Running Bear's May 2025 Coffee Shop

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TLOC said:
Found this in my inbox this morning. It’s about the Model Train business and is not about politics

https://fb.watch/zjbF5C3gQS
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After watching the video, yes things will be impacted and some may get mad at who ever.

But what we’ve all or most people in this hobby have gotten use to buying whatever they wanted instead of making, detailing, kit bashing, etc.

I remember in model railroader there was always two to three plans for something the modeler could build. Last time I was subscribing to MR there was very little if anything to build from plans in the magazine.

Yes, this is going to suck, but all of us just need to ride it out and look at what we all have and maybe take a building or rail car or even a locomotive and build, detail, change it into what we want.

Look at other places for details not just the local hobby shop or online. Sewing places craft stores use your imagination and try something new. The result might amaze you.

For instance, hobby paints are expensive for what you get. Try craft or artist paints, you can mix them together to make the color you want. We all have hobby paints that we bought for a project and there’s still some left but we don’t use it again. That can get expensive.

I’ve even gone to the hardware store and bought spray cans for plastic to paint models. For the money and quantity more bang for the buck, which is good.

Hardware stores is an excellent place to find things that you can build structures with. Just go look and try something you never done before.

Just my thoughts
 
kgstakes said:
After watching the video, yes things will be impacted and some may get mad at who ever.

But what we’ve all or most people in this hobby have gotten use to buying whatever they wanted instead of making, detailing, kit bashing, etc.

I remember in model railroader there was always two to three plans for something the modeler could build. Last time I was subscribing to MR there was very little if anything to build from plans in the magazine.

Yes, this is going to suck, but all of us just need to ride it out and look at what we all have and maybe take a building or rail car or even a locomotive and build, detail, change it into what we want.

Look at other places for details not just the local hobby shop or online. Sewing places craft stores use your imagination and try something new. The result might amaze you.

For instance, hobby paints are expensive for what you get. Try craft or artist paints, you can mix them together to make the color you want. We all have hobby paints that we bought for a project and there’s still some left but we don’t use it again. That can get expensive.

I’ve even gone to the hardware store and bought spray cans for plastic to paint models. For the money and quantity more bang for the buck, which is good.

Hardware stores is an excellent place to find things that you can build structures with. Just go look and try something you never done before.

Just my thoughts
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I had a table at a swap meet back in March. I put completed structures out that I had laying around and they went fast. I thought I would sell maybe one or two, but not all of them.

I had Bar Mills, BTS, etc kits for 50% off of list and no-one cared. One of the big train stores had a table and the owner came by to see what I had left. One of the comments he made about the kits just sitting was "nobody wants to build anymore." I bought a lot of structure kits over the years that were GREAT buys. I have fun building them, but they just sit on a shelf. A show table is only $30 and I know that if I fill it with structures they will move quickly.
 


Found a few old photos.

Odorous House ants nesting in a laptop and the worst bed bug infestation I had ever found.

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Marlin39 said:
I had a table at a swap meet back in March. I put completed structures out that I had laying around and they went fast. I thought I would sell maybe one or two, but not all of them.

I had Bar Mills, BTS, etc kits for 50% off of list and no-one cared. One of the big train stores had a table and the owner came by to see what I had left. One of the comments he made about the kits just sitting was "nobody wants to build anymore." I bought a lot of structure kits over the years that were GREAT buys. I have fun building them, but they just sit on a shelf. A show table is only $30 and I know that if I fill it with structures they will move quickly.
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I had always bought kits. Railroad cars from roundhouse, locomotives from roundhouse, structures from many companies, campbell always had nice structures as did fine scale miniatures ( I think that was the name ) and that was the only way I could be in the hobby. Over the years, I think I only have two locomotives that I bought that were not kits. My dad had a few locomotives that once I got into the hobby I got them but other than that I had to do it "on the cheap" and I was happy.

I still have all of my roundhouse cars and they are on the layout. They are fine for me, I don't need the latest and greatest for my switching layout.

Here are some pictures of a couple of structures that I bought back in my teens and twenties and they still look good. One of them, the carriage works building, I bought in the 80's and I seen it a few years back in a Walthers catalog and had a price of $65.00 (something like that) and I know I didn't pay over 30 for it back then.

I can see the money in some of these structure kits, but if I was a young lad getting into the hobby, I would have to scratch build pretty much everything. Just couldn't afford the prices they are asking now a days.

Carriage Works building.

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Lumber yard kit (campbells kit?) The railroad cars are all roundhouse from back in the day.

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Log Depot from MR magazine plans (scratch built). Water Tower from Scale Structures I believe not sure

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scratch build this little loading dock from plans in MR

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All the pictures shown (except the depot and water tank) are on my switching layout now and I've had these for over 40 years. All the trees you see in the pictures I made. There are only 3 or 4 trees on my switching layout that I bought all the rest are scratch built. Yeah some are from Scenic express but the pine trees I made from rope and floral wire. You know the ole' "bottle brush" technique. Looks ok to me.
 
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If any of you have been in the hobby for any length of time, save those structures, trees, etc. and use them on the next layout or diorama. All of my structures are at least 10-40 years old. I just use them over and over again. If I need something different, I scratch build what I want. I guess I'm to cheap to go buy a structure kit :oops:

You've all seen my layout but here it is before I put it in a shadow box. Shows size and what buildings I have. And yes there are some Walthers kits there as well. Mostly I like to build with basswood and scratch build.

(yeah, water tank don't belong there but I put it there just because. It's don't service anything).

Heck for vehicles, dad gave me all his from when he was in the hobby (basically tracks around the christmas tree) but believe it or not they are all or most all old match box vehicles. And some are worth some money now but nope won't part with them. I still have the original boxes they came in.

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FOR THOSE WHO ARE 60 yrs OLD AND ABOVE PLEASE READ THIS.
This is for you. I really like what is said here and am going to try my best to follow it. Thank you to the person who wrote this. May God bless us all as we strive to be a blessing to others at this age, especially to our children.
LW
🚩Between 60 and death. It's time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don't just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital.
🚩Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.
🚩Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don't feel bad spending your money on yourself. You've taken care of them for many years, and you've taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter, and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.
🚩Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well, and get your sleep. It's easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you're feeling well. Stay informed.
🚩Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together.
🚩Don't stress over the little things. You've already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don't let the past drag you down and don't let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.
🚩Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: "A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection."
🚩Be proud, both inside and out. Don't stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.
🚩Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It’s part of who you are.
🚩ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You'll be surprised at what old friends you'll meet.
🚩Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideas as you, but they are the future and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday's wisdom still applies today.
Never use the phrase: “In my time.” Your time is now. As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time.
🚩Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it'll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you feel older and harder to be around.
🚩Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live by yourself
🚩Don't abandon your hobbies. If you don't have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a kitchen garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf.
🚩Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven't seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a park. Get out there.
🚩Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are.
🚩Pains and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of life.
🚩If you've been offended by someone – forgive them. If you've offended someone-apologize. Don't drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn't matter who was right. Someone once said: "Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die." Don't take that poison. Forgive, forget, and move on with your life.
🚩Laugh. Laugh away your worries Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life.
My valued friends, enjoy peaceful life at this point in your life ...
Don't worry... be happy. 😄
 
migalyto said:
May want to hold onto some of those kits!

If the ship stays on the current course, building things might get popular again in a hurray! ;)
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Speaking as someone in a couple of adjacent hobbies (toy soldiers and MRR)… there are parts of the Toy Soldier hobby I drastically despise. Most of all, I HATE assembling the models. I don’t find it relaxing. Painting them… doing scenery/diorama style… those parts I greatly enjoy. The model building sucks the joy out of the hobby if it takes too long or is overly complicated..

The thought of assembling some of these building or car kits is a daunting task. I’ll move to 3d printing before I tackle an outrageously complicated kit.

For my toy soldiers, if a model is too complex, I’ll skip it, even if it makes sense to have in the army. There is one regimental unit I’d love to field, but just assembling the 38mm tall soldiers come with stern warnings from others in the hobby. Arms and heads might be in three pieces. Good luck not gluing your fingers to the models while assembling…

So, it’s not a “well, just do it the other way…” issue. It may very well be an issue of ADHD, or similar personality divergence that makes one better at a different part of the hobby. I do envy those that can do it all equally well without the monster of frustration making one shelve the hobby and go back to watching the boob tube’s mindless content.
 


troyphoto said:
For those without Facebook, here's the link to it on youtube:

Interesting that it's got a LOT of industry leaders discussing the realities of what it means to their businesses and to the hobby.
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Troyphoto thanks for posting the YouTube video.

Staying away from political side of tariffs this is what I come away from this video.

145% Tariffs will eliminate these manufacturers because without a continuous cash flow they are done. Walthers employs over 100 people in Milwaukee and Scaletrains has at least 20 but definitely under 40 in Tennessee. I cannot find anything on Atlas and I’m guessing Rapido has at least 10 in Canada. So if these businesses lose cash flow they are cooked.

Yes, I have more then enough modeling to do without buying anything more but just because I can stay busy in the hobby doesn’t mean the manufacturer can ride it out until tariffs are stabilized or rolled completely back.

Why isn’t Athearn in the video. I have always understood Athearn since Irv sold out always has gone their own way from the industry. I would bet the proverbial $ to a donut though that other than the small guys Athearn declares bankruptcy 1st.

Personally if a diesel appears that would cost $350 tomorrow I’d have a very hard time pulling the trigger to buy BUT I might depending. However if a 145% tariff makes it $507+ I guarentee you I’m not even thinking of buying it. It’s why I stocked up on inventory before the swearing in ceremony on Jan. 21 and again after the 1st pull back.

Now move this discussion to your local grocery store. I believe 10 to 25% tariffs from South and Central American for fruits and veggies while significant will not generate that big an issue. In lots of cases there is like the model train business no alternatives for MOST of the US population. They will cut back something else to buy that avacodo, grapes, strawberries and lettuce. Not everyone can grow their own.

I truly understand the reasoning behind the tariffs. Implementation of the tariffs is political and I will stay away from that.

Yes, we will get through this blip in the road but we will survive and that is the main thing. If new trains are gone, we’ll so be it but it will hurt families of these businesses and that’s sad

Keep any responses or flaming away the political please
 


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