An article on Slashdot asked this weekend whether video games were a good investment. The answer is generally no. Collectibles in general are not–they follow a boom and bust cycle. I’ve seen it happen in my own lifetime.
All posts tagged lionel
Will videogames appreciate over time?
Posted by Dave Farquhar on June 3, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/06/will-videogames-appreciate-over-time/
Collecting parameters
I missed this bit of collecting wisdom from Rob O’Hara when he first posted it last month, but Rob describes his concept of mini-collections to keep his hobbies from taking over his life.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on April 12, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/04/collecting-parameters/
Scratchbuilding, Marx-style
I saw a modern-production Lionel box car in a hobby shop one weekend. I wanted it, but I really wanted it in Marx 3/16 style, so it would look right with my Marx #54 KCS diesels pulling it. But I face very long odds of ever getting that car in Marx 3/16 unless I build [...]
Posted by Dave Farquhar on April 2, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/04/scratchbuilding-marx-style/
Non-derailing Marx switches
The Marx 1590 is the best O27 switch ever made. It’s durable, works well with all makes of trains (just put a track pin in the center rail where the switch pivots so that Lionel trains can pass), and can run off accessory power without modification. The only downside is that it (allegedly) can’t be [...]
Posted by Dave Farquhar on February 1, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/02/non-derailing-marx-switches/
A good reviewer doesn’t seek out special treatment
The Consumerist asks whether flashing a “reviewer” ID card in search of special treatment makes you savvy, or makes you a jerk. Let me think for 1/1000000000000000 of a second. It makes you a jerk.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on January 24, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/01/a-good-reviewer-doesnt-seek-out-special-treatment/
A cheap and easy replacement for insulators on American Flyer, Lionel and Marx track
When you’re dealing with vintage toy train track, sometimes the insulators on the track will be damaged or missing. This will cause a short circuit and keep the train from running. But there’s a cheap and easy repair using material from an unlikely source: 2-liter soda bottles.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on January 8, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/01/a-cheap-and-easy-replacement-for-insulators-on-american-flyer-lionel-and-marx-track/
Questions from the logs
If one person uses a password, another will. That’s a popular hacking theory. If that’s true, then chances are if one person asks a question, another will. So here are three short questions (one completely unrelated to the others) I found in my logs over the weekend, and their answers.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on January 6, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/01/questions-from-the-logs/
What to do when a Lionel train suddenly can’t pull as many cars as it could before
Last night, the Lionel train under our Christmas tree started struggling. It had been able to pull five cars before, but suddenly could only pull four. Here’s how I fixed it.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on December 14, 2012
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2012/12/what-to-do-when-a-lionel-train-suddenly-cant-pull-as-many-cars-as-it-could-before/
The greatest European tinplate train collection in the United States is on display
Two years ago, Jerry Greene made a splash when he attempted to put his huge, one-of-a-kind train collection up for auction. He had quietly amassed 35,000 train items, and only a handful of people knew about it. Transporting the collection to Sotheby’s let that cat out of the bag. It became the subject of a [...]
Posted by Dave Farquhar on December 12, 2012
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2012/12/the-greatest-european-tinplate-train-collection-in-the-united-states-is-on-display/