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Does anyone have this problem of buying prewar items to restore then creating a backlogged in the restoration process?

RonHRonHOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

I like most of you cannot pass up a good deal and if I have it already, what is another, just increase my collection.  Scrolling thru eBay and when I see a poorly repainted engines or cars (items that need a complete paint strip and repaint) with bad wheels (replacement $40.00) or contact pick-up (replacement $12.00) or missing trim ($) and is at a reasonable priced (including shipping) I will bid on it and usually win it. Now the items that I obtain are not for resale but personal enjoyment in restoring them.  Even before the item arrives I have already ordered the replacement parts and decided on the color. Once I have all in hand I will take before photos and place all in a plastic shoe box and label the box as Lionel # project. The problem is that my labeled plastic shoe boxes containing a new project are starting to pile up. Now to rectify the problem is either I stop buying on eBay/Train shows or work harder to restore what I have. Passing up a good deal on eBay is hard and since I work full time I cannot squeeze out more hours than a 24 hour day and have to keep my wife happy.  As stated I am not planning tonselling anything, just want to have fun restoring them and searching for the parts (hunting instinct I guess). A good example of my problem is that I have a quantity of 4 Lionel 248’s. Some needing wheels, pick-up, trim/whatever. Great mow finished one Lionel 248 and 3 to go. Then a Lionel a 150 and 158 show up on my door step come into play. So I start working on the 150 leaving the 3 Lionel 2498 in there plastic labeled shoe boxes. Now the Lionel 150 motor is done now to paint and ordered the parts for the Lionel 158. Well two stand gauge passenger cars  #35 and #36 start appear on my door step (must be a prewar Lionel portal) then start working on the 35 and 36 wheel clean up leaving the 150 on the back burner.  I will not tell you about the Lionel 152’s, 252’, Lionel 112 or the Lionel 221 engine and tender modification that I m planning, but that another story

Maybe I should keep on going and have my projects pile up and wait till I retire, but in retirement I m sure my wife will keep me busy with other things and the project pile will continue to grow. I guess what I m going thru is the fun part so I will enjoy what I have and try to stay of eBay and work on what I have.

Does this sound familiar? 

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William 1William 1OGR Forum Member

Heck yes.  I have some standard gauge pieces that need a part here or there.  I am going to make a list and try to get it done this winter.  Then I have a 318 to get running, I believe it is a simple wiring issue and then a 380 passenger set that needs a little TLC.  Not really that daunting.  I think you should stay away from EBay till you get caught up.  The thrill of the hunt, as you pointed out, and thinking you are always getting a good deal is what is keeping you buying more stuff.  Lord knows I love being an amateur psychologist.

I went on EBay last weekend after not looking for a long time and now I have a sweet original 392e on it's way a day later.  It was too good of a deal not to pass up!  I hope she's a runner and not a project.  Stay away from the bay or else you will play, not to mention pay.  Good luck.

M MrNabiscoOGR Forum Member

I went the opposite direction. I had a short list of trains I wanted and searched for the proper examples to restore. It took a few years and sometimes I had to pay dearly to get them, as compitition for rare early pieces will drive up the price of beaters too. I had to stay focused on what I was after and not go for "deals" on trains that were not on my list.

From my experince I'd say try to focus on a few of the projects and get them finshed... All the way down to the last details. You might find it satifying

Have fun!

 

PRR8976PRR8976OGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

RonH, Interesting topic. So far, I have not had these particular problems of being backed up...except for my stash of 2757/2457 tinplate cabooses! We'll overlook that for now.

Other than that, I think I fit more in with MrNabisco, regarding my prewar steam switchers that I carefully watched for at train shows and eBay.

Having said that, my friend who repairs the 1% of my steam switchers that I have ocassional trouble with, fits in exactly as you described! However, he is retired, but still has trouble fitting in his toy train activities.

Tom 

totrainyardtotrainyardOGR Forum Member

Standard Gauge is so rare around here on the left coast, that I buy most of what I come across at flea markets and Antique sales if it is cheap enough.

So I also have many "projects" waiting for spare time and parts.

I also tend to under-estimate the costs of repair parts.or the trouble in finding them.

The "The journey is the reward" they say.

SH Southwest HiawathaOGR Forum Member

I have dozens of projects awaiting the time to do them. Repaints, restorations, the layout, and all kinds of things that have nothing to do with trains. I've pretty much stopped buying stuff that needs work. In fact, I've slowed way down on buying trains or much of anything else because I'm running out of where to put it. The projects get done, one by one - but when one is finished, there are a hundred more competing for attention, sort of like hungry cats. I hope I live long enough to get at most of them.

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