Mike I know what you mean, when I was a kid in the middle 50's my friends and I would go to Manhattan to Polks Hobbies 5 floors of hobbies and while even then some items were expensive like the metal soldiers
that ran $20.00 and up to brass locomotives in O scale from $75.00 and up, but plastic models were cheap and I would bring home a few after saving my grass cutting money for a few months. while today's models are expensive they do have detail that we just didn't have back in the day, check out the new Bride of Frankenstein kit and the new Creature from The Black Lagoon kits with female victim detail is out of the park
and I think still cheaper than some video games that are out there and being retired modeling is a great way to relax and keep those fingers flexible. while working I bought as many sailing ships as I could for far less than any hobby shop would have off e bay and have a nice selection to work on for years to come. good luck in finding the PE your looking for. Karl
photograph what intrests you today.....because tomorrow it may not exist.