One thing that helped N scale grow, was way back in the 1970's, we had discount sellers make their appearance. Starting with Pete Postel, and Lee Elder. (BLW, N Gauge Exchange.) What about the same in On30? Are there companies, (web sites?), selling that a person could explore? Most of us cannot afford to buy, without some thought. Which means making those hard earned dollars go as far as possible. Ideas? Boxcab E50
Well there are discounts and then there are discounts. I have found the Bachmann stuff ranges from 15 to 25.00 for rolling stock and anywhere from 25 to 75.00 for motive power. From there things tend to go up in price. Building kits are all over the place in price, but you pay for what you get and get what you pay for. Let me think a bit more about this (gotta run to a business meeting) John
Those guys I'd noted earlier, were selling top of the line stuff: Peco, Atlas, Kadee, (later known as Micro-Trains), and more. It really made a difference in the growth of N scale. Layouts, collecting Kadee/MT, NTRAK. Oh wow did it impact NTRAK. Those deep discounts helped so people could afford to buy multiple diesels, and all the cars, for those loooong trains we'd run. Yes, there were more people trying the scale every day. But that was definitely when N scale began it's dramatic growth. Then Bobbye Hall, and also NJI started bringing in N brass.... Which we could get through the discounters.... It was a marvelous time! Wonderful memories for me. Boxcab E50
I suspect the On30 is a ways from that yet. Still too new, BUT the Bachmann stuff really is inexpensive to begin with. I can't afford the upper level stuff (8 or 900 dollars for an engine etc.) but then I could never afford that in any scale. Scratch building rolling stock is very easy in this scale (my eight year old just started a flat car and I have finished a gondola) BUT we are modeling an early era where the cars wer made of wood. It might be a bit more if you want to model steel cars. The nice thing is that Bachmann seems to have stepped to the plate. Its not like their lower end stuff used to be...poor running and out of scale. No indeed. These are very nice models from the get go...a tweek here and there and they are GREAT models. This means you can save some money for decoders (if you run DCC) or super detail kits or more accessories. John
One thing, about which I've some daydreams, is a Bachmann gas mechanical side rod critter. I've spotted two on that 'Net auction site. $45 including decoder equipped. (But right now, I'm an analog guy.) Good price! Wish I could spot some non-DCC, at even less! Anyhow, I think this would make a neat little starter for entering On30. Do they run decently? Anyone? Ill their DCC factory equipped stuff, run on analog? Or, fry, sizzle-sizzle? Boxcab E50
I've got something you can use I still have that 2 motor Bachman centercab for $15. It would be a great foundation for an On30 motive power project.:teeth: JCater, I put an O seated engineer, that I found with some other stuff, in the box of stuff your buying.
Look on E-Bay, they always seem to have a good selection of critters, both DCC and non-DCC. I can't say how they run BUT the steam I have (assuming the same mechanism is used) run GREAT (so quiet and smooth I have wondered why I ever ran any other scale ). Hey...an engineer too!! Thanks!!!!!!!!! Did you get my PM? Its the old saw "check is in the mail" but it really is true Seriously, thanks alot for selling the stuff and I hope it helps you out too. John
The smell of burning powder and handling a piece of history grew on me.:teeth: It's become my "golf game".
Yeah, playing Celtic music is my "golf game" and those instruments are expensive. Tha's why this thread is interesting. How else do folks stretch their railroad dollars? For me its scratch building... John
My other "hobby" is powerboat racing Well, it was... But I still collect some memorabilia. Buttons, tacks, programs. And the season is in progress right now! Boxcab E50
Fortunately, it's in the garage. Buried under a thick coat of dust. In which condition, there's no expense! Ha ha. But, some day, the bug may bite me again.. Boxcab E50
Yeah, I have some of those also. Like painitng 1:78 scale military figures (mainly started as a project with my none year old). Several unopened boxes just sitting there....Now, I could sell this stuff and apply it to the railroad, but just as soon as I do a reason to open those boxes will come along! John
:thumbs_up: I used to build WWII armor in 1:72, 1:76. Had a lot of Airfix OO. But then it sat for years. And sat. And i finally got up the courage. Sold it all. Have never looked back. Just kept fond memories.... Boxcab E50
Stretching the buck is a challenge in any hobby. Scratchbuilding, or even kitbashing can save money. I always look for deals at swapmeets, ebay, online stores, and Caboose Hobbies. It also helps to have a good circle of friends in the hobby, no matter what scale they model. For example, one of the guys in the n-scale club stopped by and gave me a broken down, partially scratch build o-scale building. He bought a box of goodies at a swapmeet that had mostly n-scale items in it. At the bottom of the box was this broken building. The interior was complete with some sort of waterwheel connected to a large pulley and a generator. I have no clue as to what it is supposed to be, but I am going to make it into a small stamp mill. Whoever started building it, was using board by board construction. I'll scratchbuilld the rest with wood and plastic materials I have lying around and it will cost me very little. I don't have much money to spend on my model railroad hobby, because like some of you, I have another hobby. CARS! I'm currently working on my 1986 Monte Carlo. So what do I buy next? That K-27 steam engine, or a new exhaust system?
I know exactly what you are talking about Conrad-- I have a Jeep Wrangler... I understand what the saying "Its a jeep thing, you wouldnt understand" really means, "its a jeep, you wouldnt understand the amount of money in it". I am at the cross roads of either A. Rebuild the jeep engine, or just throw a v-8 in it. either way, its going to run about the same B. upgrade the entire N scale fleet to DCC C. Start working on a On30 layout. Either way, im screwed!
63-ford -fairlane...toasts the jeep in the girl category for sure - as in, it behaves around your wallet like one!!!
I am looking at getting back into Jeeps. Used to have a CJ-7. Also a 67 Camero convertable. Sold em all for TRAINS (LOL). John
