You pretty well described my methods. It seems that when I first started doing the eBay thing there were more sleeper deals out there, especially if you bought odd lots from old empty-nester mom types who were cLearing out the last of Junior's stuff. Nowadays it seems like the sellers have gotten a bit more savvy but still if you look you can still find good stuff. .If you watch E Bay closely for very nice models that are closing at very odd hours of the day or even in the wee hours of the morning, some Near-Mint bargains are to be found even with your limited hobby funds kbean63. If you do not focus on specific models or castings, but you watch for underdescribed "Sleepers" being sold by non-dealers or non-collectors, a nice collection can slowly be built up over a few years time. Local Flea Markets or Toy Shows can also be a source of a few well picked reasonably priced models, so be very patient "Play" with them...... kwakers
p.s. the tricky part about shopping at "odd" hoUrs is that what may be odd hoUrs in your time zone may be normal waking hours for someone on the other side of the planet, lol.