Hello everyone,
I just got back from a great trip in Branson, MO. My birthday was on Thursday and I was on fall break at school so why not a trip. I went ahead and visited a Hobbytown USA there in town when I just arrived. I was wondering if these stores are all different. This particular store was had quite a few model railroading items. I bought three Athearn covered hoppers decorated in BNSF. The owner was extremely helpful. I asked him if he had any Kadee couplers in stock, and he said that can't stock them. I didn't ask the reason. He was courteous and helpful and he said that stocking model railroading items is tough since most of his customers are R/C hobbyists.
I don't want to go too off topic here. I was driving in Northern Arkansas and drove across a railroad crossing where the tracks are superelevated at the crossing. The curve looked pretty sharp. I think it would be a good thing to model.
I didn't ride the Branson Scenic Railway or visit Silver Dollar City on this trip, but I did do some other things. I visited a car museum called '57 Heaven. It had about sixty cars that were all '57 model years. All of them restored or original that didn't requre restoration. It was great to see them. All though I am only 24, I enjoyed it very much. Unfortunately, the museum is going to close on Oct. 23.
Will
Will,
Sounds like a cool trip to Branson. I like old cars myself, especially 57 Chevys. Sad that it has to close. Thanks for the post.
Jeff
I noticed that they are going to auction all of the cars off on the 24th. It should bring in some people and maybe some big bucks.
I would imagine that every Hobbytown is different and each caters to whatever is strong in that area. The one nearest me is a 30 min. drive and has a good general assortment of hobby items and is also heavily into R/C. It's a very good place to pick up scratch-building and Miniatronics supplies. The selection of MRR stock is okay. I generally go to my other 3 LHSes for those sorts of things.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
The Hobbytown USA in Kennesaw, Georgia has an excellent selection of model trains as well as other hobbies. This is located near Town Center Mall on Barrett Parkway near Exit 269 off of I-75. Kennesaw Trains Inc, which is located in downtown Kennesaw is approximately 3 miles from the Hobbytown USA that I mentioned earlier also has an excellent selection of model trains.
Ahhhhhhhh memories! You just reminded me of the first time I walked into the original Hobbytown store in Lincoln, Nebraska. At that time it was knows as Chick Bartletts Hobbytown just a sliver of a store next to the Stuart theater ticket office. The year was 1971 and I was in 7th grade. My best freind took me there after we had just gone to our first Husker game. We didn't have tickets, but the policy then was to let people in at halftime if the game was no longer in doubt, and few games were for the next 27 years. We were still exilerated from the thrill of seeing Johnny Rodgers return a punt for a touchdown when Tom said let's go to Chick Bartletts. I had no idea what he was talking about so being 12 I agreed to go. When we got there it was the begining of a lifelong love affair with hobbies in general. The store was no wider than 15 or 20 feet with 2 shelves making 3 isles in the front with a lateral isle and 2 more shelves in the rear of the store. The shelves naturally ran lengthwise and were stacked to the ceiling with the wares of the store. To the left as you walked in was a magazine rack full of SPI wargames. The lefthand shelf had games and gaming publications, while the backside of the shelf held the lead wargamining miniatures. Against the wall were a couple of motorized display cases where rare coins were displayed, the rare coins were Chick's own personal hobby. Next to that was the checkout counter this formed the end of the lateral isle. The left hand shelves in the rear held the plastic models, the leftmost isle and the wall held model planes, the center isle was the military model isle. This is where I spent most of my hard earned money on Tamiya tank kits. The shelves across from this held the balsa kits. The right hand most isle was where the RC kits were shelved. The engines were kept in a display case across the isle on the wall. The right hand shelves at the front of the store was where the model railroading inventory was kept. On the wall was a case where the brass engines were displayed. I remember puzzleing over those creatures priced at upwards of $350.00. I did buy one engine kit there the next year it was a Tyco (Mantua) Mikado for $30.00, I lost track of it about 25 years ago, and recently rediscovered it at my nephews 2 years ago, now its a restoration project. For the next 2 years I would buy my model tanks there and take the 1 hour walk home along the Rock Island tracks that ran through Lincoln. I would always stop ouside the Childrens Zoo and open my new kit either sitting atop the M4 Sherman tank, or in the cockpit or on the wing of the F4U Corsair that served as playground equipment (but whether that was the original intention of the equipment I don't know). I think it was in 1979 or 1980 that Chick retired and sold the store to Merle Hayes who tripled the square footage by moving into the suite next door, (I beleve Chick continued selling rare coins a few floors higher in the Stuart building). He soon opened another store in a mall then began franchising stores. By that time I was firmly in the grip of wargaming, a hobby that I was introduced to through Merles original store......but that's another story. Merle did so well with Hobbytown that they were the only outside advertiser in Games Workshop' fanzine the White Dwarf. Of course you can't stop progress, the original mall store closed last winter while the original location has been gone since about 1986 or so. Now we only have 1 store in lincoln, and I'm not sure Merle is associated with Hobbytown anymore. But I will always remember through the mellow filter of nostalgia the first time I walked into Hobbytown.
There was a Hobbytown in Davenport, but the owner closed up shop about a year ago. There is still a Hobbytown in west Des Moines, but if I am in the area I prefer to visit the HobbyHaven instead. I was never impressed by the limited MRR selections in either Hobbytown store, and tended to visit the local outlet only when I needed generic supplies such as glue or paint. I once bought a small train set powerpack there that I use to power my layout's structure lighting, and maybe the odd piece of track. Like your experience in Branson, our local outlet was heavily into RC cars.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
Unless it recently shut down, there was a good trainshop in Hollister, which sits next to old Branson to the south. We go down there several times a year now that I am retired, we have a timeshare. Two years ago we met a lot of modelers when the region held the annual meet there.
Bob
Our local Hobbytown closed down a year or two back. I was in there once or twice at the end, because they were having a closeout sale. I may have bought one or two items, but their selection of train items was pretty limited.
I still thank my lucky stars every time I go to my LHS, only a few miles from home, and one of the best shops around.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley I still thank my lucky stars every time I go to my LHS, only a few miles from home, and one of the best shops around.
Is that Maine Trains?
I'm trying to model 1956, not live in it.
stebbycentralThere is still a Hobbytown in west Des Moines, but if I am in the area I prefer to visit the HobbyHaven instead.
HobbyHaven is a very nice store. I've been there several times to the new location. Its too bad their prices are full retail. I'm surprised that they arn't hurting because of that. I do purchase scenery items from them however when I am in town.
Our Hobbytown closed last year. It was mainly RC. The train selection was a joke, and mostly cheap stuff you'd could buy at Toys R Us.
Driline Our Hobbytown closed last year. It was mainly RC. The train selection was a joke, and mostly cheap stuff you'd could buy at Toys R Us.
The Hobbytown USA in Little Rock, AR is still open, but it is the same--mostly RC, plastic models, and games.
I wonder why they even botther to take up shelf space with the pitiful selection of model RR stuff that they do display
ChooChooMan2Will, Sounds like a cool trip to Branson. I like old cars myself, especially 57 Chevys. Sad that it has to close. Thanks for the post. Jeff
..... Bob
Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here. (Captain Kirk)
I reject your reality and substitute my own. (Adam Savage)
Resistance is not futile--it is voltage divided by current.
Hobbytown stores are a franchise (think Quiznos and Service Master). They use the corporate parent for purchasing (that must be why the one store is unable to stock Kadees). When buying from a franchise corporate parent, normally the pricing at retail is higher, as the corporate parent is taking a percentage up front (and probably in the back room as well). It also limits the lines available, the speed at which the store can acquire product, as well as the image and signage.
The franchises are usually owned by good folks, but they may not be hobbyists in all areas (lots are RC guys I have found) and many are not great business folk. High overhead costs is a big reason for franchisee failure.
ScarpiaIs that Maine Trains?
Yes, it is. It's only 5 or 6 miles away. A great LHS adds a lot to the enjoyment of the hobby.
There are two Hobbytown USA stores in Charlotte. One of them is close enough to my home that I could walk there if I wasn't so lazy.
In fact, I was there today. He carries a limited selection of Kadees and can order anything they sell. He has a decent selection of train stuff as well as the RC stuff. Only one time have I asked him to order something that it took more than a few days.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Hobbytown in Nebraska mostly now deal with R/C stuff. Very little train stuff and its all model power and bachmann white box. They dont get anything new unless its right before X-mas. They are really a R/C store and not too much on the train supplies. I only go there for basics, but the stores have been in Omaha for a long time. I really miss Bel Air hobby in Omaha. He has been gone for years.
MisterBeasleyScarpiaIs that Maine Trains? Yes, it is. It's only 5 or 6 miles away. A great LHS adds a lot to the enjoyment of the hobby.
Thanks for the tip, that's just under 2 hours one way, I may have to make a trip down one quiet Saturday.
ScarpiaMisterBeasleyScarpiaIs that Maine Trains? Yes, it is. It's only 5 or 6 miles away. A great LHS adds a lot to the enjoyment of the hobby. Thanks for the tip, that's just under 2 hours one way, I may have to make a trip down one quiet Saturday.
I would recommend the trip as well, although I'm not sure if there is such a thing as a quiet Saturday there.
Also, don't forget to drop into Hobby Emporium in Tyngsboro (across from the Pheasant Lane mall). They have a nice selection as well. Should be right along your way (if you come down Route 3 into MA).
One Hobbytown near me is in Monroeville, Pa. Haven't made it yet!! I was looking it up the other day, and I need to see what they have. I guess I will have to make a trip.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
There are two Hobby Town's that I know of here in New Hampshire, one here in Nashua and the other in Manchester.
Like all others, both these locations seem to cater primarily to the R/C crowd with the Manchester location having a slightly larger MR selection due to the store itself being larger. The owners of both locations are not very knowledgeable in model railroading but due try to help as much as possible and seem capable of ordering things available from Walthers.
I second the recommendation to visit Maine Trains if in the Chelmsford, MA area. Gerry the owner just ordered a Kato RDC3 for me in N scale at a great price and is always wonderful to deal with.
Modeling the fictional B&M Dowe, NH branch in the early 50's.
The Hobbytown in Easton, Maryland isn't too bad for the odd bottle of glue or piece of track (they carry Atlas c55!) but I won't be making any major purchases there as the prices are all at retail list. I don't know how the other product lines are priced, the the model railroad stuff is ridiculous.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
The HobbyTown near Buffalo has an ok selection of rolling stock but not many engines though and track selections is limited also. One thing they do have is a great selection in scenery stuff though.