Buy-a-set or Build-a-set

I like building a set piece by piece, which enables me to create the ultimate train set that I always wanted versus picking up a starter set and settling for what’s in the box.  After creating my set, I always create a custom set box with labels to make sure that everything stays organized. 

Right now I’m in the middle of creating a “set” using a Lionel Legacy B6sb switcher loco and am trying to locate some period freight cars for it.  Half the fun for me is finding everything.

I buy what I like, if its a set, I buy the set if its a car or loco, I just buy that. Not too often I get a set just for a loco or the cars

Just for clarification, I'm referring to collecting the prewar originals.  

Then I would collect just sets for passenger trains and piece by piece for freight trains.

I have had good luck buying an engine and finding a set to run with it.  Buying a nice set complete with engine and cars is buku bucks.  The freight cars can certainly be bought individually.  I have bought my passenger cars as sets.  It makes sense to have the same look, or patina, on all the cars in a train.  It does to me anyway.  

That's why I like to purchase prewar passenger trains as a set - because the patina, rust, condition is generally the same (assuming that all the pieces were kept together).  I really not concerned with play wear, but if it's not too bad, I love have matching pieces.  

I don't mind, either way. Trains are trains, kamerade, and it doesn't matter to me how they get to me.

Haven't bought a "set" since the Polar Express. My preference is to put the consist and train together one piece at a time.

Buy both, then mix and match. I believe they call it "upgrade collecting". Then sell or trade what is extra to acquire more stuff. There is nothing wrong with mixing parts as long as everything is original.

I've bought sets when it's affordable/practical as I like to display and run trains as they were catalogued. (I do like to add an extra passenger car or two). 

Most often I have searched for, and bought, items one at a time to make up a set. I'm particular about getting the correct version for the year and set-no changing out trucks or such to match. It often takes a long time, but that's what I like.

Tim

Haven't really gotten into the whole "set" thing with O-gauge trains. I generally just buy what I like. I bought a complete Marx 7" tin set and broke it up for the individual cars and some spare parts. I will probably kick myself for that one day. I bought a pile of MPC era Lionel off eBay once for like $25 and it turned out to be complete set, and except for the caboose being damaged, it was in pretty good shape.

As for prewar tin, I just buy what I find in the price range I can pay and enjoy it.

Both, but I do like to build sets. Am into PW Lionel so I've built a few older sets a piece or two at a time. The "hunt" is fun and can be rewarding once you complete a set.

My latest effort is a hybrid. I have the Lionel CC version of the Wabash F3 AB locos and am adding the "silver" passenger cars from the 50's to recreate that particular set. Fun stuff.

I have wanted a Postwar set of my own that is not my dad's set which I love. However, I had given it some thought there are many of the same sets out there. So I have chosen to make my own but it's one Lionel never made during the Postwar period. I have had a liking to the milk trains that used to run around the country. Perhaps it's the dairy farming blood that comes out or just that it's something different so I have began to hunt for a Lionel 2037 or 2036 Locomotive to go with a Lionel 6472 Refrigerator Car, Lionel and a 3662 Automatic Refrigerator Milk Car, and finally a Lionel 6557 Illuminated smoking caboose or a 6427 caboose. Not to sure but the caboose or locomotive might change. Sure I could get the new version of the cars but I want to make it a what if Lionel made a milk train set during the post war years.

I been collecting and making sets of postwar era for a little while now if I can find a set and afford it I'll buy the set. But basically it's been piece by piece I will get a group of trains in and will take a look at the engine and look up to see what cars go with it to make a set and usually I can figure which set this was a part of when you end up with like 3 of the 5 cars or something like that in the group. I got lucky the other night prewar set 6401 ( 1688 (grey) 1689T, 1679,1680,and 1682 ) the boxes including set box came up for sale on the bay the 1689T box is missing but rest are there even a box for a 1039 Transformer. I have the engine and the cars so that will be a easy set to complete. But that's a rare find. 

and observation i've made which i believe has some truth...

prewar collectors tend to collect individual pieces.
postwar collectors tend to collect sets.

i only have a few boxed sets and it's usually the cover graphics that sell me.
e.g. ...

cheers...gary

Over the years I have completed many sets, one piece at a time. Doing so allows to buy the best that you can find. Be it C-7 or C-8 in the original box. The set box can be the most costly item of all. Collecting this way is not for everyone, however, it had it's benefits. In most cases I was able to find duplicates that I could run. I'm at the age now where it is all just memories, wonderful, precious memories.

                                   "Merry Christmas Everyone"                  

Gentlemen,

    I like to due both and sometimes if you want to have an MTH Tin Plate reproduction identical to the original Lionel set, the only way to purchase it, is by purchasing the P2 Engine & Tender, then purchase each new individual reproduced piece of rolling stock.  I did this with my P2 263E Work Train, matching my original Lionel work Train Set with the new MTH repo stock.   Sometimes however MTH does not Reproduce every car you want, and you must find & purchase a Lionel original and insert it into your new MTH Tin Plate Train, to complete your new Train set set.  Can you guess which pieces of rolling stock in the 263E Repro work train set, are actually the real Lionel cars?

I also like to purchase complete Tin Plate MTH Repro Trains sets, almost bought a Christmas Tin Plate set this year.  It is my understanding Santa opted for the new Lionel/Hallmark Santa Train instead.

PCRR/Dave

I just got a set with a 252 loco and three freight cars and caboose. The cars are 4 wheel and there are two early and two late cars. Thinking this was not a set, I looked in the Lionel catalogs. Set number 293 was made from 1927 to 1929 with early  803 and 804 cars and late 807 and 805  cars in the set. The patina/rust is consistent throughout the set. A type A transformer and some early track that looks different than modern O gauge track.

I spent over a year at train shows and on E-bay collecting this 259E set that I restored. The milk car is a converted tender...It was worth the

effort to find what you want..

.

Nice job on making the milk car.

Build a set!  You nailed it.

Just reflecting back on the original post. I have a aquired a nice 1385e and separately a three piece set of pretty decent blue baby states.  These were offered as a set.  I was lucky enough to put it together and they look great.  This original set on EBay right now is at like $2800.  I also bought two red and cream passenger cars which match my red and cream #8 and also my 384, which were sold together in sets.  Coming Saturday is a brown baby state set with the brown 318e.  This originally came as a set.  So, as my dad says, there is more than one way to skin a cat.  

   As an early IVES collector finding an unmolested original set is a real prize! Most have been "upgraded" by previous collectors switching out cars or parts to make the set more desirable. There is nothing wrong with that to most, but for me I prefer a set to be as it left the factory. With my genre of choice, locating a 100+ year old train still in the original owners family does not happen often! The set pictured below surfaced at a poorly advertised estate sale in NY. I was glad to have it, and thrilled with the price. It was made in 1911. I had spent over 2 years trying to match up a set of three Harvard series cars. Finding matching colors and lettering was hard enough, but the patina was near impossible to match.

On the other side assembling sets is a blast. Trying to match up cars with the correct years and features helps us learn a lot, and IMHO adds to the fun of the hobby! It always comes down to personal interests and preferences. Its a hobby and hobbies are supposed to be fun! 

The Nighthawk posted:

   As an early IVES collector finding an unmolested original set is a real prize! Most have been "upgraded" by previous collectors switching out cars or parts to make the set more desirable. There is nothing wrong with that to most, but for me I prefer a set to be as it left the factory. With my genre of choice, locating a 100+ year old train still in the original owners family does not happen often! The set pictured below surfaced at a poorly advertised estate sale in NY. I was glad to have it, and thrilled with the price. It was made in 1911. I had spent over 2 years trying to match up a set of three Harvard series cars. Finding matching colors and lettering was hard enough, but the patina was near impossible to match.

 

 

 

THIS is a beautiful set.  The ONLY thing that would make it more appealing to me is if it were "No 1117" instead of "No 17".  I'm TRYING to limit my focus to the electric trains, BUT I find I REALLY like the early Ives clockworks...even more the pre-1900 stuff.  But jeesh...where does one draw the line???