i'm in the fortunate position in that i can afford to buy any brand new models i might want...but simply because i WONT buy them at the prices they are.

Even 2nd ( or tenth) hand stuff is often listed at laughable prices--because these del boy type dealers think they can rip off enough  innocent punters who dont know the real worth of what they are buying.

Like several others have mentioned--i get most pleasure in buying and bashing cheap models into something not available to buy off the shelf.

I weather everything because unweathered stock just looks too plastic. I really don't care about residual value. I just want to run trains that are as close to the real thing as possible.

I understand why some folk don't like to weather stock and that's fine, it's a hobby and everyone should do what they enjoy.

Useful resource to find model railway events - https://modelrailwayevents.uk/

Quote from: kesdrive on March 21, 2026, 01:32:13 PMI prefer weathered stock and don't purchase with an eye to sell on in the future.

Me too, but at some point I will shuffle off this mortal coil and, hopefully, my models will be sold to raise money for my favoured charity.

Some thoughts in no particular order.

I love weathered wagons and locos, but for me, coaches should be clean, certainly above platform level.

My own creations are always pristine though.

I've used TMC, Rails, and @Ensign Elliott as well as some of my own efforts.

You get what you pay for. "Value" weathering really isn't good value if you don't like it, and I've sold on value weathered stock before now.
I've also not accepted some professional weathering because it wasn't like the photo used to sell the service.

Anyone who charges for weathering should be classed as professional IMHO.

And as far as resale value, it's in the eye of the buyer. I've paid less for second hand TMC weathered stock than I paid for pristine originally.

Money is not the only metric. What's more important is that you like the model.

Bob

I have factory weathered locos and used TMC for weathering locos and freight wagons. I have  on the way 2 class 44's weathered by @Ensign Elliott. I prefer weathered stock and don't purchase with an eye to sell on in the future.


Chris

Quote from: Western Exile on March 21, 2026, 11:51:45 AM

Quote from: willike1958 on March 21, 2026, 07:21:50 AMStill waiting for that Class25/3 

You're not alone. I'm still waiting for a skinhead 31 as well.

Skinhead 31 is a bit of minor violence with some sharp tools and filler then a repaint. It's not a difficult conversion. The class 30 variant is hairier as you have to change the exhaust area if you rivet count.

IMHO it depends on the model and weathering

Factory weathered makes no difference to anyone I think. It's the product as sold. DIY weathering depends on the quality.

All of it though depends on context. A nicely weathered Dapol 9F is a different kettle (sorry) of fish to a weathered Minitrix one, where it's mostly collectors buying and the box is worth as much as the model 

Quote from: maridunian on March 21, 2026, 08:52:20 AMI agree that prices of new locos and rolling stock are utterly staggering.

I am lucky, in that I probably could afford to buy new wagons for 2-3 hours' minimum wage or locos for 15-20, but I refuse to.

The vast majority of my collection is (at least) second hand, and I enjoy customising it all the more because it's old, worn and cheap (like me!)

Mike

In the past five years I think I've bought 4 half price coaches, one 33% off coach and a 47 with sound on special offer. It's simply too expensive a hobby at this point, and I am certainly not in the lower wealth bracket either.

People ask me why all the kids play train sims or model stuff in them instead, or in minecraft and stuff. There's a really simple pair of answers - cost and space.

I don't see some of the vendors surviving much longer if there is a big downturn. Peco are looking very wobbly, Hornby have problems but are at least trying to get a handle on them.

if the weathering is really good (and nothing too over the top) i'd pay about the same as pristine. 

generally though i prefer pristine because i can choose what level of weathering i want to apply.

i have tried removing weathering twice before and it went wrong (i used ipa and cotton buds and paintwork went streaky) so i won't do that again!

i think generally weathering decreases value though, unless it is really good!

but that shouldn't put people off trying to weather items themselves. you have to learn somehow.


tim