When I was kid living in post-war Germany, I remember Dad getting gas for 15 cents a gallon. I never saw a television until we returned the second time in 1957, but we never owned one - I gave them mine when I went to Germany on my socond overseas tour of duty in '70. That was the first set they ever had, and they kept it forever.
Rising hobby prices
- Thread starter Kevinkrey
- Start date
When I was kid living in post-war Germany, I remember Dad getting gas for 15 cents a gallon. I never saw a television until we returned the second time in 1957, but we never owned one - I gave them mine when I went to Germany on my socond overseas tour of duty in '70. That was the first set they ever had, and they kept it forever.
L
lester perry
I think we are trying to say if we live within our means it will work out in the end.yes the prices are going up so you have to wait a while to get what you want. Also the quality has improved greatly, so it costs more. I used to love the Athearn blue box but now I want DCC , sound and good detail. oh yeah I havent had to paint or kit bash to get my C&O power for years. I have thought about doing that lately just for the challenge.
Les
Les
25 cents for a gallon of gas....a dude to put it in your tank (the tiger in the tank...) AND a clean windshield.....That's what you got when you went to "fill 'er up..."
That is only true if your "means" keep up with rapidly rising costs of basic goods and services. What about all those who live on fixed incomes, such as the elderly? Heating oil, food, medications and other essentials are climbing out of sight, all tied to rsiing oil costs, but no one is raising their incomes to keep pace.
It might work in the modeling world, but it's a hell of a way to try and run a real railroad out in the real world.
What you "got" was a guy who filled your tank, cleaned your windshield, checked your tires, oil and water and even looked around under the hood...and he was uniformed, polite and spoke English as a first language.
It wasn't that long ago.
N
nachoman
A friend of mine used to sit and complain about how much stuff costs these days. "A family can't survive without two working parents" he would claim. He blamed govenrment for ruining things, and ruining the idea of having a stay-at-home mother.
I pointed out to him that if he was willing to give up his cable tv, his 2nd tv, his computer, go back to a single land-line phone, and quit eating out so much, he could have a stay-at-home wife and 3 kids and get along just fine as people did in 1960. But he claimed all those things were necessities.
And this was 5 years ago when he used to tell me this. Eventually I got sick of his whining, and lost touch with him. The point is still valid, though.
Kevin
I pointed out to him that if he was willing to give up his cable tv, his 2nd tv, his computer, go back to a single land-line phone, and quit eating out so much, he could have a stay-at-home wife and 3 kids and get along just fine as people did in 1960. But he claimed all those things were necessities.
And this was 5 years ago when he used to tell me this. Eventually I got sick of his whining, and lost touch with him. The point is still valid, though.
Kevin
L
lester perry
Mountain man I am on a fixed income. SSI disability. which is about half of what I was making a year ago. I now have 7 RXs and PT 2 times a week. I have to pay for Cobra health insurance which is big $. my union carried me for 1 year on insurance. but now I am on my own. So I know all about fixed income. But guess what life goes on. So I just keep smiling and run my trains and drive my wife crazy. Back to the original topic yes the hobby is getting more expensive. I am glad I started when I did, about 15 years ago. OK enough from me I'll get off my soap box and shut up I know prices are going crazy every where.
Les
Les
Yep - I get military retirement and SSI, and have about as prescriptions as you do, but I don't think the point was whether or not we "smile and drive on"; the point is about the effect of rising costs on not only elective activities such as modeling, but the mandatory ones like eating, drsssing and staying warm in the winter.
Jobs and salaries ar not keeping up with inflation, and that historically leads to bad things happening.
I spoke too soon, our economy is great!
Okay, maybe thats still to drastic, but I am realizing that there are deals to be found better than in good times right now, or at least at the LHS. Let me explain, there are several red taged items at my LHS. Today I went and was intrigued by a walthers box containing a SHARP looking wisconsin central hopper. But it was at that very moment one shelf up, that I noticed the 6 pack of stewart hobbies CNW hoppers. They are regularly $60 and I never wanted to spend that much on them. Well today, I had to double take, was that a red sticker on them? :mrgreen:YES!:mrgreen: And the price, now $30! So I picked up one set, and if the other is there much longer, I think Ill snatch it up too. Guess I need to make room for that interchange track after all.
Anyway, times are tough, but if you look close, there are great deals to be found, because retailers are also struggling these days.
Okay, maybe thats still to drastic, but I am realizing that there are deals to be found better than in good times right now, or at least at the LHS. Let me explain, there are several red taged items at my LHS. Today I went and was intrigued by a walthers box containing a SHARP looking wisconsin central hopper. But it was at that very moment one shelf up, that I noticed the 6 pack of stewart hobbies CNW hoppers. They are regularly $60 and I never wanted to spend that much on them. Well today, I had to double take, was that a red sticker on them? :mrgreen:YES!:mrgreen: And the price, now $30! So I picked up one set, and if the other is there much longer, I think Ill snatch it up too. Guess I need to make room for that interchange track after all.
Anyway, times are tough, but if you look close, there are great deals to be found, because retailers are also struggling these days.
kf4jqd
Active Member
My modeling has slowed down. It's not due to the rising cost of models, but the cost of gas and food. I need gas to fuel my car and food to eat.
Andy
Andy
Kevin
You are right on the mark. I grew up in the '60s. A family of six kids getting by on a single middle-class (probably lower) income. We did it by no college fund, an older 4 bedroom (we all shared bedrooms), 2 bath house, no air conditioning (in Northern Virginia), black and white TV with outside antenna (5 channels), using the library, and so on.
My family still has a single income with 2 kids still at home, and I commute 83 miles each way to a pretty decent job (formed a van pool a month ago). Kids go to a Christian school, all of which leaves me $40 per month for model railroading. It's a matter of priorities, and model railroading is what's left over after serving my church, doing my job, and being a husband and father. I probably get 4 hours a week on hobby time, so if I buy low end kits, I can manage a small layout within my budgeted time and money.
Just bought the lumber last week for a 4x6 HO/HOn3 test track.
Locomotive roster consists of the following:
HOn3:
- Keystone Shay with NWSL motorizing kit - still to be assembled ($125)
- MDC inside frame 2-8-0 - still to be assembled ($70)
- Kidder 0-4-0T - to be rebuilt someday, bought used unpainted ($45)
- Mantua General kit - still to be assembled ($45)
- Mantua 4-8-0 kit - chassis to be used in kitbash ($40)
- Model Power 2-8-0 - tender drive, plastic chassis, use Mantua chassis? ($65)
- MDC 3 truck Shay kit, not started, to be traded for 2 truck (gift)
- Rivarossi Heisler - too modern, to be sold (gift)
- MDC Climax - converted from boxcab diesel ($40 total)
- AHM RS-3 - to be sold (part of $15 garage sale train set)
Meanwhile, I feel led to build an HOn3 Free-mo module for the NNGC here in Colorado Springs in 2009. I had planned a dual gauge module set, but have realized that I will be lucky to get a straight HOn3 module built with reasonable scenery before the convention rolls around.
Modeling on limited $$ is very practical if you are willing to forego instant gratification, RTR, and high end equipment. One locomotive a year, perhaps 3 car kits and a structure kit is very realistic to me, and after an appropriate number is reached, sell one off for every new acquisition.
just my thoughts, your choices