How to save money on your RR

[dl85vette]

Here's something I just thought of after posting the RR theme/era post. Thought it would be good for those starting out in the hobby new or a seasoned trainographer looking at revamping the layout. How to keep the cost down on your RR. (this coming from the schmo that just purchased a Kato 😛 oh wait that's me. Feel free to add to this with your own ideas. Dr Scrooge.... NOT (i wish though) 1) If buying a lot of track, buy from a mail/internet order place. I saved a lot of money buy ordering from the states (that's after shipping,currancy exchange and duty) 2) Don't buy unnecessary rolling stock (if you wish to have a theme to your RR) Husky stack intermodal cars cost money,it then costs that amount again for the *&%%$%$# containers. 3) consider auctions for used/new rolling stock. Aside from couplers/trucks, not a whole lot can go wrong on a used freight car. 4) Don't use any more turnouts than you need. Most of us probably break that rule regardless as we WANT the turnouts. 5) Buy locos/rolling stock in a RR road name that isn't as popular as some of the sought after ones tend to go for more in auctions.

[handy34]

38)buy stuff at BigLots, lots of deals, hobby files,paint, just lots of cheap stuff

[handy34]

39)real auctions....I picked up a whole Big layout at an auction for $100....It was big. nobody wanted to move it.

[beastranger]

40-Have Dave custom paint your engines! Punk

[dl85vette]

41) Have an idea what actual postage rates go for. Take S+H fee in account on auctions/mailorders.

[untabubba]

42. And don't forget to factor in the soaring price of gasoline, versus those S&H fees, if your LHS is a fair distant drive.

[ginzokid]

43) Move back to a country that has real hobby shops you can visit instead of having to ship everything in by whale or moose. 44) Learn to control your "IgottahavethisitemrightnoworI'lldie" gene. We all have it and it is a very powerful gene.

[70novahound]

45) Get a new job that comes with a built in $5,000 a year raise....I just did! CJ

[ginzokid]

46) Borrow money from the guy with a new job and excess money he will never miss since he never had it before.

[dl85vette]

47) Sell off locos/rollingstock/etc you don't run at all/anymore and re-invest it into good locos,etc..

[ginzokid]

48) Change scales or cut down your collection and sell these unwanted item on ebay to finance your new layout. 49) Get lucky and buy an item in ebay at a cheap price that you know is worth more, then resell it.

[nascarpetlover]

50)Sell off anything that you no longer need and reinvest into your layout. (And I know that spouse's do not quailify as my wife told me so.) LNF

[ginzokid]

51) Join a model railroad club and "save" all the discarded scenery materials that are usually thrown out when they revamp or redo a layout. Trees are an easy one to "rescue". 52) Learn short-cuts in that same club from more experienced members and use them wisely.

[dl85vette]

53) Look at some items that you may toss into the garbage. Dish detergent bottles have caps that look like vents. Certain plastic (shamoo,etc) bottles resemble fraction/cooling/etc towers seen at steel mills,refineies,etc.. 54) Check out your hardware store. The plumbing section has lots of pipe fittings that could be used for an industry (depending on scale). Buy a plastic pipe and cut it down to length for your pellet storage silos, or grain elevators,fuel tanks,etc..

[ginzokid]

55) Caps from spray cans make great oil tanks. You can have a "tank farm" for free. Just add a little piping(sprues from plastic kits), build your moat (from modeling clay or left over casting plaster) and you are set.

[untabubba]

Pete, My brother did exactly that on his layout when I was just a wee-lad! He used all sorts of cans and lids and wood dowels, etc to model a refinery. He used bell wire for pipes and conduit. He didn't have much monay and he was very creative. It was truly amazing! Max