US based online stores

[SpaceShipOne]

Hello,

For those of us State side, I would like to talk about my experience with 3 online hobby stores. I recently got back into the hobby and needed some supplies. While there is a HobbyTown USA near my home, I rapidly found out that the prices were ridiculously expensive. I know they also need to put food on the table but come on, between 40 and 60% more expensive than online, you gotta be kidding me! Here is what I think: HobbyTown USA is the "RadioShack" of scale modelling. You are working late on Saturday afternoon, and you desperatly need that RAF cockpit green, Now! Well you go to the local hobby store to keep things moving .But that's it. Other than that it is not worth spending your entire stash money on very expensive kits that you could get for a fraction of the cost on the Web, IMO!

So I have been shopping online and so far I have had some good experience with Scale Hobbyist, Sprue Brothers and Mega Hobby.

- Scale Hobbyist: Located in the North East (NH) they always processed my orders in 1 or 2 business days. This is where I am getting Tamiya Acryl paints (23 mL each) ($2.23 each compared to $4.5 at my LHS). Items were well packaged and shipped UPS. They have a large selection and fair prices.

- Sprue Brothers: WOW they shipped ny order in less than a business day; I ordered at 11 PM a couple of kits from Airfix + some humbrol Acryl and they shipped out at 10 am the next morning. They have a lot of stuff + they offer a good variety in paints (Tamiya, Testors, Humbrol (enamel & acrylic), Gunze (yeah! wanna try someday) plus a few others. That's great. Shipped UPS from the MidWest.

- Mega Hobby: They are in NJ, I live near Philly. So we are neighbors: I ordered some bits and pieces from them too, similar service to Scale Hobbyist. Next day delivery, by it's so close to my place!

We have a lot of choices here. I havent tried them all but it's good to know that there are good places to shop online.

Antoine

[metalmike415]

Sprue Brothers are great I haven't tried Mega Hobby yet but will check them out.


Here is another here in the States and they carry a lot of AK interactive products along with a ton of other stuff.

Cajun Model Company

[Coen]

Hobbylinc is also good for sales and their shipping is fair as well. At least shipping to Canada it is.

[jmar829]

I too have had great luck with prices and shipping from Scale Hobbyist and Hobbylinc.

Hobbylinc is nice because the more you buy, review and send them build photos, the more points you earn. The more points you earn you get a better discount. Big box stores are always outrageously priced. I have a local mom and pop type hobby shop in my town. They're a bit expensive, but I don't mind giving local business' my money.

I haven't tried Sprue Bothers or Mega Hobby, but once i'm done responding I'll be checking them out.

Thanks for the info! Always looking for more of an online selection.

[metalmike415]

That is pretty cool what hobbylinc does I am going to have to check them out. I wish I had a Mom and Pop near me,the closest is around an hour and half away. When I lived in NJ I had two within 20 minutes from my house and another 5 minutes away from where I worked,they loved me on the 2nd payday of the month

[Coen]

I've got the same problem Mike, my LHS is a 20 minute drive to the city then a 20 minute drive through city traffic. Yuck... there's a reason that I live in the country. haha.
So mail order it is mostly. Hobbylinc, Scale Hobbyist, Lucky Model, Sprue Brothers, DragonUSA, and MircoMark are the places that I shop the most.

[Lee]

Mega Hobby added - The others were already on there

[Coen]

Cool... Thanks Lee

[olfogey]

I would add "kudos" for "Sprue Brothers" as well............I am a steady customer, and their customer service and shipping time is SECOND TO NONE!! I ordered from them on a Friday morning, and the "Fed Ex" guy was on my porch Sat. am......and this is the rule, NOT the exception. I have done a fair amount of online shopping of one kind or another, and these guys beat most!!

Jim J. -- "olfogey"

[coladito1]

to me Squadron is the best with their mystery deals and weekly specials! they are 2 states from california so I get everything pretty quick! they used to be awful back in the days, but now they have better deals than most of the online retailers.

[Corkmyster9436]

I have been using Squadron mail order/ online for over 25 yrs w/ no problems, fast delivery, great customer service.

[NutherChans]

ScaleHobbyist is my go-to online store for most of my needs. Best prices and good shipping. I also will check MegaHobby and Sprue Bros if I can't find it there. Didn't have a good initial experience with Hobbylinc but maybe I should try them again.

[Belmosan]

http://www.1001modelkits.com/
Anyone ever use these guys? I noticed that several kits are severely overpriced, but some things are reasonable. And shipping seems ok. Just in case they have something I really need.

Steve

[Styrenejeans]

Hey Guys and Gals, I have a couple of other online US stores that are pretty good on pricing, shipping and selections. One is redfroghobbies.com based on Long Island, NY and the other is Mustang-Hobbies.com (this is a local mom and pop hobby store based in northern NJ and the owner is Jim Pentifallo). Great guy and has a pretty good selection of older armor, aircraft and ship kits and he gets new ones every week at good prices. Check them out.

[GPModelbuilder1952]

I have had a very satisfactory experience, so far, with Hobbylinc out of Atlanta. Extensive web-site. Well organized. Prices seem to be competitive. Lots of shipping options and I really like their customer loyalty "points" program. And, I just found a great retail store in Ypsilanti, MI: Model Cave Hobby Shop. See modelcave.com Nice people: Jon and Melissa. A huge stash of kits of all kinds and scales. If you're in the Detroit metro area, I highly recommend them.

Build on!

[Backfire22]

great information. any new ones in the last year?

[Filmman586]

I use Sprue Brothers and MegaHobby. Sprue is the best with shipping speed, MegaHobby is only 2 states away from me and sometimes it takes 4 or 5 days, but their prices are a little cheaper..

[rwsmith14]

www.scalehobbyist.com i best prices.. Spruebrothers.. Hobbyworld USA...Omni Models.. are very good.

[JasonGaspard]

Aside from those already mentioned I use these for occasional purchases of specialized items

http://umm-usa.com/onlinestore/index.php?cPath=26_44_59 Run by John Vojtech, a master modeller. It's my go to for any special tool (die punches, razor saws...)

http://www.lastcavalry.com/ and http://www.michtoy.com/ Run by the same guys with mainly overlapping stock. This is my place for figure paint (they carry the Andrea line), and some dio supplies. Dave is a nice guy and very helpful

http://www.hobbywave.com/modeling_supplies Good source for Japanese stuff, and still the largest stockist of Gunze supplies in the US I've seen...only if we could get the Aqueous line back...

http://www.coastairbrush.com/ and http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/ are the best US sources for good airbrushes (Harder Steenbeck and Iwata are what I am interested in) and compressors. Chicago Airbrush Supply treated me really well when I bought my Infinity last year, and when I pull the trigger on a silent compressor it will come from Coast.

http://www.scalehardware.com/ need miniature rivets or nuts/bolts? These are your guys

http://www.cheapjoes.com/ the best price for Winsor Newton brushes I've seen (at least back when I bought my Series 7's)

[spock1701]

Scalehobbyist.com is my new favorite site. Great prices.

[hook1169]

Aside from those already mentioned I use these for occasional purchases of specialized items

http://umm-usa.com/onlinestore/index.php?cPath=26_44_59 Run by John Vojtech, a master modeller. It's my go to for any special tool (die punches, razor saws...)

http://www.lastcavalry.com/ and http://www.michtoy.com/ Run by the same guys with mainly overlapping stock. This is my place for figure paint (they carry the Andrea line), and some dio supplies. Dave is a nice guy and very helpful

http://www.hobbywave.com/modeling_supplies Good source for Japanese stuff, and still the largest stockist of Gunze supplies in the US I've seen...only if we could get the Aqueous line back...

http://www.coastairbrush.com/ and http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/ are the best US sources for good airbrushes (Harder Steenbeck and Iwata are what I am interested in) and compressors. Chicago Airbrush Supply treated me really well when I bought my Infinity last year, and when I pull the trigger on a silent compressor it will come from Coast.

http://www.scalehardware.com/ need miniature rivets or nuts/bolts? These are your guys

http://www.cheapjoes.com/ the best price for Winsor Newton brushes I've seen (at least back when I bought my Series 7's)

I have had good experiences with Dave from Last cavalry.

I am gonna go check out this 'cheap joes' never heard of it before... Thanks,

[sorichar]

I recently ordered Tamiya's new M10 Mid Production kit from Tower Hobbies ( http://www.plastic-models.com/ ) and had a really good experience with them. The kit was shipped the same day as I ordered it and their prices are competitive.

I just wanted to add to the support for ScaleHobbyist.com. I had the AFV M18 kit that I had bought over 12 years ago. When I finally decided to build the kit, I found that the lower hull tub was missing! I couldn't believe it. So I emailed ScaleHobbyist and they were able to locate a replacement hull and ship it to me at no cost! I do most of my online business with ScaleHobbyist and am a total fan. I can't say enough good things about them.

Scott in Colorado

[DougvH]

I'm also a fan of Sprune, scalehobbyist, & squadron, but I also like hqhobbies.com. Is a husband and wife team that run an old time style model shop in CT. You walk in and other than the Fire Marshall 4' required isles, the place is floor to ceiling model kits and supplies.

Of course it helps I'm only 20 miles away lol

[Lorenzo]

One more vote for Scalehobbyist. Great prices (some of which gets undone by their shipping rates, so just plan on a big order), and they way their site is organized makes it very easy to narrow down your search and find what you want. The one and only time I've ever had an issue with them (wrong color paint shipped), I sent an email and had an immediate response on a Sunday night, with a correct replacement sent out the next day.

On the negative side: run, do not walk, away from Internet Hobbies. I'm still waiting for something I ordered in 2010. (I've given up.)