders. 2 up and 1 c&nw. 55 a piece. I almost bought the northwestern unit, bought it wasn't on my list, whereas sp units and containers were. It was very hard to pass up.
I do not get to many swap meets because i work on the weekends. But when i do i usaly save up and take a load of cash just incase. My last show (the national show) which was in milwaukee i found a ford car dealer. This was from the walthers automotive series whitch was retired many years ago. The dealer said that he got it at a estate sale less than one month earlier. This kit i have been looking for atleast 4 years now with no luck until then. In the past couple of years i have been able to find a good number of discontinued skyscrapers kits below what i would pay on ebay at local swap meets. My next swap meet is comming up later this month. The green county model railraod show in monroe wi sept. 25-26. There is a couple vendors that i usaly find good stuff at.
Be A Vendor I try to go to every Swap Meet/Train Show/Sale I can. You never know what you will miss. I'm talking about the "Non-Commercial" types of Swap/Show Meets. These are the Shows/Swaps put on by a local group, not the commercial "For Profit" types of meets. Ones that come around once a year and have mostly Dealers & few modelers with tables. There are some top line sales around here too. NMRA, MCR, Div 7 in Cincinnati has one of the top shows/swap meets in the nation and it's coming up on October 23 & 24. Go to : http://www.cincy-div7.org/2010Oct_show_Flier.7.pdf for details And another show is in Dayton on November the 6th. Got to: http://www.daytontrainshow.com/2010Flyer91025.pdf for details. We have our own show here is the Kentuckiana Area on Nov 20th http://div8-mcr-nmra.org/site/html/trainshow.htm for details. Our show doesn't really compare with Dayton & Cincinnati, but we are still building it up and each show is a little bigger than the last! If you really want to get some GOOD deals--BECOME A VENDOR We all have some stuff we don't want, don't need or don't even know why/where we bought it. Go to the local swap meet, get a table, combine with a couple other modelers maybe to fill the table, and SELL. You can make some $, and usually get in early to set up. Then you can go out and get the jump other buyers. You're going to go to the Swap Meet anyway, save your entrance fee and put it towards your table. A good Swap Meet can be a WAL-MART for Model Railroaders!!
