I was wondering, do we as toy train nuts only collect toy train related items? Or do we have other interests. I was thinking about this, I myself collect a few different things and have found a problem in doing so, the money being the main problem. In the hobby world, we use "play money" and I see that the money I would like to spend sometimes isn't there. So I wonder what others do, for me I collect O scale, specifically Anthracite railroads for my layout. I have some postwar that I enjoy. I also collect railroad memorabilia, German WW2 items, some Yankees items, I am a semi pro/ amateur photographer, Fire memorabilia from my department as well as a 1929 Brockway firetruck that my brother and I are bringing back to life, and some 80's toys I lost as a child. I have tried to limit all that I collect because I have learned that I can't have everything. Now that will all change when I win the lottery and am independently wealthy. So let hear what others do, and who knows maybe this might end up with some of us helping to add to each others collections. After all isn't this what being in a hobby is all about..
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As I also have a strong interest in photography, I collect Nikon (And some Leica) cameras too. But this collection is also used to photograph train related subjects, so there is no real conflict.
As I also have a strong interest in photography, I collect Nikon (And some Leica) cameras too. But this collection is also used to photograph train related subjects, so there is no real conflict.
I love shooting trains, It gives me many ideas as to what to incorporate to my layout.
Interesting you should ask as today my boat was picked up to de-winterize and get it ready to go in the water. From now until October, we spend a good deal of time on the water when not involved with train related activities. Our dog Cody loves the trains and the boat and is with us all the time for both activities.
I am a hobby "addict". Even though I have either collected or operated Lionel trains since getting out of the Navy I always dipped my hands into other interesting past times. R/C airplane, model builting (Navy of course) and the latest is Military vehicle restoration with my Vietnam era mechanical mule............
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Model trains I still have O, HO and G
Real Trains - I like to ride chase and photograph all kinds
Vintage Muscle cars-66 Mustang 2+2, 73 Javelin and Matador X
Plastic models - I work in the industry but enjoy it too.
Rifles, mostly WWII-era. I also have a small collection of antique 35mm cameras.
I am a hobby "addict". Even though I have either collected or operated Lionel trains since getting out of the Navy I always dipped my hands into other interesting past times. R/C airplane, model builting (Navy of course) and the latest is Military vehicle restoration with my Vietnam era mechanical mule............
Old mobile telephone control heads.
Here's a 1963 Motorola along with the rear seat limousine extension unit, which I plan to incorporate as a microphone for the Union Station PA system
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Too much stuff...all confined within limits or themes to keep under control....once
collected 35 MM cameras that took the Pentax K mount...about 15 different brands
all using interchangeable P-K lenses...now almost worthless and OBE'd by digital. Still use those...don't want to fool with learning a new medium. I like interchangeable... a blessing of the "lobster claw" coupler...other areas are not
blessed..
Also die cast and other model vehicles, 1/43-1/50. to go on layout, all of 1940
and prior protoypes.
Bootleg recordings and concerts.
Baseball caps.
Wish model trains were as cheap a hobby!
- Mike
I know this has come up before, but here goes - classic films and movie posters,opera and classical music, fan of mechanical music: Wurlitzer band organs, orchestrions, calliopes, etc. (think merry-go-round music).
Memories. I have a pretty good size collection. Everyday I add another few.
I am very much into classic cars. My Grandpa and I show his two 65 Mustangs during the summer.
I am also into wind up phonographs. I have four.
I have several other hobbies, here they are in no order
- Railfan - enjoy watching and photographing trains
- Fire apparatus and other public safety vehicle photography
- Collecting Matchbox scale emergency service vehicles for display and to by custom painted for my fictional M-Box fire & rescue department
- Rabid Hockey fan following Boston Bruins, Providence Bruins, Providence College and NY Islanders teams
- Fire buffing, I belong to the Box 52 Association in Boston, which is the oldest fire buffing club in the US founded in 1912 I serve as the news letter editor
Love to type more the Bruins are on Game 2 against the Rangers!
I almost forgot the hobby my wife HATES! I collect and restore old Blow Mold plastic Christmas Decorations from the 60's - 80's
I have a small collection of old meters and accessories. Most of them are Simpsons. I don't actively look for them any longer.
Stars. I'm a little bit of an amateur astronomy and I love to haul the 8" CS out and bag a few double stars. Haven't it done it recently and have to get back to it. I can't wait for comet ISON (C/2012 S1). It has the potential to be the brightest comet in 100 years (and then again...maybe not.)
I am very much into classic cars. My Grandpa and I show his two 65 Mustangs during the summer.
I am also into wind up phonographs. I have four.
Two 65 Mustangs! Wow! I had a 64 1/2 convertible and one of the biggest regrets of my live was selling it. Let's hear some more about the cars.
Beside trains of all kinds my interests are:
1:43 handmade sport cars, especially Alfas, Mille Miglia racers, dream cars and hearses
Diecast vehicles of all types in all scales + a 1:1 Alfa Spider
Wines
Female vocalists
Photography
I have several other hobbies, here they are in no order
- Railfan - enjoy watching and photographing trains
- Fire apparatus and other public safety vehicle photography
- Collecting Matchbox scale emergency service vehicles for display and to by custom painted for my fictional M-Box fire & rescue department
- Rabid Hockey fan following Boston Bruins, Providence Bruins, Providence College and NY Islanders teams
- Fire buffing, I belong to the Box 52 Association in Boston, which is the oldest fire buffing club in the US founded in 1912 I serve as the news letter editor
Love to type more the Bruins are on Game 2 against the Rangers!
Besides the trains, I collect model fire equipment, porcelain and ceramic buildings & accessories. Plus anything that I can find that I can use in my animated displays that I create and build for train displays.
I also like taking videos and video editing to go with my collection of movies and documentary's. Tons of music to go along with all of my DJ equipment & lighting effects. And lastly I love Christmas time and all of the different decorations that I have collected over the years.
Besides the trains, I collect model fire equipment, porcelain and ceramic buildings & accessories. Plus anything that I can find that I can use in my animated displays that I create and build for train displays.
I also like taking videos and video editing to go with my collection of movies and documentary's. Tons of music to go along with all of my DJ equipment & lighting effects. And lastly I love Christmas time and all of the different decorations that I have collected over the years.
And I also use all of my talents in the fire service in which I still volunteer with over 46 years and I retired last year as a career fire lieutenant after 40+ years.
model cars and hot wheels....old tools....stamps..coins...older rifles and military equipment...ooo and my camaro and monte carlos haha pretty much anything cool
I have always been a big fan of 3-D photography, so I collect it, and even shoot it with vintage cameras. I collect stereoview cards (1880s-1930s), View Master reels (1939-present), and 3-D/stereo slides that people took of their "everyday life" from 1948-1960 (I have over 4,500).
I also collect outstanding examples of "roadside America" and "transportation" postcards made between 1930 and 1950 ("linen" era), as well as Holiday postcards made prior to WWI.
I also like colorful cameras made by Kodak during the 1930s, like the Kodak Beau Brownie.
And last but not least, about 300 nice quality 1:43 car models.
My wife and I have a lot of old and oddball items in our 1889 house.
I have other hobbies/interests as my life doesn't revolve around trains.
Still checking in on the forum once a week.
I love vintage analog hifi.Both transistor and vacuum tubes.I have a large collection of rock and classical records.
I own three Hammond tone wheel organs(C3,L100 and an A100) and several newer and vintage electronic music synthesizers.I also own three small pipe organs currently in storage which I plan to restore sometime.
Astronomy and digital photography.I'm a Nikon guy all the way! Have a couple of nice telescopes,both Maksutov-Cassegrains.
I also paint in watercolors and acrylic.
Presently,trains are on the back burner.I'm really cutting back on purchases.
Besides toy trains.
Boy boats - specifically 1:87 scratch-built models of Napoleonic-period warships.
I collect books with submarines on the cover (quirky - but that is the sole criteria. Over 200 of them).
Sports cars - I have had a fantastic collection of sports cars, 43 to be exact - generally one or two at a time, gradually moving up the automotive food chain over the course of my live from Sprites and Spitfires in the late 60s to an Italian exotic now. I'd own more than one if I could but I no place to put a second toy car.
Too many!{hobbies}
-2 old Kawasaki snowmobiles{440 invader/440 LTD}
-still have a few park flyers sitting around...that are one piece still
-collection of models...count something close to a snowmobile displacement above
- and "my other wife" as my wife calls her-
...a few model trains too
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Besides trains, I collect Studebakers (7 of them) have two Ramblers (one Nash and one Hudson) and one Buick. I repair/rebuild/convert old car radios for car collectors, I have a collection of wooden cathedral radios and round screen televisions, plus I sing acappella barbershop and doo wop.
Besides trains, I collect Studebakers (7 of them) have two Ramblers (one Nash and one Hudson) and one Buick. I repair/rebuild/convert old car radios for car collectors, I have a collection of wooden cathedral radios and round screen televisions, plus I sing acappella barbershop and doo wop.
Well rounded! Any straight 8s or flathead 6s? After I bought my car I started liking swing music- go figure.
Can I send you an pm about radio repairs?...model 800 mopar...
In addition to model railroading, I seriously enjoy woodwork/cabinetry and in fact have made a few train display cabinets for my neighbor. I enjoy full sized trains but usually only photograph something if I want to remember for a toy train reference later. I used to volunteer for a tourist railroad but don't have that kind of time nowadays.
I am just getting into repair and modification of my toy trains.
JZ.
i don't, but i sure wish my trains would give up collecting dust.
Aside from being a MTH collector and operator, my other primary hobby interests are involved in birding, leading guided walks and taking photos of them. I've taken pictures of over 600 different species, so I "collect" bird pictures. Additionally, I now have begun to pursue the same interest in butterflies, finding them and taking digital pictures of them to "collect". Lastly, I have an extensive collection of Doonesbury books and other items G.B. Trudeau has written/produced.
Too much stuff...all confined within limits or themes to keep under control....once
collected 35 MM cameras that took the Pentax K mount...about 15 different brands
all using interchangeable P-K lenses...now almost worthless and OBE'd by digital. Still use those...don't want to fool with learning a new medium. I like interchangeable... a blessing of the "lobster claw" coupler...other areas are not
blessed..
Also die cast and other model vehicles, 1/43-1/50. to go on layout, all of 1940
and prior protoypes.
FYI the new Pentax Digital style DSLR cameras still take your K-mount lens, that's one reason I upgraded to digital Pentax.
I also have hobbies in boating and cars. I collected nearly everything, but it gets to be a bit much. Just think of old 'band aid' cans that were metal, now that's gone. I also use to collect Coke & Pepsi things. I try to control myself, but when I see something out of style, I just put it aside.
Pez dispensers. I have thousands.
Well Besides the Lionel, American Flyer, Marx, Marklin, and a few MTH trains, I have been attempting to get back into Control Line Stunt and Carrier building and flying which has been great fun. I also have a '72 Porsche 911E and a '67 C code Mustang to dilly with in my spare time . The problem is there is not very much spare time with three young kids and an active house remodel
No one else mentioned BB and pellet guns. I sort of collect and shoot them but don't make a big deal of it.
Plastic, premium soda cups from college, minor league and MLB baseball parks. Colorful and unique.
I have many, many, many, many....
I have over a dozen guitars. Several Fender amps. I have rebuilt or built a few guitars and amps through the years. I always have a sports car of some type. Currently my son and I have a pair of 1992 Mazda Rx7 twin turbo rotary engine cars. I have the RC planes and cars. Baseball cards. Coins. Done it all through the years. I believe people say I have an addictive personality disorder. I say I like to have fun.