Wright writes.....

[Mark Laidlay]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

Thanks Jonathan,

 

I do Hoover the floor from time to time, and the walls/joists, but it's on the railway itself where the spiders are a real pest. 

 

They spread their webs where the main line is covered, resulting in the first loco run (after as little as a few hours) appearing with its front end festooned. I poke a feather duster through, but they're very resilient. 

 

Signals have 'scale guy wires' installed. 

 

Ironically, some of the spiders are eaten by bigger spiders!

 

I'll try the lemon cleaner. 

 

Someone suggested leaving peppermint sweets (Polos?) in the most-affected areas. Might that work? 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

So Tony, I know you take the use of the English language seriously so if "hoover" is being used as a verb should it be capitalised?

 

Mark in Melbourne (where we vacuum with our Samsung)

[Andy Hayter]

You could always try a snow plough as first train of the day to clear the tracks.

 

Peppermint oil (as used diluted in Polo Mints) is reputed to deter spiders and insects.  I would go for the neat oil rather than packet of mints.

[Tony Wright]

1 hour ago, Mark Laidlay said:

So Tony, I know you take the use of the English language seriously so if "hoover" is being used as a verb should it be capitalised?

 

Mark in Melbourne (where we vacuum with our Samsung)

Good afternoon Mark,

 

I did think about it.

 

'Hoover', of course, is the generic name for any vacuum cleaner. Thus one 'hoovers' with a Dyson here. Or, one gets the 'Hoover' out to vacuum the carpet. 

 

So, 'Hoover' as a proper noun has a capital, but hoover as a verb doesn't? 

 

Interestingly, the Concise OED has it with a capital, whatever its use. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[john new]

Any suggestion please on the peppermint oil front for a good source (5L bulk) for it in UK? Seems worth it for a trial. I just looked on Amazon and price varies from just above £42 down to £17.99 suggesting perhaps that one version may be much stronger than the other. Reason for asking - the garage and shed are filled with spiders and webs, anything stored that matters has to be in a box, a RUB or similar with a sealing lid..

Edited September 10, 2023 by john new
spelling mistake corrected

[Steamport Southport]

3 minutes ago, john new said:

Any suggestion please on the peppermint oil front for a good source (5L bulk) for it in UK? Seems woth it for a trial. I just looked on Amazon and price varies from just above £42 down to £17.99 suggesting perhaps that one version may be much stronger than the other. Reason for asking - the garage and shed are filled with spiders and webs, anything stored that matters has to be in a box, a RUB or similar with a sealing lid..

 

Have a look in your local "bargain" shop such as B&M or Home Bargains. They often have the spray for about £3.

 

 

 

Jason

[APOLLO]

100% Pure Strong Peppermint Essential Oil Spray Natural Mouse Spider repellent

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295755718097

 

As I model in O gauge in my shed I just let my trains squish 'em !!!!

 

Brit15

[MJI]

4 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Good afternoon Mark,

 

I did think about it.

 

'Hoover', of course, is the generic name for any vacuum cleaner. Thus one 'hoovers' with a Dyson here. Or, one gets the 'Hoover' out to vacuum the carpet. 

 

So, 'Hoover' as a proper noun has a capital, but hoover as a verb doesn't? 

 

Interestingly, the Concise OED has it with a capital, whatever its use. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Or toast, my parents when i was young had a Hoover toaster.

 

We vacuum with a gtech

[BMS]

Not to mention Hoover Washing Machines and Tumble driers😀

[St Enodoc]

57 minutes ago, BMS said:

Not to mention Hoover Washing Machines and Tumble driers😀

Don't mention the Hoover Dam...

[Andy R]

On 10/09/2023 at 07:31, Tony Wright said:

The mention of storing models when not in use - highlighted by Barry Ten's (Al) entirely non-boring arrangement of little 'cubby holes' for his spare locomotives - set me thinking.

 

I have nothing so fancy, but it prompted me to look at how I 'store' my locomotives when not in use.

 

The following images might be of interest.............

 

 

Spare freight/local passenger locos are kept on two shelves at one end. 

 

 

Spares for immediate use are kept on a shelf at one end of the fiddle yard.

 

 

Locos for use on the trains in cassettes are kept on a shelf at the other end of the fiddle yard.

 

 

Further large locos are kept on a shelf underneath the fiddle yard.

 

Those not immediately required are kept in drawers.........

 

 

A mixture in this one.

 

 

Almost all V2s in this.

 

 

Anyone fancy diesels? Particularly Deltics? 

 

 

Mainly A3s.

 

 

And more goods locos. 

 

The oldest locos seen above are 50 years old now, so I've amassed quite a few over the last half-century. Along with the 40-odd needed on the layout at any one time, then it's quite a collection (some others are in boxes underneath the layout!). Locos are changed once a month, so, with at least four times more locos needed than to run the sequence, then each gets a go (approximately) three times a year (they're hardly likely to wear out!). 

 

Since over 95% of the locos seen above have been built by me (apart from the diesels), then I question my 'sanity' at times, but it is a most-absorbing hobby.

 

As for the number of lamps and crew members needed, well....................

 

 

Hi Tony: while not trying to be morbid, reading this series of posts about many vast collections of stock makes me think- how  is our beloved family (assuming they assist) going to deal with these collections of "stuff" when we modeler's pass on to the great station in the sky?

As we age gracefully, what arrangements if any, do we need/want to make to assist the poor family to reasonably get rid of our accumulated items? I've sometimes talked to my other half about this and while it's easy to say..."...well Im not going to be here so not my problem..." she (rightly) says ..."you've got to be better organised than that!." Fair enough.

Any observations welcome...in a light-hearted way of course.

Andy

[Tony Wright]

4 hours ago, Andy R said:

Hi Tony: while not trying to be morbid, reading this series of posts about many vast collections of stock makes me think- how  is our beloved family (assuming they assist) going to deal with these collections of "stuff" when we modeler's pass on to the great station in the sky?

As we age gracefully, what arrangements if any, do we need/want to make to assist the poor family to reasonably get rid of our accumulated items? I've sometimes talked to my other half about this and while it's easy to say..."...well Im not going to be here so not my problem..." she (rightly) says ..."you've got to be better organised than that!." Fair enough.

Any observations welcome...in a light-hearted way of course.

Andy

Good morning Andy,

 

It's my belief that there are far more 'collections' coming on to the market in current times than might have been the case in the past. 

 

Of course, mortality is the human condition, and, as generations pass, what they leave behind has to be 'dealt with'. But, it would seem to me, as my generation passes (the 'baby-boomer' lot, born at the end of the War and just after), those who've died, who are interested in model railways, seem to be leaving rather a lot of 'stuff'. 

 

I've probably mentioned this before, but when I was in childhood and passing into early teenage years, just about every boy I knew was a trainspotter. Certainly my brother and male cousins were, just about all my mates and most of the lads at the schools I attended. Like me, most had a train set of one form or another as well. Interest in railways, both big and small was just about universal among young males (I never saw a girl trainspotter). Why mention this? Because if only a fraction of those male 'boomers' carried on an interest in (model) railways for the rest of their lives, it's still a very large number - a number reflected in attendees at recent model railway exhibitions. And, a number who've amassed vast collections.

 

As is known, really by chance, Mo and I have been asked to find new homes on behalf of widows/bereaved families for their recently-departed loved one's (often rather large) model railway collections. Most haven't the slightest idea what there is (some modellers have even been 'secretive', 'smuggling' items into homes unseen!). Now, Mo and I do not 'deal' with RTR (I know several excellent traders whose business that is, so I point any RTR stuff in their direction). So, we're faced with loads of kit-built items, many the work of the deceased modeller. Some are very good, good or indifferent. Some are the work of the modeller himself (so far, always male), while others are the work of professionals, built/painted on commission. So far (luckily), we've been able to sell everything (often via this thread). From that, I can conclude two alternatives; either I pitch the prices dead right, or I set them too cheaply! On  a couple of occasions, kindly modellers have even offered more! Thank you, and thanks to all who bought items off us. 

 

Where does this all lead to? Sadly, but perhaps inevitably, 'supply is going to outstrip 'demand'. In many cases, items I've sold have been bought by members of the same generation as the deceased, or even older! It won't be long before they're back on the market again! Before long, we'll see a real glut of (often high-quality) models for sale - for sale to a rapidly-diminishing number of modellers.

 

As for my own stuff; I'm lucky to have sons who know a fair bit about what I've got, and will help Mo when needed (it's usually wives who survive their husbands with regard to railway modelling - I wonder, do any women help widowers find new homes for their late wives' collections?). 

 

What has surprised Mo and me is how little some sons know about their late father's model railway stuff. Some have shown no interest in helping with its selling - until the money starts coming in, but that's a different story! It's often the daughters who we 'deal' with; females seem to be much more-sensible in such matters.

 

Of course, when I'm gone, I won't really care what happens to Little Bytham and everything which is on it, but I'm under no illusion that it'll be 'worth a fortune'. Many (most?) who might be interested will be of my generation - a generation rapidly diminishing (four cousins and a brother in my case in the last three years!). 

 

Perhaps, other than in 'practical' terms, we shouldn't be too bothered about the monetary value of our 'collections'. As far as I'm concerned, the real 'value' in what I've got is the pleasure it's given me, through my making things, right through to running it all in the company of dear friends.

 

In closing, I have to say, it's been my privilege over the years to meet some wonderfully-talented 'lady modellers', so it's not a male-only hobby. However, as intimated, it's only the collections of deceased males which Mo and I have had to sort out; so far! 

 

Regards,

 

Tony.  

Edited September 11, 2023 by Tony Wright
to add something

[St Enodoc]

22 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Perhaps, other than in 'practical' terms, we shouldn't be too bothered about the monetary value of our 'collections'.

Fair enough but, as I understand it, one's executors are obliged by law to maximise the value of one's estate for the beneficiaries (no doubt one of our resident experts will tell me if that's wrong).

[Bernard Lamb]

2 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

Fair enough but, as I understand it, one's executors are obliged by law to maximise the value of one's estate for the beneficiaries (no doubt one of our resident experts will tell me if that's wrong).

Quite correct. HMR&C might also have an interest. A couple of years ago a neighbour died and his widow asked me for help in getting rid of his models and books. The executor neede a fairly accurate list, with an idea of values of major items. If you are in the inheritance tax bracket, then a model collection can be liable for a worthwhile amount of tax. Put in a false amount and it might lead  to further questions. In this case she could not get probate granted until I had listed the valuable items, which were then sold individually. The executors where happy to take her word that I was knowledgeable enough to make a list and a valuation. I suppose that would depend on the value, and a very large collection might prompt furter investigation.

Bernard

[polybear]

The big (very big) problem is that items are only worth what someone is prepared to pay.  When is the last time you saw a 00 Kit built loco (built & painted by true professionals, to a high standard) sell for anywhere even remotely close to the original build cost? 

As for Executors, well if a Solicitor is dealing with the Estate then it would be all too easy for their charges to overrun any benefit of spending too much time in seeking a decent price.

 

And it seems that many family members seem to think that old = must be valuable, only to get rather upset when told that Triang Princess might make a tenner on a good day......

Edited September 11, 2023 by polybear

[St Enodoc]

9 minutes ago, polybear said:

The big (very big) problem is that items are only worth what someone is prepared to pay.

Quite - the executors are obliged to determine that.

[Tony Wright]

29 minutes ago, polybear said:

The big (very big) problem is that items are only worth what someone is prepared to pay.  When is the last time you saw a 00 Kit built loco (built & painted by true professionals, to a high standard) sell for anywhere even remotely close to the original build cost? 

As for Executors, well if a Solicitor is dealing with the Estate then it would be all too easy for their charges to overrun any benefit of spending too much time in seeking a decent price.

 

And it seems that many family members seem to think that old = must be valuable, only to get rather upset when told that Triang Princess might make a tenner on a good day......

Good morning Brian,

 

Though we have, on occasion, managed to sell items built/painted by professionals (to a high standard) for a 'reasonable' sum, we're lucky to recover the components' costs on some (very reasonable) models which Mo and I have 'disposed' of. 

 

In many cases, say, where a loco has been put together 'adequately', runs 'OK' and has been reasonably well-painted,  it'll only sell for less than its components' price. Indeed, un-built kits for the same, often go for more! 

 

As I say (and I understand executors' imperatives), the real 'value' in many such models has already been realised - by the person who made and ran them. What 'price' does one put on that? 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[robertcwp]

Another issue in dealing with collections is that relatives don't appreciate that the tatty, yellow-brown old paperwork that the deceased relative collected might well be where the serious money is. Individual carriage working books can go for three-figure sums, for example. Similarly, original slides and negatives if of decent quality can fetch good sums.

[Tony Wright]

1 minute ago, robertcwp said:

Another issue in dealing with collections is that relatives don't appreciate that the tatty, yellow-brown old paperwork that the deceased relative collected might well be where the serious money is. Individual carriage working books can go for three-figure sums, for example. Similarly, original slides and negatives if of decent quality can fetch good sums.

Good morning Robert,

 

That's very true.

 

On the other hand, have you tried selling railway books on behalf of bereaved families? 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[30368]

1 minute ago, Tony Wright said:

As I say (and I understand executors' imperatives), the real 'value' in many such models has already been realised - by the person who made and ran them. What 'price' does one put on that? 

 

I concur with that view Tony, that is the whole point of this wonderful hobby. Iit gives so much pleasure to the participants and even to, what might be called, the family "lookers on".

 

Kind regards,

 

30368

[Re6/6]

That was a very thought provoking post Tony. Being 80 next year and in 'fair to middling' health my thoughts seem to often gravitate towards one's modelling 'estate'. My intentions are for three of my best pals to deal with it all as we all did for another dear friend who we lost recently. I've already started to thin down slowly, disposing of stuff (RTR and kits) and I know that my trusted friends

will be there for my family at what will be a difficult (I assume!) time.

 

I have a salutary tale from a few years ago. A close friend of my so lost his father who had a huge collection of mostly brand new locos, many that had never been out of their boxes including around a dozen brand new Wrenn locos. A dealer had offered around £600 for the lot. Before dealing my son asked me to have a look at it all, so for the gift of a few locos I agreed to sell the lot for him on Ebay (there was no Hattons et al buying services back then). It was a long task but worth it in the end as I realized over £5G.

 

 

[jwealleans]

I have agreed to act as executor for a friend's model railway equipment.   It seems sensible to nominate someone with the required knowledge to realise a sensible value for what might be quite specialist effects, whether model railway or any other hobby.  

 

That said, I have disposed of a collection on behalf of someone else this year and it is more effort than most people realise if they haven't done it before.  Hopefully the beneficiaries appreciate the results if not the effort.

[Buhar]

On spiders, I don't know if they can detect the variety of mint, but if you run 60100 as the first loco of the session it might work.

 

Alan 

[APOLLO]

Interesting subject as we all get older.

 

Having discussed this subject with my family a while ago, I have done a spreadsheet to aid future disposal. Hopefully my twin daughters will sell the major stuff (locos) on ebay or perhaps a specialist buyer at realistic prices (say if the current average sale price of an item in the future is £100, then for a quick sale ask for £50 - £60.) Sell coaches, wagons, track, buildings etc in rakes / batches. What's left goes in the skip. It probably won't be a wait for the maximum type sale. Hopefully a very long time away (I'm 71).

 

Anyway, I (we ?) have far, far too much stuff, and the reality is a lot of our "treasured" possessions are junk anyway.  Hopefully one mans junk is another mans treasure. I visited the really excellent show at Leigh yesterday, just bought a couple of S/H books, and a few needed bits n bobs. As to stock I have decided enough is enough - (but can't seem to resist a S?H bargain occasionally). I resisted searching through several HUGE piles of magazines in the corner - it seems they can't give them away these days.

 

Which brings me to ask the following question to Tony and others. I have a quite bit of stuff, mainly OO that I want to donate to charity (CRUK or suchlike), rather than advertise it etc. It's the usual Tri-ang / Hornby etc old locos, coaches & wagons etc. I don't want the faff of selling it, and I ask are there any charities that take donations of generic model railway items in bulk ?

 

Brit15

[Andy R]

2 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Good morning Andy,

 

It's my belief that there are far more 'collections' coming on to the market in current times than might have been the case in the past. 

 

Of course, mortality is the human condition, and, as generations pass, what they leave behind has to be 'dealt with'. But, it would seem to me, as my generation passes (the 'baby-boomer' lot, born at the end of the War and just after), those who've died, who are interested in model railways, seem to be leaving rather a lot of 'stuff'. 

 

I've probably mentioned this before, but when I was in childhood and passing into early teenage years, just about every boy I knew was a trainspotter. Certainly my brother and male cousins were, just about all my mates and most of the lads at the schools I attended. Like me, most had a train set of one form or another as well. Interest in railways, both big and small was just about universal among young males (I never saw a girl trainspotter). Why mention this? Because if only a fraction of those male 'boomers' carried on an interest in (model) railways for the rest of their lives, it's still a very large number - a number reflected in attendees at recent model railway exhibitions. And, a number who've amassed vast collections.

 

As is known, really by chance, Mo and I have been asked to find new homes on behalf of widows/bereaved families for their recently-departed loved one's (often rather large) model railway collections. Most haven't the slightest idea what there is (some modellers have even been 'secretive', 'smuggling' items into homes unseen!). Now, Mo and I do not 'deal' with RTR (I know several excellent traders whose business that is, so I point any RTR stuff in their direction). So, we're faced with loads of kit-built items, many the work of the deceased modeller. Some are very good, good or indifferent. Some are the work of the modeller himself (so far, always male), while others are the work of professionals, built/painted on commission. So far (luckily), we've been able to sell everything (often via this thread). From that, I can conclude two alternatives; either I pitch the prices dead right, or I set them too cheaply! On  a couple of occasions, kindly modellers have even offered more! Thank you, and thanks to all who bought items off us. 

 

Where does this all lead to? Sadly, but perhaps inevitably, 'supply is going to outstrip 'demand'. In many cases, items I've sold have been bought by members of the same generation as the deceased, or even older! It won't be long before they're back on the market again! Before long, we'll see a real glut of (often high-quality) models for sale - for sale to a rapidly-diminishing number of modellers.

 

As for my own stuff; I'm lucky to have sons who know a fair bit about what I've got, and will help Mo when needed (it's usually wives who survive their husbands with regard to railway modelling - I wonder, do any women help widowers find new homes for their late wives' collections?). 

 

What has surprised Mo and me is how little some sons know about their late father's model railway stuff. Some have shown no interest in helping with its selling - until the money starts coming in, but that's a different story! It's often the daughters who we 'deal' with; females seem to be much more-sensible in such matters.

 

Of course, when I'm gone, I won't really care what happens to Little Bytham and everything which is on it, but I'm under no illusion that it'll be 'worth a fortune'. Many (most?) who might be interested will be of my generation - a generation rapidly diminishing (four cousins and a brother in my case in the last three years!). 

 

Perhaps, other than in 'practical' terms, we shouldn't be too bothered about the monetary value of our 'collections'. As far as I'm concerned, the real 'value' in what I've got is the pleasure it's given me, through my making things, right through to running it all in the company of dear friends.

 

In closing, I have to say, it's been my privilege over the years to meet some wonderfully-talented 'lady modellers', so it's not a male-only hobby. However, as intimated, it's only the collections of deceased males which Mo and I have had to sort out; so far! 

 

Regards,

 

Tony.  

Good day to you too Tony. Thanks for your comprehensive thoughts, and to other replies. I think you UK based modellers are better placed with your ‘ diminishing’ market than us here in NZ.      Ours is minimal by comparison ( as are the number of modellers of course). But the issue remains to be addressed.
That’s why I’m really interested in the various comments, to see how things might be approached.
The magnitude of disposing large collections or accumulated stuff and the time and effort involved seems to shine through. I pity the executor’s and/ or family faced with the task!

Anyway, thanks for providing the forum for discussion.

cheers from a wet and cool NZ night.

Andy

[JamesSpooner]

2 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Fair enough but, as I understand it, one's executors are obliged by law to maximise the value of one's estate for the beneficiaries (no doubt one of our resident experts will tell me if that's wrong).

I think it depends on how the will is drafted.  If a dying spouse (husband) leaves his entire estate to his surviving spouse (wife) then all the executors have to do is ensure it is all transferred over to her.  It is then up to her to decide what to do with it all.  She can sell items, give them away or bin them…

 

Nigel