Yes I do. I do because first of ll he pays taxes that benefit the local community. Not some warehouse where they do not give a hoot about us and their only loyalty is to the next chap with a nickel in his pocket. Secondly I like to actually look at , feel , study the product I want to buy, I also hate paying for freight or handling. Lastly I can go to my LHS and they will order the product for me and I can pick it up with out paying freight or handling because he orders it with his bulk orders.
We have three LHSs in this area, unfortunatly the only one in Spartanburg has the worst selection of trains. I buy mostly paint and styrene from them. The other two are in Greenville, a 40-minute slog along I-85. One has a decent selection of trains and scenery material but not so much N Scale. The last one has a great selection but only seems to be open on alternate Tuesdays when the planets align.
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.
www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com
Define Local.
There is a little shoplet in Dickinson, hidden deep in the bowels of the mall, but right next to the DMV, so everybody know that it is there. She (the wife and owner) builds the model trains, a modest layout that at least demonstrates what a person can build and how it all runs. He (her husband) does the things that fly. But selection in either department is megar and nowhere near what I might want or require.
There used to be a shop in Bismarck. Good railroad section, with a dandy layout, lots of rolling stock, locomotives and DCC; alas but no subway trains. Mostly bought wood strips there (for signals and third rail), and some green stuff for foiliage. Not enought to keep a guy in business.
My *LOCAL* hobby shop is Trainworld in Brooklyn. Well it is a little far from North Dakota, but LION used to live in Brooklyn, so him is known there. AND THEY SELL SUBWAY TRAINS.
But layout of lion, while not "done" is quite mature and requires little if anything from a hobby shop, which is a good thing since LIONS do not have money to buy more trains, but the zookeeper will give the LION money for LEDs, resistors, relays and stuff like that there. Does that make All Electronics my LHS? Could be.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
There are four local hobby shops near me and I try to patronize all of them -- although one is more local than the others. That one happens to be Walthers itself in their retail outlet - but interestingly, sometimes the other shops have something on the shelf that is out of stock or discontinued at Walthers itself. I also attend at least four major train shows each year: Trainfest in late fall, Madison WI's MadCity show in mid winter, Green Bay's Title Town show in spring, and the show at Galesburg's Railroad Days in summer. Now and then I go to one of the local swap meets. I rarely order by mail except now and then from MicroMark.
And yeah I too have more trains than layout.
Dave Nelson
I still buy mostly from 1 main LHS and I pop in to about 5 others when I'm nearby. I still think I can buy more trains if I pay less freight, so I'm only buying online from companies who don't sell through shops or offer free shipping.
Mine doesn't move.......it's at the station!!!
I frequent our local Hobbytown less and less; and the marketing email I received yesterday does nothing to bring me in to the store. Their Memorial Day sale gives a $ 7 discount on a $ 35 sale. That gives the appearance of 20% off; which it is, for a $35 sale. But if you spend $100; you still get a $ 7 discount. I emailed their customer support to confirm my understanding; and I was right.
Since the inventory is sparse, most anything I want has to be ordered and paid for in advance. No discounts. So 99.9% of my purchases are through MB Klein or Caboose Hobbies.
I do frequent Hawkins Rail Services in Lafayette, Indiana when we go up to see my son at Purdue. Mr. Hawkins has a great inventory; lots of consignment stuff; parts galore; and good fellowship. I always find something good when I go in there.
I closed the last real train store in the Bryan/College Station area 14 years ago. I could cover every expense but a salary for me; and that was no way to support a young family. I had bought out two competitors; supported our local HO club; helped form N and HO modular groups; and was ground zero for the B/CS model railroading scene. I truly believe a hobby shop needs to incubate new modelers; we do not have that now.
I am not aware of a discount train store in Houston (200 mile round trip); and the number of shops carrying trains is dwindling. When I am in Dallas, Discount Model Trains is a must; as they discount at least 20% and they have a fantastic inventory.
tin can When I am in Dallas, Discount Model Trains is a must; as they discount at least 20% and they have a fantastic inventory.
When I am in Dallas, Discount Model Trains is a must; as they discount at least 20% and they have a fantastic inventory.
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
I consider myself lucky when it comes to access to MRR stuff. I live about six minutes from PWRS which is a cornucopia of Model train stuff. There is no store, just a warehouse with rows of stock to the ceiling to drool over. While I am more than welcome to wander around and look at things, I'll get my knuckles rapped if I don't put it back in exactly the same spot I got it from.. After all it is a mailorder operation and it would be very easy to lose track of stock considering the amounts they have.
With PWRS I will just order things I need online as I go, and every once in a while, will pop in and pic up what ever is in my box. It works for me as I never forget things. I remember once I had ordered a Walthers Turntable and went in to pick it up. I was there about ten minutes after I had ordered it and my order had not been proccessed yet. I was a little worried as I couldn't see any turntables while I was wandering around waiting. Then the guy said "lets go get your Turntable" We went to another part of the warehouse and they had cases of them. We opened one up and took mine out. I said Wow! you must sell a lot of these. He said "tons".
I also have Britannia hobbies fifteen minutes to the West and Eurorail hobbies fifteen minutes to the East. While they don't carry North American stuff, I will buy things that can be used for both, such as static grass and other things.
Also fifteen minutes away I have a Hobby shop that has good selection of paint, balsa and MRR stuff, though mostly Atlas. There is also a huge R/C shop that I frequent often as their brass, wood, styrene and paint selection is great. While they mostly have R/C aircraft, cars and boats, they also have a few shelves of train stuff that never seems to move, including a couple of cases of Atlas track and a bunch of turnouts hanging on the wall. I can't see them ever reordering the train stuff if it goes as it has been there forever. I have friends that teach business and own retail stores and chains and it is well known that if any stock is on the shelf for more than three months is costing you money and it should be moved, even at a loss.
Central Hobbies in Vancouver is an hour away. They are great guys with a good well stocked shop. Their computer system is horrible though. You had better phone ahead to make sure they have something in stock their computer says they do. I have been stung a couple of times. It is very frustrating.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Detail parts and scratchbuilding supplies are bought at two of our 4 local hobbyshops.Don't needs any locos or rolling stock so I'm not doing that in the stores either.DCC supplies are bought at Riders here in Grand Rapids.
I do buy some stuff on Ebay mostly parts for kitbashing ( I have 4 dealers that I buy from,2 have brick and mortars just not in Michigan).
Tom,
How does Ohio know about you Internet purchases? I only pay Minnesota tax if the out of state business has a 'business relationship'(facility in Minnesota). Otherwise, I pay nothing to the state.
We lost out model railroad LHS back around 2006. There is not much available in my 120,000 population city. I can drive 75 miles north to the Twin Cities or 45 miles east to Winona(Ace Hardware with 3 isles of HO train stuff). Most of my purchases are over the Internet , or at Train Shows.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
trwroute tin can When I am in Dallas, Discount Model Trains is a must; as they discount at least 20% and they have a fantastic inventory. Yep, that's the store that is 41 miles from my house!
I will have to use a bunch of quotation marks to quality my reply. I "try" to "use" my "local" hobby shop. I live in a city with 300,000 population and no local hobby store that sell trains to any extent. The next town away has a small shop with an interesting investory. About 80% of his stock is 20 years old, used and at prices only a little above what it sold for new 20 years ago. I go in several times a year and try to find something I can buy. He HAS special-ordered some things for me when they were on my list of "someday" projects and I did not need them in any special hurry. Sometimes I have found some interesting things I wasn't looking for- that I didn't even know still existed-- like an Arnold Rapido N scale St. Louis and Iron Mountain stock car, an N copy of one of Ambroid's HO 1-of-5000 kits.
The owner is friendly and wants to show me things I have told him repeatedly do not fit my layout.
In fairness, I should say I do not necessarily want what other hobbyists necessarily want. I don't usually have to have the newest new thing. I learn about the prototype and about what models are models of what, and find I want something nobody makes yet, or was made 15 years ago or 25 or 40. (No, the models of 40 years ago are not up to today's standards but sometimes they are the only models of what I need and I would rather upgrade them or have a so-so model of what I want than a wonderfully detailed model that doesn't fit.)
Only once in a while do I find something that interests me from the internet discounters. They seem to push mainly big ticket items like locomotives and new releases. I don't need any more locomotives! Most of my online and mail buying is from individuals with out-of-production used items to sell; parts, scenic and scratchbuilding materials from Walthers; and specialty items direct from smaller manufacturers.
Most hobby shops seem to have annoying people working there, most have now gone away and the only one close doesn't even carry enough selection of styrene. For me most is e-bay or mail order, mostly e-bay. I am very patient and have found that is I wait a short time (usually long before I actually need it) I will find it on e-bay, even less common stuff and for a very big discount. I remember when I was running low of track as I built a layout that need more than planned. Wanted a specific brand Shinohara code 70, within two weeks I was able to buy it at Atlas prices. I just bought 15 brand new switches I may need (actually needed two or three when I get around to redoing an area) at $5 a piece (again Shinohara code 70), had to buy all he had and this was a buy it now!
I have Legends hobby near me. Not much Kits, but plenty of RTR stuff. Plus a lot of scalecoat paint, a decent amount of styrene, and maybe some wood material, and the usual car kits, planes,train sets and stamps. I give it a 7 out of 10 for a shop. AB Charles is the other close one to me, but it is not even worth going to anymore-The son ruined the train portion of it.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Speaking of switches and quantities... Our LHS stocks one switch; L & R of several Atlas varieties. He had Pecos (one of each); but they didn't sell until he put them on clearance. My thought was anyone building a RR would need more than two switches....
tin can trwroute tin can When I am in Dallas, Discount Model Trains is a must; as they discount at least 20% and they have a fantastic inventory. Yep, that's the store that is 41 miles from my house! When the Wilsons first opened Discount; it was in part of a garage with their limosine service; the dividing wall was 2 x 4 studs and chicken wire. But they had shelves and shelves of inventory; at discount prices.
trwroute
tin can When I am in Dallas, Discount Model Trains is a must; as they discount at least 20% and they have a fantastic inventory. Yep, that's the store that is 41 miles from my house!
When the Wilsons first opened Discount; it was in part of a garage with their limosine service; the dividing wall was 2 x 4 studs and chicken wire. But they had shelves and shelves of inventory; at discount prices.
Yep, I remember that place. It was next door to where they are now. The place was so small, it was hard to turn around. I bought my first Kato SD40's there in '92.
I remember the Wilson's very well, with Barbara sitting behind the register taking my money!
cmrproducts My Local Hobby Shop is only 4 miles from me! Can't get much better than that - and they discount too! BOB H - Clarion, PA
My Local Hobby Shop is only 4 miles from me!
Can't get much better than that - and they discount too!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
Bob?
What's the name of the shop? I live in Northern Allegheny County. How far am I from here to there? I would like to visit.
Joe C
yougottawanta Yes I do. I do because first of ll he pays taxes that benefit the local community. Not some warehouse where they do not give a hoot about us and their only loyalty is to the next chap with a nickel in his pocket. Secondly I like to actually look at , feel , study the product I want to buy, I also hate paying for freight or handling. Lastly I can go to my LHS and they will order the product for me and I can pick it up with out paying freight or handling because he orders it with his bulk orders.
I can't even think of anyone in Northern VA that could fit that description!
Also you're paying for gas and wear and tear on your car, which actually costs more than the shipping and handling.
I would love to buy from the LHS, if I had one. When I lived in Colorado, I was in every other week or so and made the pilgrimage to Caboose Hobbies once a quarter. But now, I can't even find balsa wood within 50 miles, much less train related items. The nearest RR hobby shop, which is a two hour drive, has mostly "toy" trains (in the sense of classic 3-rail, not cheap junk), but very little HO or N, mostly trade in items. Very hard to find any recent offerings from Atlas, Walthers, or others.
jim
Jimmy_Braum I have Legends hobby near me. Not much Kits, but plenty of RTR stuff.
I have Legends hobby near me. Not much Kits, but plenty of RTR stuff.
As for rolling stock it seems that all the hobby shops I go to have mostly RTRs and a skrinking inventory of kits. Although the RTRs are high quality, they are 2 to 3 times the cost of the kits. I would assume there would be a good market for kits especially for people on tighter budgets and people who want lots of rolling stock. I wonder if either the LHS are not in touch with the customers or the majority of the customers have deeper wallets.
P.S. Tommy Gilbert definitely is in touch with his customers
I live in the same general area as Karl and Russ (west central Maryland), and go to the same shops. If I were to move away and find myself without a LHS, I'd probably buy online from these same folks. They've been faithful to the hobby and to their customers for years, and I feel that deserves recognition and support. It feels good to be recognized by people who know me and know my modeling interests. For out of production items I check for consignment or used items at these shops, go to the shows (mostly Timonium), or use eBay, simply because that's an area that the LHS probably couldn't serve as well.
It's kind of sad to hear the comments of modelers who have no LHS or who have poor ones. That's why I think we ought to all support these small brick & mortar outfits as much as we can through personal visits or mail order or online shopping. It's also a reason I don't subscribe to MR or Trains. Sometimes buying a magazine is all the excuse I need for visiting the LHS.
Yes both of them. The one in Monroe I can find eclectic stuff and spurr of the moment stuff, the one in Madison everything else.
I try to buy from brick and mortor hobby shops, but the local ones are just far enough away that going there is more costly and much more of a hassle then buying on line. You really have to have a good reason to drive into Toronto these days. The last time I checked, the closest LHS was charging $18.00 for shipping small items less than 100 kms. I can order the same item for the same price from Edmonton, which is 2,500 kms away for $6.00 shipping and save 2-3 hours stuck in traffic to boot. The Edmonton source is a brick and mortor store by the way.
I am also keeping an eye out for other Canadian hobby stores where their shipping costs are reasonable, and I do a fair amount of buying from US hobby shops as well. My biggest crime is eBay!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hi guys, yep, I do check in once and a while! It's my outside season, so the layout lights haven't been on in a few weeks, but, the hobby shops I visit are in Dave Nelson territory, Walther's, Hiawatha Hobbies, South Side Trains, Somerfelds, and I visit them all, along with lots of on line buying. Hiawatha Hobbies I visit the most, usually for supplies, and not locos or rolling stock. South Side Trains I visit when I win one of their many on line auctions, I go to pick up and pay, which is a good reason to go and look at what Tom has. Somerfelds is great for the selection on used stuff from estate sales, etc., along with MTH stuff for the grandson's train.
Right now, it's my season for concrete projects, working on our place in northern WI, and fixing and restoring old lawn tractors. Good to be back outside again! It was a l----o----n----g winter!, although I did get lots of projects done on the railroad.
Mike.
My You Tube
I live close to a great shop, the Original Whistle Stop in Pasadena Ca, but unfortunatly they do not stock much large scale, and nothing of the type of stuff I model, but I do buy alot of scratchbuilding materials and CA adhesives there. I have been switching to Tamiya paints lately which puts me into the local RC shop. I have to go as far as Upland or Ventura for a dedicated scale shop.
Have fun with your trains
tstage retsignalmtr Since the nearest hobby shop is 53 miles away and if I drive there with my 20 MPG truck (only vehicle) i'll use over $15 in gas + $1.50 bridge toll, versus $7-$9 shipping and if I buy out of state NO TAX. Really only one way to go. I don't know how it is where you live, retsignalmtr, but here in OH we still have to pay "usage tax" for any and all out-of-state, non-taxed purchases. While not at time of purchase, it gets calculated and included in when filling out OH taxes every year. I do understand about gas though. Thankfully I have a 2008 Civic that's pretty miserly on gas consumption. Tom
retsignalmtr Since the nearest hobby shop is 53 miles away and if I drive there with my 20 MPG truck (only vehicle) i'll use over $15 in gas + $1.50 bridge toll, versus $7-$9 shipping and if I buy out of state NO TAX. Really only one way to go.
Since the nearest hobby shop is 53 miles away and if I drive there with my 20 MPG truck (only vehicle) i'll use over $15 in gas + $1.50 bridge toll, versus $7-$9 shipping and if I buy out of state NO TAX. Really only one way to go.
I don't know how it is where you live, retsignalmtr, but here in OH we still have to pay "usage tax" for any and all out-of-state, non-taxed purchases. While not at time of purchase, it gets calculated and included in when filling out OH taxes every year.
I do understand about gas though. Thankfully I have a 2008 Civic that's pretty miserly on gas consumption.
Tom
Two hobby shops near me. One is about 20 minutes away, and at one time, was probably the best in southern Ontario. While I still visit there regularly, the train section has shrunk down to almost nothing, and very little of what's there is of interest to me.The other is about 5 minutes away, and while it's a small store, they have a good selection of new and used stuff, and will order whatever you need, usually available the following week. Friendly and knowledgeable staff and a good gathering place for local modellers, too.
I have, on occasion, driven to other stores - enough that they could have been considered "local". Buffalo, NY was a regular spot for many years. I also ordered a difficult-to-find car through a southwestern Ontario shop about 85 miles away. They were going to mail it to me, but I opted to drive down to pick it up. Not only did I find more interesting stuff (some of which I purchased) but I also had an enjoyable drive through an area I'd not previously visited.When I visit friends in the States (mostly Ohio and western Pennsylvania), I often drop by English' Model Trains (Bowser). It's, I dunno, 100-150 miles out of my way, but always worth the drive, even just to browse, and always an enjoyable drive, too. I have ordered stuff from them on-line, too, but being in the store is always enjoyable - just like the big, well-stocked stores which used to exist around here.
Wayne
hon30critter I try to buy from brick and mortor hobby shops, but the local ones are just far enough away that going there is more costly and much more of a hassle then buying on line. You really have to have a good reason to drive into Toronto these days. The last time I checked, the closest LHS was charging $18.00 for shipping small items less than 100 kms. I can order the same item for the same price from Edmonton, which is 2,500 kms away for $6.00 shipping and save 2-3 hours stuck in traffic to boot. The Edmonton source is a brick and mortor store by the way. I am also keeping an eye out for other Canadian hobby stores where their shipping costs are reasonable, and I do a fair amount of buying from US hobby shops as well. My biggest crime is eBay! Dave
While there are many hobby stores in Toronto, as far as I am aware there are no more dedicated train stores. There are a few shops in the east end which have train stuff but I don't think they do mail orders. Major stores are in Missasauga (Credit Valley) and Markham (George's); If you are looking for scale trains, there inst much in Toronto. On the other hand, if you are looking for real trains...
Actually there are several mr clubs so I can't say that there isn't much model railroading. Its just that there are very few mr focused retail stores.
[quote user="cmrproducts"]
Here in Central Michigan, we have three really great hobby shops. They are Rider's Hobby Shop in Flint Twp near Flint; Brasseur's Electric Trains, Saginaw, Michigan, and Junction Valley Railroad Hobby Shop in Bridgeport. Junction Valley's shop has year round discount on all of their merchandise. Brasseur's is all model trains and nothing else. Bob the owner also has a few operating layouts in the store, including a Santa Fe Streamline scale #1 passenger train. Bob Brasseur will ship to anywhere in the world.