Doh.......

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S

stang_crazy

Member
Ya ever see an ad listing something for sale, and you get this bright idea hey i can use that, then after ya get home go what in the hell did I buy this for??

Yeah i did that today. There was an ad on Craigslist for a modular train layout.

So i get there laod it all up, finally get home to no suprise at all alot of stuff is not looking to well.

thats when it sinked in what a dumb move lol.


I feel i got most of my moneys worth, as i stripped every tree, molded rocks, ect of that nature and got a pretty good sized box of that stuff.

also got some code 83 atlas flex track, ect..

There are a few of the modules that are about 1x2' or a lil longer that look pretty good just need some touching up and they will be good for backdrops for doing photos i figured.

there are also some nicely made stone walls that i can save and incorerate into something.


Lesson learned i must admit.

There is alot of reusable lumber, ect. and the person that built this layout musta liked drywall screws good lord. if i took out ever screw i could prolly supply menards lol.

oh yeah what did i pay $50.00 so at least its not the most expensice lesson. I think next time i get this idea ill examine the stuff a little better first.


Mike
So whats your story?
 
When I was starting to collect my rolling stock, I was in edmonton, and one of the employees at a hobby shop was saying someboy had a 4x4 N scale layout that they were trying to sell for 250. I give the guy a call, and arrange to swing by and take a look at it. We get it down off of a shelf in his garage, and what a mess.

There was probably 30 or so assorted cars, 2 diesels and 2 steam, none of which we could get to run, actually both steam had parts broken regardless.

It was all rapido, old bachman stuff. It had about 16 powered switches, and the trackwork was poorly done. Pretty much all 9 3/4 inch radius, and about 5 percent grades lol.

So, I am trying to leave, and he is begging us to buy it, as it was his sisters and he wanted it out of his garage. I just told him, I can't, its not worth anything to me.

He wasn't to happy, but I am not going to buy something that would be of little to no use for me. As I was just getting back into the hobby, the last thing I wanted to do was tinker endlessly to make old junk run, that probably would have only served to drive me away from the hobby.
 
I've done it too. Paid short money for a box of "train stuff" at a yard sale or church auction without digging too deep through the pile before handing over the cash. So - so buildings become background structures after a little fixing. Shorty train set passenger cars make semi ok yard buldings or junk yard offices after yanking the trucks off and boarding up a few windows. And some is just plain junk and gets tossed in short order.

It happens at the LHS as well. Just yesterday I went to a new to me LHS only needing a decal sheet and to check the place out. $82.00 later I came home with 2 vehicles, more paint, 2 magazines and a few other things. When I got back home and looked around it struck me that I still have miles of track yet to be laid and acres of scenery to do. Nothing really wrong with the items I bought except right now they aren't needed. Oh well; as long as we are having fun why worry about it.
 


yeah i had no intentions on using the layout at all really. i figured parts and backdrops for taken pics.

ya win some ya lose some lol
 
Shoot, I'd be happy to have something model railroad related show up on craigslist. Except for an occasion junker Lionel set, nothing ever gets listed. I don't know if folks around here just hate model railroads or what. :confused:
 
I picked up a box of HO train stuff for $10 at a yard sale. It was a pretty big box of stuff, so I figured there had to be $10 worth of stuff in it, right? R-i-g-h-t...:rolleyes: After I got it home, I found only the top layer was train stuff, the rest of the box was HO slot cars. I need a slot car set like I need another GP7 (I don't). I pulled out all the train stuff, and listed the slot cars on Craigslist for $25, and sold it for $20. Oh, the train stuff? After I cleaned it up, I found it was all brass track and Tyco cars, with an Athearn F7A. The F7 worked, the track and cars went into making two "train sets" for a couple of not-well-off neighbors' kids.
I guess I'd call it a win, but there was a while there I was wondering "What was I thinking?"
 
A friend of ours was looking to get rid of their bits and pieces of HO stuff, so I said I would take it (free). Included are Model Power, Tyco and Bachmann trainset cars and locos, some steel track, and bits here and there.

The cars I'm going to use to learn how to weather. The track is what I'll learn how to solder track on, before soldering my own. Then, I'll take the tracks apart, cut them to 39' lengths, paint them as rusty, and use them as scenery pieces.

The powerpacks may be used to light accessories and buildings, if they still work. I haven't tested them yet.
 
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