This won't mean much to our overseas friends, but I have been thinking about that nice Rev Flowers. If the reports are to be believed, he was apparently caught forking out a couple of hundred quid for some drugs which presumably gave him a bit of enjoyment for a couple of hours or so. Any sensible person would have spent the money on 2 or 3 locos, which would have given him hours of pleasure for 10 years or more.

The man's a fool!

Chris

The trouble is, model railways are very addictive  I've been trying to limit my loco buying but the manufacturers keep on making new ones to tempt me.

I think that's the case with any hobby or interest. I tell myself model railways are probably cheaper than antiques... or musical instruments. My other half is a musician, and the value of her instruments you wouldn't believe. Her playing partner is a guitarist/banjo/mandolin player and he is just as bad. And you wouldn't believe how much room they all take up!!

Chris

Quote from: Papyrus on November 23, 2013, 10:57:56 AM
This won't mean much to our overseas friends, but I have been thinking about that nice Rev Flowers. If the reports are to be believed, he was apparently caught forking out a couple of hundred quid for some drugs which presumably gave him a bit of enjoyment for a couple of hours or so. Any sensible person would have spent the money on 2 or 3 locos, which would have given him hours of pleasure for 10 years or more.

The man's a fool!

Chris

Bet he didn't to send any of them back three times or have them break after three months though ;-)

Musical instruments can be scary in comparison to models but they last and last on the whole so second hand is a good option. They also don't have to be expensive, I play (badly) the tin whistle (under a fiver for a basic whistle, under 50 for a good one), guitar (old free hand me down) and harp (very cheap handed on). I've never understood while schools inflict the recorder on young kids except perhaps as some historic bit of pompous classicism, whistles are much cheaper and are easier to learn and the songs are better

I get the impression that a lot of musical instruments are like Minitrix locos - a little oil and love and the odd replacement part and they go on and on.


The cure for model railway buying disease is well known btw - you move to 3mm scale. The temptation is then removed as you have to kit build everything. Much better value for money timewise!

Alan

Quote
The cure for model railway buying disease is well known btw - you move to 3mm scale. The temptation is then removed as you have to kit build everything. Much better value for money timewise!

The same could also be said for choosing to model the Southern pre WW2 (or pre grouping - except for GWR)

Quote from: Dorsetmike on November 23, 2013, 02:06:12 PM
The same could also be said for choosing to model the Southern pre WW2 (or pre grouping - except for GWR)

GWR included for most periods and locations. SR also including for much pre WW2 because the EMU range iis close to nil in RTR.

The only period that is really well covered in general seems to be modern image, in part because standardisation has really driven down the number of model types needed.  Once you pass into the latter half of the 1970s the number of coach types and loco types crashes dramatically.

Alan

Quote from: Papyrus on November 23, 2013, 11:56:03 AM
I think that's the case with any hobby or interest. I tell myself model railways are probably cheaper than antiques... or musical instruments. My other half is a musician, and the value of her instruments you wouldn't believe. Her playing partner is a guitarist/banjo/mandolin player and he is just as bad. And you wouldn't believe how much room they all take up!!

Chris

One day someone will discover a Stradivarius Class 47 or A4 Pacific. Then model railways will be expensive too - eBay Buy it Now £1.5m.

Being fair model railways seem to hold there value better than some things

I recon that I could get 75% of what I paid on ebay at least

I collect 18th century porcelain which can make  engines look very cheap and the prices can go up and down all the time.  Just had to sell some family antique furniture and clocks after my mothers death and got a third of what they were worth 10years ago

So keep spending!

Model Rail is reviewing a full length hand built brass Coronation set, in a larger scale that we don't mention on here, to go with the equivalent hand built A4 which is probably the only thing with enough traction to pull it.  Down as £POA so I guess if you have to ask the price you probably can't afford it.  Another reason to be thankful that we model N gauge? 

O Gauge does seem to have its collection of rather well-to-do officianados.

Of course JLTRT do have some special offers right now you can have a ready built Gresley coach for a mere £425.00 !

Not only a bit over my budget but also rather hard to find room to run, and even harder to sneak past the household authorities

Living here in Australia, as is pointed out I don't know who this Rev Flowers is, but I do know who the late Rev Denny is... a true addict - he scratchbuilt EVERYTHING!! 

Quote from: silly moo on November 23, 2013, 11:39:32 AM
The trouble is, model railways are very addictive

Don't I just know it. I started off with one line and I'm constantly tempted to do another...

The problem with N is that realistic rakes are achievable in the average spare room, it's the worst addition I've known!

Get paid, buy 4-8 SPA's/BAA's, add to rake, rake doesn't look long enough, wait, get paid and so on!

Quote from: d-a-n on November 24, 2013, 08:01:12 AM

Quote from: silly moo on November 23, 2013, 11:39:32 AM
The trouble is, model railways are very addictive

Don't I just know it. I started off with one line and I'm constantly tempted to do another...

Agreed. The thread title puts a whole new spin on "going to the railway room to do a few lines"