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Model Train Hobby Shops in TN, KY, IN, and OH

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  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, September 14, 2018 10:59 PM

drgwcs
Have fun at train central. Last time I was in there he was full- lots of stuff to look at. Make sure to hit the North Hobbytown in Indy

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My "morning" meeting in Indianapolis ended today at about 2:00 in the afternoon. I knew I was in trouble when they came in at 10:00 and asked what we wanted catered in for lunch.

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I made it to Train Central! I found two code 83 #3 Wye Walthers/Shinohara turnouts. Also picked up a couple packs of cows and some detail parts. I also finally found a tender ladder for a stalled project.

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The Hobbytown on the North side of Indianapolis was the best Hobbytown I have ever been in. Thank you for the tip. I bought all kinds of stuff in there. They also have the full line of Vallejo Paints including the "Panzer Aces" line.

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Just outside of Indianapolis in Lebanon, Indiana there is a hobby shop right off the Interstate called "Hobbies and History". Not a lot of trains, but it is so close to the Interstate that there is no reason not to stop. If there is an older plastic scale model kit on your want list, they might have it here.

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Tomorrow morning I will be on my way to Columbus, Ohio, and then South to Georgia. Hopefully I can hit three more hobby shops tomorrow.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 569 posts
Posted by drgwcs on Friday, September 14, 2018 11:12 PM

Glad we can help. Have fun in Columbus. I think you will enjoy the train station. and Robbies.

 

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, September 16, 2018 12:30 AM

drgwcs
Glad we can help. Have fun in Columbus. I think you will enjoy the train station. and Robbies

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You were right. I started the day at Robbie's. My wife actually enjoyed this store a lot more than I did. I found a few detail parts, my wife found a lot more stuff in there.

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Then we went to the Trail Station, and I went nuts! Spent way too much money in this place, but I found a few things on my "must have" list. Mostly supplies and paint. Great stop.

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Then we went to Tim's Trains in Latonia, Kentucky, right by Cincinatti. This is another great-fun train store that everyone should visit. I spent about an hour wandering through the store. I bought eight undecorated Athearn Blue Box two bay hopper cars and a bunch of miscellaneous stuff.

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We will be home in Florida tomorrow.

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Thank you for all the tips.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Hilliard, Ohio
  • 1,139 posts
Posted by chatanuga on Sunday, September 16, 2018 1:24 PM

The Train Station is the best hobby store in central Ohio.  Love going in there.  I go in there, and the owner always recognizes me and helps me find anything if I'm looking for something specific.

Kevin

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, September 16, 2018 9:40 PM

We have safely made it home back to Florida.

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My wife did a masterful job packing the Explorer. We did not need to leave anything behind. I think one of her hidden talents is a Tetris Master!

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I now have enough Homasote 440 and 2 inch foam board to build my final lifetime dream layout! I thought this would be a massive hurdle to overcome. Thank heavens for Menard's and rented Explorers!

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 569 posts
Posted by drgwcs on Sunday, September 16, 2018 10:03 PM

Glad to see you got home safe and got what you needed in there. My wife had the same talent when we were traveling full time as home missionaries. It was amazing how she could interlock the suitcases. We would hit hobby shops on the road too. I would get a boxcar for a local railroad as a souvenir. Jim

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 569 posts
Posted by drgwcs on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 3:48 PM

The roundhouse museum at Savannah GA has a little critter right about this size that they use. Jim

 

  • Member since
    June 2011
  • 404 posts
Posted by DavidH66 on Friday, September 21, 2018 1:53 PM

Dan's Trains is on the I-75 exit. There's also a Hobbytown in the Turkey Creek area of Knoxville off of I-40/I-75 thats pretty good

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, September 22, 2018 11:20 AM

Oh, I wish I would have known about Dan's when I drove through Knoxville, but even then I doubt I would have made it in time from Columbus, Ohio that morning. It sure looks like a great shoip from the pictures online.

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Next trip!

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Louisville
  • 588 posts
Posted by dbduck on Sunday, September 23, 2018 7:48 PM

The Shop in Louisville is Scale Reproductions which has a rather extensive tran dept

also in Louisville is Roundhouse Trains

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Fruita, CO
  • 541 posts
Posted by slammin on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 7:58 AM

If you have time to swing thru Dayton, Ohio check out Dayton Model Railways (AKA Smitty's Hobby Shop) in Kettering,  3706 Wilmington Pike. I haven't been in since I moved to Colorado 20 years ago. It is still listed in the phone book and was the best full service model train store in the area. 

 
 
  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 9:24 AM

slammin
If you have time to swing thru Dayton, Ohio

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Back in 1985, when I was in college, I worked at Aardvark's Model Trains in Nashville. One weekend I drove through model train shops in Ohio with the owner's son so we could see what other model train shops were doing. I seem to remember this shop.

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That was my first train shop road trip. So many years ago.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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