N Gauge Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: upnick on February 10, 2013, 12:53:36 PM

Title: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: upnick on February 10, 2013, 12:53:36 PM
Hi  All,   

A while ago   Colin (trainsdownunder) found a video of  a   large layout & asked how much can  be spent  on  a hobby well  this may   be another contender to   it.

Look  out for the guy stood on the  train  going away from the camera  early on  in the video  :o  the  Consist  of  CN   locos with sound &   fumes/smoke  is particularly realistic  :)

One Man's Model Trains (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIp8eIMiPoo#ws)

 

Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: hairygit on February 10, 2013, 12:56:42 PM
As much as you feel you need (or want!) but don't tell S.W.M.B.O!
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: guest311 on February 10, 2013, 01:13:23 PM
far more than I can afford  >:D
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: Trainfish on February 10, 2013, 02:42:58 PM
About this much. Don't tell the wife!

Code 55 Track - £636.80
Locos - £3,894.30
Coaches - £1,226.70
Wagons - £1,620.00
Buildings - £1,966.90
Scenery & Accessories - £1,351.15
Electrical - £539.50
Code 80 Track - £334.40
Other - £958.00
TOTAL VALUE - £12,527.75

Granted not all has been bought brand new but these are replacement costs using a variety of sources of information. Model shops, manufacturers, ebay etc.
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: Fratton on February 10, 2013, 03:56:04 PM
I dare not tell the mrs all the little bits i buy, best part about N gauge is it's easier to smuggle past her  8)
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: Trainfish on February 10, 2013, 04:14:30 PM
I must admit it's been far easier to smuggle since switching to N  :o
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: Newportnobby on February 10, 2013, 04:22:49 PM
All I know is when Lawrence came a-visiting last year, he reckoned I could open a shop :worried:
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: macwales on February 10, 2013, 04:56:12 PM
Hi

:ngfemailsign: :confused2:

Hobby costs are like a running a car you need to budget and don't spend more than you budget but do not add it all up as its always a bad surprise - but the question is....

'Would I do without it?' :hmmm:


Like a car - if the answer is 'no' then its worth it. Ha Ha!!

:claphappy:

Feel much better now

Cheers

Mac :bounce: :bounce:

Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: EtchedPixels on February 10, 2013, 05:43:17 PM
The budget of Miniatur Wunderland must be truely mindboggling. Mind you the amount spent on some other layouts (like Retford) must be enormous too.
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: AndyGif on February 10, 2013, 07:38:57 PM
Quote from: Trainfish on February 10, 2013, 02:42:58 PM
About this much. Don't tell the wife!

TOTAL VALUE - £12,527.75

Granted not all has been bought brand new but these are replacement costs using a variety of sources of information. Model shops, manufacturers, ebay etc.

Must be a similar amount so far for me too, similar break down as well. Luckily the bulk of mine was spent before meeting and marrying the mrs and starting a family.  I estimate spending a couple of grand a year upgrading old stuff and buying new stuff.
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: Pengi on February 10, 2013, 09:16:06 PM
I dread to think what I have spent although it is nowhere near 12k.

It is all the little bits of spend that mount up. For example peeps, lights, wire, paints etc
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: tim-pelican on February 10, 2013, 09:52:16 PM
I'm finding it's the "starting out" stuff that's nickel-and-diming me to death a lot of the time.  Tools I didn't have that now I've bought will hopefully last a while, decent gauge wire that's so much cheaper on 100m drums it would be rude not too, paints, glues, ...

A year on, I've only added 4 locos and a single DMU to my original "train set", and only one of those locos was brand new, so I don't feel too bad about rolling stock.

DCC hurts too - the Zephyr was a big buy, and automation goodies from CML are not coming cheap.  Plus "that loco is running well now, time for a decoder..."  I wouldn't be without though, it's brilliant.
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: weave on February 10, 2013, 10:11:38 PM
Quote from: EtchedPixels on February 10, 2013, 05:43:17 PM
The budget of Miniatur Wunderland must be truely mindboggling. Mind you the amount spent on some other layouts (like Retford) must be enormous too.

Blimming heck

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1164713/Nine-years--8m-miles-track-later-twin-brothers-present-worlds-biggest-train-set.html#axzz2KXL6Zw9v (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1164713/Nine-years--8m-miles-track-later-twin-brothers-present-worlds-biggest-train-set.html#axzz2KXL6Zw9v)
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: weave on February 10, 2013, 10:18:37 PM
Quote from: Trainfish on February 10, 2013, 02:42:58 PM
About this much. Don't tell the wife!

Code 55 Track - £636.80
Locos - £3,894.30
Coaches - £1,226.70
Wagons - £1,620.00
Buildings - £1,966.90
Scenery & Accessories - £1,351.15
Electrical - £539.50
Code 80 Track - £334.40
Other - £958.00
TOTAL VALUE - £12,527.75

Granted not all has been bought brand new but these are replacement costs using a variety of sources of information. Model shops, manufacturers, ebay etc.

Blimming heck again. Might take up golf, sounds cheaper  :)
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: Trainfish on February 10, 2013, 11:11:42 PM
Quote from: weave on February 10, 2013, 10:18:37 PM
Quote from: Trainfish on February 10, 2013, 02:42:58 PM
About this much. Don't tell the wife!

Code 55 Track - £636.80
Locos - £3,894.30
Coaches - £1,226.70
Wagons - £1,620.00
Buildings - £1,966.90
Scenery & Accessories - £1,351.15
Electrical - £539.50
Code 80 Track - £334.40
Other - £958.00
TOTAL VALUE - £12,527.75

Granted not all has been bought brand new but these are replacement costs using a variety of sources of information. Model shops, manufacturers, ebay etc.

Blimming heck again. Might take up golf, sounds cheaper  :)

My golf expenditure:

Set of Ping G15 irons bought new £500 (all clubs usually replaced every 2-3 years)
3x Benross woods £200
Srixon putter £120
Motocaddy S3 trolley £400
New battery for trolley every 2 years £80
Sky Caddie £150

Annual costs:
Balls £100
Golf club membership £835 (Due in March)
Fuel to drive to golf club £250
Competition entries £100
2x pairs of shoes £160
Clothing £300
Replacement spikes, tees, markers etc £50
Bar bill £unknown
Side bets £unknown
Sky Caddie updates £40
Excursions/Awaydays £300

Some of the above costs are approximate.
It seems I have expensive tastes. No wonder I struggle to get by each month!
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: kaiwhara on February 10, 2013, 11:15:35 PM
There is a limit  :confused2: Oh, is that one of those mythical things which you can never find intentionally, but know when you have when you get a verbal boxing from the other half??  :help: :angel:
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: EtchedPixels on February 10, 2013, 11:26:04 PM
A nice quiet walk in the countryside is so much cheaper and far more fun  :beers:
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: Trainfish on February 10, 2013, 11:35:35 PM
It's also very dangerous EP, especially if it's anywhere near where I'm playing golf!
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: OwL on February 11, 2013, 08:18:09 PM
If you ask Pete Waterman or Rod Stewart the same question, the answer would be millions!
The only thing stopping me spending more is having to eat and paying bills!
I quit smoking just so i can spend more on model trains! Thats how much i love spending on trains!
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: lil chris on February 15, 2013, 11:20:38 PM
Quote from: EtchedPixels on February 10, 2013, 11:26:04 PM
A nice quiet walk in the countryside is so much cheaper and far more fun  :beers:
I agree with you on this one,nice weather possibly this weekend too. Just bought new pair of cragghopper trousers for £28,wifes moaning about that,lucky she doesnt realise how much my railway as cost upto now....10 points,double slip,single slip 2 crossings, loads of code 55 point motors and switches,cable,new soldering iron, GF black 5 loco. Mind the soldering iron was very reasonable from Conrad's off a link on here.
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: scotsoft on February 15, 2013, 11:33:24 PM
Quote from: lil chris on February 15, 2013, 11:20:38 PM
Mind the soldering iron was very reasonable from Conrad's off a link on here.

If your soldering station from Conrad is the same as the one I bought then you may find this tip useful.
I bought my pack from the £1 shop and just pushed one under the soldering iron holder  ;)
It does a great job keeping the tip of the iron clean.

(http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq108/Scotsoft/NGF/Others%20Pictures/e1bc5446.jpg)

(http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq108/Scotsoft/NGF/Others%20Pictures/a9c1ef0e.jpg)

cheers John.
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: moogle on February 15, 2013, 11:58:49 PM
Over the years I dread to think what I've spent on the hobby.  :uneasy:
Probably less than I've spent on :pint: in pubs though...
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: Alex on February 16, 2013, 04:10:14 PM
Hi,

I kept a spreadsheet last year on how much I spent.

I bought 51 pieces of rolling stock which came to £336 and 24 engines which came to £432.

Other stuff such as scenics, paint, brushes etc came to about £350-400.

Not keeping a total this year but it's nearly £100 so far on rolling stock for my WPR layout.

Alex  :wave:
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: daveg on February 16, 2013, 05:02:48 PM
It's a bit scarey when you tot it all up. In my case it's almost terrifying!  :worried:

I started (again) just a year ago completely from scratch bar an ancient but excellent Rawlplug soldering iron and my xls already shows a substantial 4 figure total. That includes all the new tools and materials and wire for the board and trestles but even so, it's a chunk of dough!

Thirteen locos and heaven know how many wagons and coaches later I keep telling myself to slow down but then something else comes along ......  :drool:

Dave G
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: Reptile Smile on February 16, 2013, 08:12:58 PM
I'm starting from scratch, and will log the cost for interest, though I suspect it goes without saying that if my dear wife catches sight of this thread, I shall deny all knowledge of any chap called Reptile Smile, and perhaps produce the alternate 'B' accounts to appease her.
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: Newportnobby on February 16, 2013, 09:35:59 PM
All I can say is that Alex has bought very wisely :thumbsup:
Taking an average price of, say, £70 for new Farish/Dapol stuff - 24 locos would cost....um....duh :dunce:.....a whole lot more than £432 :o
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: Alex on February 17, 2013, 07:50:28 AM
Hi Newport,

Five of the engines were bought brand new for £25, £27, £31, £37 and £70. The rest were E-Bay bargains. The luxury of running US outline is that the engines are a lot cheaper than UK outline. The £70 engine is a huge 2-6-6-2 Articulated steamie, although that was a bargain from Hattons. Retail price was £192.

Alex  :wave:
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: monkey on February 17, 2013, 09:02:53 AM
 :D  Nothing yet, all the bits i've got were bought by grandad.
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: longbridge on February 17, 2013, 09:18:26 AM
As little as possible Alex, by the way its nice to see you back on again.

Since 2005 I estimate that I have spent over $12,000 or 8,000 GBP  on model railways and have very little to show for it.

I decided about 18 months ago that I would spend as little as possible on trains, to be honest I have more fun making do, modifying and scratch building things, I now only buy second hand locos and rolling stock, I usually repaint everything to suit my taste which all in all has brought a new dimension into this great hobby.

I doubt very much that I will ever buy any more new stuff.
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: Sprintex on February 17, 2013, 10:57:44 AM
I've kept a spreadsheet since I started on my 12'x3' layout, every single cost being logged along the way. Although all the major purchases are now over - track, control system, point motors, and of course TRAINS :D - there are still plenty of scenic bits to buy as I need them and so far it's just shy of £5k  ;)


Paul
Title: Re: How much can be spent on our hobby
Post by: Newportnobby on February 17, 2013, 11:01:13 AM
Quote from: Sprintex on February 17, 2013, 10:57:44 AM
so far it's just shy of £5k  ;)


Paul

Novice! >:D ;D