| If you have been a model railroader for some time you | | | | newsletters that you want to buy 2nd hand model train |
| will understand that the costs of model trains can add | | | | equipment. Most veteran model railroaders have far |
| up very quickly. Model trains are the best hobby in the | | | | too much equipment for their needs and usually have |
| world, but if you are going to pay full retail price for | | | | had stuff sitting in boxes for years. Your advert may |
| everything you buy, it will soon become the most | | | | come at a time when they need some cash. |
| expensive hobby you have ever had! | | | | 4) Trade With Other Railroaders |
| Here is how to save money on your model trains: | | | | Model train clubs are great places to swap or trade |
| 1) Make Sure You know What You Want | | | | model train equipment. Often railroaders do not want |
| A common mistake with beginner railroaders is to start | | | | cash but they may want what you have. It does not |
| collecting one scale of model trains only to find that | | | | mean that you have to swap a diesel locomotive for a |
| there are more accessories in another scale, so they | | | | diesel locomotive, you could trade your skill in building a |
| change over. Do your research first, speak to other | | | | pond or painting their model train room. The ideas are |
| railroaders, check how much space you have | | | | endless and this can be a massive money saver. |
| available, do you want diesel or steam locomotives, will | | | | 5) Always Spend Your Hard Earned Money on Quality |
| your layout be multi-level, etc. | | | | Over Quantity |
| Think carefully about what you want. Hobby shop | | | | If you have the money and only want new equipment |
| sales people love customers that walk in and ask their | | | | than you absolutely must buy quality over quantity. |
| advice. Most of the sales people are on commission | | | | Locomotives can cost hundreds of dollars and it can |
| bonuses or incentives, so it is natural for them to sell | | | | be tempting to buy a locomotive at the lower end of |
| you what is in stock and preferably the equipment with | | | | the price scale. Manufacturers have become very |
| the biggest commissions. | | | | good at producing lower priced locomotives that are |
| With the internet it is easy to do some quality research | | | | well detailed and look good. However they lack in their |
| and find the best price. Often model train equipment | | | | inner workings. |
| from different states or countries can be much | | | | A common mistake is to say you will upgrade later, |
| cheaper, even with postage included. | | | | because the initial money you spent will be wasted. |
| 2) Create Half a Layout | | | | Once you experience quality equipment you will never |
| A model train that takes up your whole basement | | | | use the low quality stuff again. |
| looks very impressive, but the bigger your layout the | | | | 6) Make It Rather Than Buy It |
| more money you will spend. Often beginner model | | | | Model trains will teach skills that you never had before. |
| railroaders will see large and impressive layouts at their | | | | From working with electrics to creating rivers and |
| local model train club and want to build a similar sized | | | | ponds to building landscapes and so much more. It is |
| layout. | | | | this skill set that you develop that makes model trains |
| They usually do not have any idea what that large | | | | the best hobby in the world. |
| layout has cost the owner and how many hundreds of | | | | Every part of model trains can easily be learnt by |
| hours have been invested in building the system. Start | | | | buying an ebook, a book or asking your model train |
| off slowly with a half sized layout built against a wall. | | | | club. So make it before you buy it. Buildings can be |
| With clever use of backdrops you can make your | | | | bought in kit form but it is so much more fun (and |
| layout appear twice as big as it actually is. | | | | cheaper) creating the structure from scrap wood, |
| A half sized layout is quicker to build and will provide | | | | beads, glue, paint and other bits and pieces. |
| any beginner railroader a good idea of costs and time | | | | 7) Keep a Journal And Budget |
| involved. A half sized layout can always be pulled | | | | It can be very easy to impulsively buy when being sold |
| away from the wall and made twice or three times as | | | | by an enthusiastic hobby shop sales person. If you |
| big. | | | | know what you want and have done your research |
| 3) Buy 2nd Hand | | | | online you will know how much you need to spend, |
| I have bought locomotives off eBay for a tenth of the | | | | which will make negotiating easier. |
| price of a new one. Model train enthusiasts are | | | | Building a reasonable sized model train layout can run |
| generally very careful with their model train equipment, | | | | into the thousands of dollars. If you have $500 to |
| so it is very rare that you will buy a dud. | | | | spend then you do not want to even start with this |
| Unfortunately some veteran railroaders die after 30 or | | | | layout. You will end up with a half finished layout until |
| 40 years of model railroading. Often complete sets like | | | | you find some extra money. |
| these can be bought for a fraction of the cost of | | | | As you buy your model train equipment record the |
| buying new. Set up an alert on eBay, watch your local | | | | date, the details of the item you bought and the price |
| newspapers and community boards, keep in touch | | | | you paid in a journal or notebook. That way, when you |
| with your local model train club and ask the hobby | | | | come to sell it 2 or 3 years later, you know what you |
| shops. | | | | paid for it and can price it accordingly. A journal is a |
| Hobby shops usually only sell new equipment because | | | | great way to record your progress. Keep pictures as |
| the profits are bigger, so they will happily keep your | | | | you are building your layout and comment on any |
| details on file should someone come in wanting to sell | | | | issues or milestones. |
| 2nd hand equipment. Advertise in newspapers and | | | | |