So, since joining the large scale madness almost 15 years ago, I realized I have become an addict, collecting unusual and oddball stuff. However, for almost 10 of those years, I have been searching for a certain USA trains reefer, and after the long search I finally found it, located in Germany. As with any usual addict I fought the craving, but caved and hit the buy button on evilbay, but my question is, now what? After searching for so long, and finally finding the car to give me my fix, what does a man do? Is it the signal of the end? Do I just find another “holy grail” car or loco to search for? Sell it all and collect something else? Any input from other serious addicts would be of great help on the road to recovery (or the nearest hobby store)
As with most collecting addicts you keep on looking for a better more pristine example of the one you have and when you find it and buy it you get rid of the previous one as it is only second best now.(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
Become ridiculously, emotionally attached to the locos of your RR and spend time chasing faults money on restoring them rather than buying stuff that makes for a coherent road or at least a coherent collection? Works for me!
Aloha,
Eric
Develop self control?
My collecting of locomotives and rolling stock was always driven more by price (cheap, hopefully durable) than type or brand name. (I’m about one notch above the guy with the out-of-the-box HO train set bolted to a plywood table in the spare room.)
Still, because part of the purpose of my current indoor 16x27 G empire is to impress the grandkid and associated relatives, I do find myself buying lots of oddball figures - Simpsons, Mario, Waldo, Scooby Doo, and more. Fortunately, they tend to be cheap. (I think I shot past the three digit mark months ago - maybe I should send some to Korm…)
Hello, my name is Dave, and I am a model train addict.
Well, in my case, the affliction eventually causes me to go on a quest for the next fix. A certain car, or locomotive, or I buy a basket case in hopes that I can either strip it for parts (unlikely) or restore it to serviceable condition (the usual outcome). My restriction, as of late, is the fact that I am running out of space for all this stuff.
Aaron,
never sell anything! build an addition to the hobby room, but don’t sell or throw away anything.
if you part with even one piece of your treasures, that is exactly the thing you could use a fourtnight after.
Aaron Loyet said:
I realized I have become an addict,
Change addictions, and be more like Dale. Chocolate is a lot cheaper then model trains…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
Problem? What problem?
Egads; what USTrains reefer do you want so badly that you would order it from Germany...I might just have it here, but you never asked; but then, it would probably have Kadee body mounts on it,and look so much better than the "Pristine" one you are paying shipping on...!!
I have the same problem with Bachmann, and LGB 8 wheeled ore cars. I was having trouble saying “No more”, every time one came into view, to the point that I probably have more of them than the railroad’s ore transportation fleet really needs.
But, I am slowly getting over my addiction, with help from my many friends…!!(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
Fred Mills, SOG said:
I have the same problem with Bachmann, and LGB 8 wheeled ore cars. I was having trouble saying “No more”, every time one came into view, to the point that I probably have more of them than the railroad’s ore transportation fleet really needs.
But, I am slowly getting over my addiction, with help from my many friends…!!(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
You need THIS picture to go with that, Fred:
Korm Kormsen said:
Aaron,
never sell anything! build an addition to the hobby room, but don’t sell or throw away anything.
if you part with even one piece of your treasures, that is exactly the thing you could use a fourtnight after.
I suggest the opposite. Go through a hurricane-induced flood and downsize to a condo [that gets rid of a lot of track and other outdoor stuff.] Then downsize again into a train room 9’ x 4’ and no garage [get rid of large tools.] Fill all the shelves and get rid of what won’t fit.
Of course, that didn’t stop me buying a stash of Faller eTrain gear in order to get a bunch of ore hoppers. See
https://www.gscalecentral.net/threads/latest-acquisition-faller-etrain.309829/
Thank you, Bruce…and in reality, that’s just half of them…!!
I am trying to replace the 4 or five old MDC ore cars with LGB ones that are far superior. There are a few old Lionel ones too, that could be replaced, but I can live with them.
The MDC cars are the same as what Piko is flogging these days, and the Lionel ones are the same as the ones USTrains was producing.
Also shown on the far track, are some of the Bachmann cars, which are just fine, as NG cars. I actually have the LGB cars to replace those SG cars that I’m not fond of. They just need coupler conversions and paint jobs…one of many projects, to get me through the Winter…!!
Fred Mills
Fred needs to build a second dock just to handle his NG ore cars. Now how about that box of log cars on the shelf in the hall, and I have never seen a log train on the layout yet, despite all my hints (remember that Climax you keep complaining about Fred) !
Fred Mills, SOG said:
…
I am trying to replace the 4 or five old MDC ore cars with LGB ones that are far superior. There are a few old Lionel ones too, that could be replaced, but I can live with them.
…
Fred, you give me a good enough price and I’ll buy all of 'em from you…I like them because they sit lower than the better cars. And my mining operation doesn’t have enough cars, no, no, no, it doesn’t, I don’t think, or it had enough until I saw this anyway…you know…
I’m serious though, I like the MDC and Lionel ones…what’s your starting price?
(And I am NOT derailing this discussion; if this doesn’t fit in perfectly, I don’t know what does.)
It’s not the fact that you own the sought after car, it’s the hunt for it that is driving your addiction. Once it is on the wall, you look at it and say, now what?
I gotta find something else. 
The USA ore car isn’t too bad. I have 24 LGB’s and one USA. Hmmmm…that lone USA needs some friends.
See what you started, Aaron!!!
Being poor means I will always have " holy grails" to quest after. Here are mine:
LGB 0-4-0 Olomana
LGB 2-6-6-2 Uintah Mallet
MoLoCo 0-4-0 Gypsy
MoLoCo 0-4-0 Falk
MoLoCo 0-4-0 Betsy
Accucraft 0-4-0 docksider
Accucraft 0-6-0 switcher
Accucraft 7/8 Fairymead
Accurate 7/8 Emma
Piko 2-6-0 Camelback
Some are not that difficult to get, but some like the Docksider are very rare.
You need THIS picture to go with that, Fred:
I think there are a couple ore cars missing there 
John P.
The MDC cars have been converted to Kadee 820 body mounts. The trucks have the coupler arms cut off. They have been repainted with a rattle can of red oxide primer, to give the appearance of “Very Well” used, second or third hand ore cars. If you want them, they can be available… make me an offer.
John B.
The old Lionel cars may or may not have had their trucks replaced with Aristo freight trucks. They also have had some work done on the ends to make them look less obviously too high off the rails. They also are converted to Kadee 820 couplers, and the coupler arms are cut off the trucks. The paint is the same as the MDC ones…I’m not in a hurry to part with them, but an offer would be considered.
Shipping might be a problem. I don’t keep boxes, so they would have to be packaged, and the cost of shipping to Colorado, or Washington State, might make your interest level fade rather quickly…
Fred Mills [email protected] (613) 723-1911