Well trainman, you know how it goes - discussions have a way of evolving. Did you have a comment re: preorders? hboy:
To be more to the point, my project with the Superliners for the Empire Builder is an illustration of why I don't like preordering. I assume back when Walthers came out with these new plated versions, they were offered for pre-orders. That would have certainly guaranteed I wouldn't be searching for nice, new (and reasonably priced) examples today - but the problem is, I had no interest in modeling a present-day Empire Builder then or in fact any modern Amtrak train. And...carrying that further, I would have needed to preorder 8-9 cars. What was the MSRP, around $60? That gets us back to the commitment (although not binding) to lay down a huge pile of money at one time. I think that turns OFF a lot of sales. You know, you open your monthly flyer to drool over all the goodies, see the new releases, get to the fine print.... and think "maybe not".
I haven't yet made any preorders. I just don't feel comfortable buying anything sight unseen, especially at the prices being asked for the new stuff. I buy a lot of my stuff on auction sites. I enjoy disassebling models, improving them, and reassebling them in better condition than when I recieved them. I am a little cheap (I like to think of it as frugal), and will not pay the price that is asked for the newest models. I am not really as descerning as many here are about the models that I buy. Just the way I am.
I agree wholeheartedly. I get the most enjoyment out of taking an old, worn out piece and making it run and look good. I normally would not spend more than $30 - if that - on anything that doesn't have a motor!
I choose not to play the pre-order ratrace. If I need it bad enough, I'll wait until it hits the market, then look for a good price (Thou Shalt Not Pay Full Retail).
