Hey caboose, don't forget Rodger's Hobby on State St. I stop in there for small things because I drive past on my way home from work.
Well there is a pretty good shop here in the Fort. They actualy have 2 stores and one they just moved from a sardine can to nice open type department store. Before you generally had to move stuff out of the way to see what was in the display case but now it is all on shelves. I have not been to the other store since they opoened the new one. The other store still has the sardine thing going but the can size is a lttle bit biger.
As it was said I have most everything I need. And my next big hobby purchase will be at Lowes as I will need wood for the new bench work. And I will drive right by that nice new LHS on my way for wood. Both are within 3 miles of my house.
Modeling a railroad hypothetically set in time.
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.
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.
What a dream that would be to walk into a hobby shop that is loaded with new stock every weekend..
Sadly those shops are far and few between and may be nonexistent in some areas.
However,there is hope.
Thousands of the on line shops are real honest to goodness B&M shops and there are several on e-bay too selling their old stock that their walk in customers did not buy..
Think of this.
Guys like me is helping somebody's LHS to stay open by buying their old dusty stock through their web page or e-Bay store...
And that is a win-win for all.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
The nearest 'local' hobby shop to me is 70 miles away in Tucson, Arizona. Other than trips to the VA Hospital, I only go to Tucson when I have more than one place I need to stop at, and visit the hobby shop on those trips; otherwise, I either wait until I have a list of items to purchase or use an on-line store.
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
Well, we railroaders here in South Jersey are lucky,,,,we actually had a LHS open in the last year and their inventory is growing everytime I go in. Their prices are higher and of course there is tax but I have switched to supporting them as they have had lots of PECO turnouts and such for my needs as I have finished the trackwork on my layout.
They do alot of business off the net but their store is well stocked. Yeah for Yankee Dabbler in south Jersey.
Bart
I sort of do. I'm fortunate to have about a dozed model railroad hobby shops within a hour's drive from me here in the Los Angeles area, though some stores are better-stocked than others. I model N scale, and maybe 5 or so of those stores have good and current N scale stock.
I have to admit, I buy online when it comes to locos and the latest rolling stock because I HATE paying MSRP, but rely on LHSes when it comes to scenery items, track, scratchbuilding supplies and any item that can't wait for whatever reason. One of my LHSes still has a good stock of a certain brand of intermodal trailers, and even the online hobby shops don't have them, so I gradually take up their entire supply :)
I have LHS, I still probably buy about 90% of my model trains and related items from them.
Modelling HO Scale with a focus on the West and Midwest USA
While the internet has made it very easy, i still need the interaction with the LHS. Mine has to be the Best in Florida, if they don't have they will help to get or let you know where it can be found.
READT TO ROLL, in south florida.
Sad to say, the dedicated model railroad stores in my area are gone. There is a Hobby Town in my area that I purchase paint supplies, glues, and styrene from. My turn-off about that store is that the sales clerks, at times, seem distant and uninterested in speaking with me when I ask a question or make a friendly comment about trains. Maybe I'm just overreacting as I do enjoy good conversations.
In the past 3 years my rolling stock and locomotive purchases have been from online. Ebay is my primary source. Even with the risks I've been fortunate in finding what I've wanted: Walthers "old stock" passenger cars (Alclad fodder), Spectrum NH E33, and Busch GMC transit Fishbowl buses. I always look for a 100% Feedback rating. For other items, I like MB Klein (from whom I recently purchased a new GG1) and Dan's Trains. Both reputable businesses.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Metro Red Line I sort of do. I'm fortunate to have about a dozed model railroad hobby shops within a hour's drive from me here in the Los Angeles area, though some stores are better-stocked than others. I model N scale, and maybe 5 or so of those stores have good and current N scale stock. I have to admit, I buy online when it comes to locos and the latest rolling stock because I HATE paying MSRP, but rely on LHSes when it comes to scenery items, track, scratchbuilding supplies and any item that can't wait for whatever reason. One of my LHSes still has a good stock of a certain brand of intermodal trailers, and even the online hobby shops don't have them, so I gradually take up their entire supply :)
Metro Red Line
Which stores in the LA area do you find the best deals on engines, rolling stock?
Howabout track, accessories etc.?
Thanks
BBF
AntonioFP45 Hobbytown My turn-off about that store is that the sales clerks, at times, seem distant and uninterested in speaking with me when I ask a question or make a friendly comment about trains. Maybe I'm just overreacting as I do enjoy good conversations.
Hobbytown
My turn-off about that store is that the sales clerks, at times, seem distant and uninterested in speaking with me when I ask a question or make a friendly comment about trains. Maybe I'm just overreacting as I do enjoy good conversations.
It's probably because these clerks don't know much about model railroading. I sometimes go to hobbytown if I need paints, tools or sheet styrene. I only go there because it's on my way from work.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Very often, but I'm lucky to be close to one of the besT - Caboose Hobbies in Denver.
Sean
HO Scale CSX Modeler
I don't know if there's still a hobby shop/train store in my immediate area, so getting train supplies usually involves mail order from Toy Train Heaven or a pilgrimage to either Lantz's or English's.
I visit mine once a month, just yesterday I bought a TH&B boxcar and a soldering iron.
My Layout Photos- http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/ajwarshal/library/
Danged straight! As often as possible: Doc's Caboose, Kansas City, MO. - docscaboose.com The folks there are Doc & Jen Synder, and Tom Teeple. Three of the nicest people you'll find anywhere and both knowledgable and great modelers, modelers to boot. There's nother there occasionally, but I disremember his name (at that age, you know).
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Gary M. Collins gmcrailgNOSPAM@gmail.com
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"Common Sense, Ain't!" -- G. M. Collins
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