Not only did old Bob know about model railroads he knew about RC aircraft, WW2 aircraft history and Virginia Railroading History. Unfortunetly I do not know any hobby shop dealer like Bob. However I live not to far from a hobby shop that is like Bob's. Peach Creek hobby in Laurel Md (outside of DC) has everything from ready to run, craftsman kits to scratch builders supplies. They also have a decent selection of discountinued kits along with a fabulous brass selection. The staff knows this hobby very well. I also considered myself blessed to be near a real hobby shop when most hobby shops carry mainly ready to run stuff and high ticket items. I hope for this hobby's sake that this hobby shop does not follow the same path as The Hobby Center or Mitchell's
PS although it was called the Hobby Center it always be Bob's Hobby shop to me
I am like you. The last time that I saw Bob Smith was around that same time of 2001. That is the time that the Hobby Center on Patterson had to close its doors because the owner of the property in the shopping center on Patterson raised the rates to an absurd level of rationality. I have driven by that same complex back around 2005 and it seems like everything died in the shopping center there. There use to be a grocery store there which did not have a chance of making it at all. I guess what goes around comes around. The owner of the property probably lost his shirt in that real estate "adventure." But to those of us, we lost everything because of the owner's greed for money. To us, we lost a great hobby store and an genuine expert in the art of model railroading, Bob Smith. To me, you can call Bob Smith, "old Bob." But I sure do miss that "old Bob" because of his mind had some incredible data, insight and information into the world of model railroading. I wish I knew today an "Old Bob" like Bob Smith. They don't make people like him anymore.
I will try to do some hookup with some model railroading friends in Richmond to see if Bob is still with us. Maybe he is on Facebook? I doubt it seriously, though.
The last time I saw old Bob was when the store was on Patterson Ave around 2000 or 2001. He seemed pretty old then but he was still rambling about WW2 aircraft. I wonder if he is still alive.
O man, Russq4B. You have made my day! I do remember going into the shop when it was on Broad Street and seeing the Godzilla eating the HO scale car. I did not know the store when it was located on Cary Street in Richmond. I did not know Bob Smith until 1990 when I got into the hobby. I followed the Hobby Center when it was at Willow Lawn and later at Patterson before it closed. I own a great deal to Bob Smith. That man knew more about model railroading than anyone I ever knew. I loved to go to the store and talk modeling with Bob Smith. He would talk with anyone and give you honest, subjective answers to any of your needs. If you needed historical information about the C & O, RF & P or any railroad, Bob was the guru. When you talk to Bob, he knew more about the RF & P than anyone. He knew about the paint chip colors and the slight changes of color in the painting of RF & P diesels. HE WAS THE MAN!
I miss Bob Smith so much. I told my brother-in-law who got me into the hobby that I would "give my right arm, my left arm and both on my legs just to talk and see Bob Smith once more. He was tops. I assume he is now retired and not working. What a loss to us that still model.
I am going to the Greenberg show this coming Saturday in Richmond, Virginia at the Richmond Raceway Complex with my brother-in-law. The best Christmas gift I could ever receive in my life would be to see Bob Smith at the show just to say hello and renew my relationship with him. I miss him so much.
I grow up in Richmond and I remember when the Hobby center was Bob's Hobby shop on Cary Street. And of course I will never forger old Bob. That store covered everything from the beginner to the hardcore scratchbuilder, from the inexpensive plastic kits to the top of the line craftsman kits. Although the products today are far superior than that in the 70s and 80s it seems like hobby shops in general went the opposite directions. Nothing beats a hobby shop that displays the products and a staff that is knowledgable on all the products they carry. I have not been back to Richmond for a while but I hope that Chesterfield Hobbies will have the same effect for central Virginia hobbist as Bob's had on me.
PS does anybody remember the display layout with Godzilla eating a HO scale car?
I have recently moved back to Virginia. I have been in model railroading for about 15 years now. One of my favorite things to do is to find new hobby shops. Now to be totally honest, most train stores just do not impress me on first visit. When one has been in some great stores like the Antique Barn in Wilson, NC and attended the Timonium Model Railroading show, some of us just get "spoiled."
I decided yesterday to look into Chesterfield Hobbies in Richmond, Virginia. The reason that I was so reluctant to go and investigate the store was that I am spoiled. When I first started in the hobby, my favorite hobby store in Richmond, Virginia was the Hobby Center that got me started in the hobby. This store closed in the early 2000's because the owner of the property increased the rent to a ridiculous rate. That particular day was a very sad day in my life when I lost my favorite hobby store in Richmond. I also lost some great friends in that store who I have not been able to reconnect with since. I don't know about you, but I do not like losing those types of friends and relationships in the hobby.
Yesterday while on business trip in Richmond, I decided to take a risk and "spy out" Chesterfield Hobbies that I was convinced could not meet my expectations for a hobby store and more importantly could not replace the void in my life that The Hobby Center had been for me. However, I decided to take the "plunge." I am glad I did. The store was current with great materials and well supllied with good quality items. The store owners were very gracious and helpful.
In a world where we go and explore new hobby stores, those stores like the Hungate Hobbies and other small hobby "chain" stores trying to be "all things to all men" do not come close to a modeler who needs diversity of materials and supplies. I am so grateful to have taken the risk and found a store that was helpful and will meet my needs. I am truly blessed. I pray the same for all of you. Where hobby shops are going out of business often, this Christmas season my prayer for all of you is to receive the gift of a hobby store that meets your needs in this difficult economy. Maybe we all need to get a bumper stick and place it on our cars that says, "Support Your Local Hobby Store or It May Not Be Here Tomorrow."