IronBeltKen
Lazy Daydreamer
Hello fellow train addicts, I’m facing an interesting dilemma. The online E-magiazine Model-Railroad-Hobbyist is going to publish an article of mine, and I’ll be netting just shy of $400 from that. This is totally unrestricted income for me! There are lots of mrr-related things I’d really like to have [but normally can’t afford]; however, I can only get one of these.
There are 3 things on my ‘short’ list: (1) A trio of Walthers Hulett ship/barge unloader kits, (2) some FastTracks jigs and associated tools for handlaying #4 and #6 turnouts, or (3) a pair of NCE Cab04P-R wireless throttles for visiting operators who can't bring any of their own. I’ve spelled out the benefits and drawbacks of each below.
Huletts – Benefits: I never dreamed I'd have enough cash in my pocket to get these things in the first place, and now will probably be my only chance at this price. They sure would look great on my ore dock if I eventually start modeling the Transition Era.
Huletts – Drawbacks: They will definitely sit unassembled on my trainroom shelf for the next 4-5 years, as my current layout wouldn’t accommodate them without major surgery. I would need a minimum of 3 of these things to make the scene appear credible, if and when I do install them.
FastTracks – Benefits: This would give me the means to build and install some highly reliable turnouts in my yards and industrial areas.
Fastracks – Drawbacks: I would have to start reconstructing my layout in order to benefit from having them. I don’t have that many derailment problems to justify replacing the existing Atlas turnouts.
Cab04-R – Benefits: With these extra throttles, I will always have enough wireless units on hand to keep at least three train operators occupied – even when they can’t bring their own. (BTW – these are what I originally earmarked this article money for.)
Cab04-R – Drawbacks: They would only be used once or twice a month, during my hosted op sessions. Otherwise they’d be sitting idle.
I’d like to get some opinions from “the gallery” before I make a final decision. The money isn’t actually in my checking account yet, so I have a while to reflect on it. What would you do in this situation?
There are 3 things on my ‘short’ list: (1) A trio of Walthers Hulett ship/barge unloader kits, (2) some FastTracks jigs and associated tools for handlaying #4 and #6 turnouts, or (3) a pair of NCE Cab04P-R wireless throttles for visiting operators who can't bring any of their own. I’ve spelled out the benefits and drawbacks of each below.
Huletts – Benefits: I never dreamed I'd have enough cash in my pocket to get these things in the first place, and now will probably be my only chance at this price. They sure would look great on my ore dock if I eventually start modeling the Transition Era.
Huletts – Drawbacks: They will definitely sit unassembled on my trainroom shelf for the next 4-5 years, as my current layout wouldn’t accommodate them without major surgery. I would need a minimum of 3 of these things to make the scene appear credible, if and when I do install them.
FastTracks – Benefits: This would give me the means to build and install some highly reliable turnouts in my yards and industrial areas.
Fastracks – Drawbacks: I would have to start reconstructing my layout in order to benefit from having them. I don’t have that many derailment problems to justify replacing the existing Atlas turnouts.
Cab04-R – Benefits: With these extra throttles, I will always have enough wireless units on hand to keep at least three train operators occupied – even when they can’t bring their own. (BTW – these are what I originally earmarked this article money for.)
Cab04-R – Drawbacks: They would only be used once or twice a month, during my hosted op sessions. Otherwise they’d be sitting idle.
I’d like to get some opinions from “the gallery” before I make a final decision. The money isn’t actually in my checking account yet, so I have a while to reflect on it. What would you do in this situation?