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Post by boxcarwilly on Nov 20, 2017 14:56:17 GMT -5
I find myself in a rather unusual situation. This past week, my wife and I were revising our wills, and she asked me what she would do with my train layout should I die. Over the past few years, I've changed beneficiary for my trains several times from family to organizations and sadly, none are reliable or responsible enough. I though I had someone who was an up and coming Z Scaler but he left town over a year ago and I've not heard from him since, So now I am seriously looking for someone, somewhere who I can either sell or leave my entire layout too, in the hopes that it will be looked after and that person will continue on with my dream as I originally envisioned it. Conservatively speaking, I think I have invested very close to 25,000 including, lumber, hardware, track, wiring, engines, cars, scenery, parts and on and on and on. The size of my layout as it stands right now, is approximately 34 ft. by 15 ft. in two main sections separated by a lift bridge over a walkway between the two them. Much of my layout is finished, however, I have a new section that I'm still working on, and another section that is yet to be developed. I'm estimating I have another 5 years of work before it's where I can finally call it complete. I did, for a time, consider breaking it up and selling the engines, cars, track and parts on Ebay, but it's not practical since Ebay scams sellers with ridiculous and unnecessary fees and all kinds of restrictions. I've thought about public auctions, but as I've learned from various sources, individual train layouts, at least in this city, are more liabilities as no one really wants them regardless of scale. Add to that, being a Z scale layout, no one is interested in working with anything that small. N scale seems to be about the limit of what people in the model railroading community will comfortably work on. When I first got into Z scale, there were 5 of us doing it, one of whom was into British and European Z. Now it appears there are only 2 with one being the guy who got me into it in the first place, and he doesn't have the room for a layout this big. I am in a bit of a quandary. So public auction is out, and there appears to be no one who is interested in buying my layout outright, or even wanting to be named as the person I leave it to when I'm gone. Please understand, I am not planning on checking out anytime soon, however, there is the fact that we are in our golden years and have been kicking around the idea of moving into a seniors complex or assisted living facility and there is no room in those places for even a desktop layout, so if we decide to do just that, my layout will have to go. It would be a total shame if it were to end up in the garbage. So I'm throwing this open to any and all members here who may have even a remote interest in stepping up to the plate. If we have to move, my first option is to sell it, as any money I get from it will have to be redirected toward living expenses. Is anyone interested at all?
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Post by neverland on Nov 20, 2017 18:59:53 GMT -5
Z scale & otherwise, most model railroaders face this problem at some time in their lives. Without an interested heir, there are very few options.
My railroad club often receives donations from widows who haven't a clue what to do with their husband's beloved collection. They wind up at a white elephant sale for pennies on the dollar.
If there is a railroad museum close by & your layout is exceptional, they may be interested. Or a children's hospital.
Sadly other collectors have their own dreams & ideas re. A layout & they don't want to buy a completed layout. This goes for all scales. I wish you luck & now I'm depressed. ☹️
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Post by dave on Nov 20, 2017 19:54:02 GMT -5
Willie....these comments I am going to make are not meant to be derogatory or judgmental at all.
Layouts of any scale rarely return more than 10% to 20% of the cost to build. Those that do are very manageable in size. The amount of people that have a space as large as your layout is very small and those that want a completed Z-scale layout and much smaller again.
I am going to make a suggestion. It sounds as though you are still enjoying building your empire. If that is the case and you are not concerned about getting much return, then you should absolutely continue. If you have an inkling of downsizing any time soon, maybe you should think about a much smaller layout that can be moved to your new quarters. A 30" x 60" is a nice size for Z-scale. If it were me, I wouldn't want to continue putting the time and money into something I will very likely have to leave in the near future.
In regards to the engines and rolling stock, you can keep using them on a smaller layout. Obviously, it will be shorter length trains. You could sell off some of those item and expect to get 50-70% of your investment if they are in excellent condition with all packaging. Selling on eBay really isn't that big of deal. They charge a flat 10% for selling and Paypal gets about 3.5%. It might sound pricey, but only eBay gives you that big of a market. I have been buying and selling for over 20 years now on eBay and have had few problems. It is time consuming though, especially for beginners. I still spend about 40 minutes per listing or auction total. I would never put anything on a public auction, especially Z-scale trains. It will bring next to nothing.
This is just my opinion and nothing else. Good luck with what you choose.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Nov 21, 2017 14:27:27 GMT -5
Thanks for your comments Neverland and Dave:
Unfortunately, our local children's hospital isn't in the position of accepting donations other than cash. Besides, they can't spare staff to supervise kids in running it, and it's hard enough to get volunteers to work with the kids let alone take care of a train layout. Good idea though. As for the rail museum, the closest one is 5 hours away in another province and it's very small. There is nothing local. If we do move to a seniors building or an assisted living facility, they don't allow things of this nature even as small as 2 ft. x 4 ft. I've made the enquiries. If I do not complete my layout, then I will not have realized my dream and I will never feel like I've accomplished what I set out to do all those years ago. My ideal choice would be to donate it to an existing train club, unfortunately, Z scale is looked upon as a joke or passing fad around here and no z scale clubs exist anywhere in the west. Sadly, no one is interested in starting one either. I know, I've tried for years. Yes my layout is big, built in modules, and easy to move, but it can be modified to fit a smaller space if someone is handy enough to do so. It will be awhile before I get to this point, but for now, I'm just trying to get prepared.
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Post by dave on Nov 21, 2017 14:40:29 GMT -5
Willy....I think right now, you have to choose what is most important to you. Is it finishing what you started no matter the time and expense and knowing you are looking at giving it up? How important is it to complete the dream? As I said above, perhaps starting a small layout knowing you will be able to complete it and then having a good chance of being able to sell it or at least give to someone that will appreciate it would be a better choice. I know that if I was starting something and knew I had to give it up shortly after completing it, I would not continue, even if money wasn't a factor.
Maybe you should look at building an N-scale layout; I believe you mentioned once before that all of the locos and rolling stock you want are available in N-scale. I am sure you could get enough out of the Z stuff to buy the N stuff. Then, you would have a layout that could possibly sell or donate to a train club.
Just some ideas.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Nov 22, 2017 16:00:04 GMT -5
Dave:
I've been building my layout for several years now. To suddenly stop where I am. would mean my trains would fall of the ends of my layout, or as I have been doing, use temporary loops on bare un-finished modules to have continuous runs. This is fine, but from a logic or continuity standpoint, it would make no sense. I understand what you're saying in changing over, but even a small N scale layout, would have to eventually be disposed of in some manner when it comes time to downsize as it were. So I would be no further ahead. I do however, appreciate your thoughts on the subject. I know a fellow who has a huge HO layout that covers his entire basement. I asked him one day, what he would do with it if he ever had to sell his house. He told me quite frankly, remove and sell whatever he could and the rest would be destroyed. To see all the work he has put into his layout, and have him say that, gave me a rather sickly feeling in my stomach and I don't want to have to go through that. To destroy all the work I have done, I think would kill me. I cringe just thinking about it.
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Post by neverland on Nov 22, 2017 19:55:57 GMT -5
Willy, sounds like you''ve experienced a huge case of mortality reality-- the knowledge that time is fleeting & you've lived far longer than what years you have left.
I think you just need to enjoy this wonderful hobby for as long as you can or want, and not worry about what to do with it until you're ready to cross that bridge. Over-think this & your hobby will cease to be a source of joy & will become a growing burden.
That old saying, "you can't take it with you" are not just idle words. If you fret over everything left undone, life ceases to be a joy. Enjoy the journey; don't worry about that station that lies ahead.
Deb
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Post by boxcarwilly on Nov 23, 2017 12:28:21 GMT -5
Mortality reality? Well I guess that's true. I've said often when I first began this project, that I just want to live long enough to see it to completion. My wife, however, is the practical one of our family and as we get older, we look at how much longer we can keep up the work that always needs to be done when you own your own home. She wants to know what to do with my layout if I die before her. This is why I've been thrown into the "What if" scenario. The bottom line here is, like a cherished pet, I want my layout to go to a good home, whether it be private or an organization. As I said above, the thought of destroying all my work over the years brings me a great deal of sadness. I'm sure that holds true for most of us. It kind of makes you wonder, why we ever got into this hobby in the first place.
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Post by shamoo737 on Nov 23, 2017 14:26:26 GMT -5
I though we supposed to think we are going to live forever.
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spoilybear
New Member
Hello all! New--Bee here to AZL , Getting ready for Christmass most loving time of year.
Posts: 42 
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Post by spoilybear on Dec 24, 2017 17:21:31 GMT -5
BoxCarWilly, You are wiser than you think, size up what you've accomplished in your set now. See if there might be some places make shorter time of finishing your Dream . Since you made your project I'm assuming in Take down sections and can be moved Round out those sections into final smaller Sets of coarse you photographed every inch of way if not then now would be time , for remembrance in future. Perhaps you can sell sections of the set in smaller sets to bring in funds to give to the wife for when time comes to make your move into another life style. I'm not in quite that situation yet but just starting ( my second Year ) I've invested or more along line of spent over 2000.00 witch if I needed to sell would be lucky probably get back 400.00 at most. But I'm not planning on building large set . Just don't have house or room for it. That is why I chose Z scale when all locals are into HO and N Scale. I also don't have family very interested in it being left with the set I have. I don't even know of good friend I could leave it to who would Appreciate it. So I' am going to build it small not bigger than 30 X 60 and portable , if It turns out well maybe two of them able to put together yet separate as set by them self. Sorry about your worry but you did bring up Eye Opener that's dilemma for lot off Us to think through. Good luck hope everything turns out well for you.  |
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Post by GmanJeff on Dec 31, 2017 9:35:34 GMT -5
I'm just starting to think about entering the hobby (close to retirement and looking ahead), and wonder if you might not be able to find others your local area who are similarly situated and who would welcome an opportunity to see what you have created, learn how you did it, and to possibly acquire from you enough basic bits and pieces to try starting out on their own.
An entire large fully-developed layout might be too much for a new entrant into the hobby, but the equivalent of a small "starter kit" might be just the thing to pique someone's interest and to set them on a path to developing their own vision, without a big initial dollar investment. Or, maybe a single completed module might form the basis for jump-starting someone's interest and serve as a model for future expansion. You might not recoup much of your purchase costs, but would know that your work is helping a new hobbyist become oriented and, hopefully, more interested in continuing on.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Jan 2, 2018 12:55:02 GMT -5
As I have stated in my initial post, there isn't enough interest in Z scale railroading here. Out of 5 original z scale modellers in this area, there are only 2 of us left and the other guy is the person who got me into this in the first place. I've tried for years to get a club going, but unlike in Trump land where z scale clubs abound and new ones are springing up all over the place, here in Trudeau land or Canuckastan, z scale is looked upon as a joke or passing fad. Interestingly, I've done a coast to coast search and except for ours and 1 on the east coast, there are no z scale enthusiasts or clubs anywhere in this country. To make matters worse, hobby shops who may have stocked z scale products are getting rid of their inventory because there is no interest. So if no one is interested then certainly they won't buy even a small portion. Besides, my layout is built as one continuous run. Any single module can't be used to start a new layout because each ties into the one before and after. Sadly, lack or interest, availability of equipment, and size scare any potential modellers away. I guess in 10 or 15 years, my layout will end up in a landfill. Excuse me while I wipe away the tears.
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Post by tjdreams on Jan 2, 2018 16:07:46 GMT -5
As I have stated in my initial post, there isn't enough interest in Z scale railroading here. Out of 5 original z scale modellers in this area, there are only 2 of us left and the other guy is the person who got me into this in the first place. I've tried for years to get a club going, but unlike in Trump land where z scale clubs abound and new ones are springing up all over the place, here in Trudeau land or Canuckastan, z scale is looked upon as a joke or passing fad. Interestingly, I've done a coast to coast search and except for ours and 1 on the east coast, there are no z scale enthusiasts or clubs anywhere in this country. T o make matters worse, hobby shops who may have stocked z scale products are getting rid of their inventory because there is no interest. So if no one is interested then certainly they won't buy even a small portion. Besides, my layout is built as one continuous run. Any single module can't be used to start a new layout because each ties into the one before and after. Sadly, lack or interest, availability of equipment, and size scare any potential modellers away. I guess in 10 or 15 years, my layout will end up in a landfill. Excuse me while I wipe away the tears. Can you give us the Names and or addresses of those "hobby shops who may have stocked z scale products are getting rid of their inventory because there is no interest" Maybe some of us can start buying from them so they dont stop selling Z scale, Or at the Very least maybe we can get some good deals from them if they are in fact "getting rid of their inventory because there is no interest" as you claim. David |
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Post by neverland on Jan 2, 2018 18:57:33 GMT -5
I admit it's next to impossible to walk into a train shop here in VA and find anything related to Z. Tiny Tim's in Ashland keeps two plastic totes of MTL cars stashed under a display shelf in case anyone inquires. None on display, no signs mentioning Z, and little interest in the scale. One saleswoman pointed to some pre-made N layouts hanging up on the wall and said the guy who makes them could probably make it in Z too.
At least around here, Zs must rely on eBay for much of our train needs. Although the model railroad magazines make cursory references to Z, we are clearly a niche market within the hobby. Its small size is just one facet affecting its following. It's cost & lack of bells, whistles, et al. is also a factor.
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Post by Kez on Jan 2, 2018 21:14:20 GMT -5
I haven't bought trains from ebay in 'forever'. Not sure where you get the idea ebay is the only source for our train needs. I regularly buy from ZScaleMonster, M.B. Klein, Norm's, Tex-n-Rails, etc. No, they aren't brick and mortar stores (well, that I can walk into, at least), but they all serve my Z needs just fine. I also live in Virginia, and lament the loss of Granddad's in Springfield, but that loss is not preventing me from increasing my roster.  |
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