7 quick and easy ways to save hundreds of dollars building

7 Quick And Easy Ways To Save Hundreds of Dollars Building Your

Model Railroad

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What You’re About To Learn My name is Dan Morgan and thank-you for downloading this special report. The idea behind this special report is to save you time and money when starting this fabulous hobby of model trains. There is absolutely no doubt that model trains is the greatest hobby in the world. There is no other hobby that allows you to:

1. Create your own little world to escape to. 2. Develop a large variety of skills - from hands-on cutting and

drilling, to wiring and programming DCC controllers, to weathering your rolling stock, with so many other skills in between.

3. Enjoy some of the most rewarding and relaxing times you will ever experience

This hobby has no limits and no barriers… you can be any age, any gender and at any skill level. Yes! This is the ultimate hobby and this special report will set you off in the right direction by explain the best ways to save money when building your model train layout. Let’s get started…


The 7 Best Ways to Save Money Building Your Model Train Layout

If you have been a model railroader for some time you will understand that the costs of model trains can add up very quickly.

Model trains are the best hobby in the world, but if you are going to pay full retail price for everything you buy, it will soon become the most expensive hobby you have ever had!

Here is how to save money building your model train layout...

Figure 1 - Jerry's Model Railroad Start


Money Saving Tip # 1 Make Sure You know What You Want

A common mistake with beginner railroaders is to start collecting one scale of model trains only to find that there are more accessories in another scale, so they change over.

Do your research first, speak to other railroaders, check how much space you have available, do you want diesel or steam locomotives, will your layout be multi-level, etc.

Think carefully about what you want.

Hobby shop sales people love customers that walk in and ask their advice. Some are incredibly helpful.

However most of the hobby shop assistants I’ve come across are not experienced model railroaders and sometimes will just sell you what is in stock.

In this day and age hobby shops need to be very diverse in what they carry and model railroading tends to only occupy a small portion of the shop.

So, if you have not done your research you may be sold something that doesn’t necessarily fit your long term model railroading requirements.

With the internet it is easy to do some quality research and find the best price. Often model train equipment from different states or countries can be much cheaper, even with postage included.

Figure 2 – Eric’s Layout

Figure 3 - Bob Fallier's Layout


Money Saving Tip # 2 Create Half a Layout

A model train that takes up your whole basement looks very impressive, but the bigger your layout the more money you will spend.

Often beginner model railroaders will see large and impressive layouts at their local model train club and want to build a similar sized layout.

They usually do not have any idea what that large layout has cost the owner and how many hundreds of hours have been invested in building the system.

Start off slowly with a half sized layout built against a wall. With clever use of backdrops you can make your layout appear twice as big as it actually is.

A half sized layout is quicker to build and will provide any beginner railroader a good idea of costs and time involved.

A half sized layout can always be pulled away from the wall and made twice or three times as big.

Figure 4 - Matthew Gates' Layout

Figure 5 - Kent Ochiai's Layout


Money Saving Tip # 3 Buy 2nd Hand

I have bought locomotives off eBay for a tenth of the price of a new one. Model train enthusiasts are generally very careful with their model train equipment, so it is very rare that you will buy a dud.

Unfortunately some veteran railroaders leave this earth, or simply move on to other things after 30 or 40 years of model railroading.

Because of this, complete model train layouts can be bought for a fraction of the cost of buying new.

Hobby shops usually only sell new equipment because the profits are bigger, so they will happily keep your details on file should someone come in wanting to sell 2nd hand equipment.

Advertise in newspapers and newsletters that you want to buy 2nd hand model train equipment.

Most veteran model railroaders have far too much equipment for their needs and usually have had stuff sitting in boxes for years.

Your advert may come at a time when they need some cash.

There are also some great deals in our store. Click the link below to go there, or if you are reading this offline go to:

http://modeltrainsforbeginners.com/store/

Figure 6 - Loco Bought for $4 on eBay

Set up an alert on eBay, watch your local newspapers and community boards, keep in touch with your local model train club and ask the hobby shops.

http://modelrailwaynews.com/category/model-train-shop/

http://modelrailwaynews.com/category/model-train-shop/

http://modeltrainsforbeginners.com/store/�


Money Saving Tip # 4 Trade With Other Railroaders

Model train clubs are great places to swap or trade model train equipment.

Often railroaders do not want cash but they may want what you have.

It does not mean that you have to swap a diesel locomotive for a diesel locomotive; you could trade your skill in building a pond or painting their model train room.

The ideas are endless and this can be a massive money saver.

Our model train forum offers an opportunity for you to swap any model train equipment or offer your services, or just mingle with like-minded people.

The model train forum can be found by clicking the link below, or if you are reading this offline go to:

http://modeltrainsforbeginners.com/members/community

Figure 7 - The Model Train Forum

http://modeltrainsforbeginners.com/members/community�


Money Saving Tip # 5 Always Spend Your Hard Earned Money

on Quality Over Quantity

If you have the money and only want new equipment than you absolutely must buy quality over quantity.

Locomotives can cost hundreds of dollars and it can be tempting to buy a locomotive at the lower end of the price scale.

Manufacturers have become very good at producing lower priced locomotives that are well detailed and look good.

However they lack in their inner workings.

A common mistake is to say you will upgrade later, because the initial money you spent will be wasted.

Once you experience quality equipment you will never use the low quality stuff again.

There is a great article on locomotive quality over quantity at:

http://modeltrainsforbeginners.com/a-good-quality-locomotive-is-essential

Figure 8 - N-Scale CSXT4346 Locomotive

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Money Saving Tip # 6 Make It Rather Than Buy It

Model trains will teach you skills that you never had before.

From, working with electrics, to creating rivers and ponds, to building landscapes, buildings, structures and so much more.

It is this skill set that you develop, that makes model trains the best hobby in the world.

Every part of model trains can easily be learnt by buying an ebook, a book or asking your model train club.

So consider making it before you buy it.

Buildings can be bought in kit form but it is so much more fun (and cheaper) creating the structure from scrap wood, beads, glue, paint and other bits and pieces.

This is called scratchbuilding and there is more information on scratchbuilding at:

http://modeltrainsforbeginners.com/what-is-scratchbuilding

Just click the link above to go there.

Figure 9 - Geoffrey Carter's Building

Figure 10 - Larry Summers' Building

Figure 11 - Alex Erdei's Building

http://modeltrainsforbeginners.com/what-is-scratchbuilding�

http://modeltrainsforbeginners.com/what-is-scratchbuilding�


Money Saving Tip # 7 Keep a Journal and Budget

It can be very easy to impulsively buy when being sold to by an enthusiastic hobby shop sales assistant.

If you know what you want, and have done your research online, you will know how much you need to spend, which will make negotiating easier.

Building a reasonable sized model train layout can run into the thousands of dollars if you pay full retail and buy everything as new.

As you buy your model train equipment record the date, the details of the item you bought and the price you paid in a journal or notebook.

That way, when you come to sell it 2 or 3 years later, you know what you paid for it and can price it accordingly.

A journal is a great way to record your progress.

Keep pictures as you are building your layout and comment on your progress, any issues and milestones.

Journaling your model railroad adventure will make for some very interesting reading in the future and can immediately answer someone who asks “how much has your model railroad cost you?”

Or maybe that’s a bad idea.

Figure 12


Final Words I hope you have enjoyed this special report and that it has done its job and shown you exactly how you can save money with your model trains. By knowing this information you will not only save money, but also time and effort. Your frustrations will disappear and you will enjoy your model trains to the full extent. Got any comments or feedback? Then we would love to hear them. Just click the link below, or if you are reading this offline go to:

www.ModelTrainsForBeginners.com/contact-us/ Thank You and Happy Railroading. Best Regards

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7 quick and easy ways to save hundreds of dollars building

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