Michael's - a goldmine!

[Anonymous]

Near my house is a Michael's crafts store. I tagged along with the wife and found a some great stuff for the layout . Lichen, moss, and dried/preserved plants that should do very well as small trees and shrubs. $20 bought enough to plant a forest of trees and bushes on a 50'x50' layout![:D]

[ukguy]

Yeo, some of the stuff can be adapted very easiy, especially for filler within a 'forrest between the detail trees, I've used quite a bit of this stuff so far, luckily at the time I was perusing the dried flower section there was a 60% off sale which is quite regular so keep your eyes open, also a good source for paints and gloss mendium when the sales are on.

Have fun, the sources can be found in many places.

Karl.

[trolleyboy]

SHHH Don't let our wives know because then they won't "make" us come on these micheal's trips.You are right though they have a million and one good for the layout type things instock. Check out their paint section as well lots of artist acryilics in the tubes for weathering and bachdrop painting too. Rob

[davekelly]

Hobby Lobby is about the same. Check out Michael's and Hobby Lobby's websites. The dried flowers seem to go on sale (up to 50 percent sometimes) every few months. Hobby Lobby also has a 50 percent sale on trains stuff once a year (I think it is in either December or January). Great time to get Woodland Scenics stuff at a great price.

[rexhea]

Michael's is a good source, but if you want to save a buck, check out the Wal-Mart hobby section. You can get paint, brushes, Mod-Podge, and etc. at a very good price.

REX [;)]

[cwclark]

Michael's used to sell HO and N gauge stuff..it was the toy train stuff but trains never the less...I went there to purchase the five section emergency cork roadbed when they used to sell it...they had a few rolling stock pieces that were ok too...too bad they still don't sell the stuff...i still go there for exactly what you are going for...good lichen, moss, and tree stuff...they have good paint too...chuck

[Anonymous]

Yeah I've walked through there when I have to buy a B-day present for someone and even when I know what I want it still takes me a couple hours to get out.

[ukguy]

yeah, I do that too rexhea, mainly for the paint @ 45c but the dried flower and moss is substandard to micheals and more than michaels sale price, it is here anyhow. I'm still looking for an a source of sagebrush or supertrees stuff , maybe i'll try the local florist

take care
Karl.

[cheese3]

They just built a michaels in westminster MD, (about 10 miles away from me). I found all sorts of stuff for every stage of building your railroad. They have drafting supplies, paint stuff for scenery, etc.

[AggroJones]

Most of the stuff I find useful at Micheal's can be bought at Walmart for cheaper. Dowels, artist acrylics, fur, baby's breath, white glue, etc. But one great thing Walmart doesn't have is the the great mini-tube water colors. No railroader should be without these fantastically magical paints. Using the "40% off one item" cupon that comes in every Sunday newspaper, they're only $1.40

And over here, we have a Walmart and Micheal's right next to each other, so comparing prices is easy.

[on30francisco]

I regularly buy a lot of scratchbuilding and some other modeling and detailing supplies at Michael's, Pearls, or Walmart. They have a great selection and their prices are much lower than most LHSs.

[Anonymous]

I do all my weathering with cheapo water based paints from them.

[Anonymous]

In the bead section chain necklaces make good realistic chains.