Starting again - from scratch - where to buy supplies?

I second Hans' Hobby Looby method. Our Hobby Lobby one week had 30 percent off all painting supplies so I stocked up my brush collection. Another week was 30 percent off al diorama accesorries which was more then just diorama stuff (lots of building stuff, tools, etc..) So I get a lot on sale and my wife beads so she is happy we can "shop" together. Then I will use the 40 percent off coupon for a high ticket model or tool. If you look hard you can find all sorts of stuff there. In the beading aisle is a lot of cool wire, string, and chain for lots of detailing. I also found decent premade bases for $3 that after a nice stain makes a great display. I check all the departments to find stuff I can use in modeling instead of what it was intended for.

As for very specific stuff like Tamiya paint, etch, models etc.. I always go to www.spruebrothers.com Good prices but always ship right away and I can have it in a few days. Plus they alwasy send you tracking info which not alot of places do so you are always wondering what is up. For example I placed an order Sunday night, by Monday at 12 is was shipped and I had my tracking number and it will be here Wednesday. Can't beat that.  

Don't forget the auto parts stores, there are a lot of handy tools and supplies.

I prefer the Bondo red glazing and spot putty over "hobby putty", you can get a 4 oz tube for half the price of a 1 oz tube of Squadron or Testors putty and I find it works better. You can also get sand paper in grits to at least 2000 and it is again much cheaper than most hobby shops. There are misc tools available too, knives, files, grabby things etc. Westleys Blech Wite (yes that is the correct spelling) is tire cleaner popular as a cleaner for resin parts, it also strips paint or chrome. Castrol Super Clean / Purple Power is a de-greaser many use to strip paint from models.

I get most of my brushes from Micheals, they frequently have 25% off sales for brushes, occasionally as high as 40-50%. They also have wooden plaques that make nice (and cheap) bases for models. I bought a nice set of ceramic tools from Micheals that make great putty tools for models. 

You're not stuck with just the coupons though... Check the ad flyer at the Hobby Lobby website... Oftentimes, they'll have 30% off artists' brushes, or oil and acrylic paints, or kits, especially during November/December... Even with the 40% off coupons in place...  Pick a week the the stuff you need is 30% off and stock up in one trip...

As for one coupon per day per person, there're ways around that, lol...  I often take the wife with me, have her buy something I need with it, use another checker, and we make that trip in the early PM, about 1600... Then we go back after shift-change at 1700 and do it again, lol...

I second Scale Hobbyist.  I've also had very good luck and service with Sprue Brothers.  I've ordered a lot of stuff, both kits and supplies, from both vendors and have never had a complaint with service or the product.

That having been said, you can save yourself a bunch of bucks (best spent on kits, of course) by taking time to find out less expensive common items that work just as well, or sometimes better, than higher priced items specially produced for modelers.  For instance, I've found that Krylon's Fusion rattle cans work great for primer and they are a heck of a lot cheaper than specialty model paints.  I also have found that good old Bondo auto body filler makes a great filler for models and is a lot cheaper than, say, Squadron Green or White Putty.  Just be a smart shopper.  You can get a lot of that kind of great information right here on the Forum.

Happy modeling,

Bob 

Michael's and AC Moore arts & craft stores have supplies that we use--brushes, paints, putties, plus lots more things that I can't think of, but you need to go there are just browse, and you get ideas. 

Check your local phone listings for hobby shops.  There may still be some good, old-time hobby shops in your area, and it's worth it to check them out.

Hardware stores, too, have some supplies that we use.  Most carry Dremel or their own version of a rotary tool, with accessories, and you can get things like mineral spirits and acetone, and good primers, at better prices than you'll pay to a hobby store for much smaller quantities.

Rite-Aid, Walgreen's and other drug store chains, for isopropyl, unless your grocery store sells it (I couldn't find it at the Giant).

Try model shows, and also, tool or woodworking shows.  Most shows have vendor areas, and you're bound to find someone selling supplies there, too, and you can often find things at bargain prices.  Flea markets are good, too.  I've picked up stainless steel dental tools, useful for sculpting/scribing, at a flea market, I got three or four picks for $5, and a hobby knife set, like X-Acto, that MicroMark sells for something like $20, for $5, included a couple of handles, a variety of blades, all in a little blue plastic box.

Online, MicroMark is a good source of tools, but you might find the same things elsewhere, cheaper, and you're paying shipping & handling, too.  I also buy some paints directly from the manufacturer, rather than through a vendor.  I buy Tamiya's aircraft paints in the rattle cans direct from TamiyaUSA, because my local HobbyTown doesn't stock the colors, and by the time they could order them for me and have them delivered, I can finish the model (weeks vs the couple days it takes Tamiya to deliver direct to me).

If you can, I'd also seek out and join the nearest modeling club, if there's one close by.  The Internet is great, but live, face-to-face meeting with other modelers can't be beat.  And just as with shows, most clubs usually have raffles, or swap meets, or generally allow their members to bring things in and sell or trade.

Hope that helps!

Best regards,

Brad

Thanks for all the advice guys! I have a Michaels near me but they only have Revell stuff, and not much either. I don't even thing they have any paints.

Hobby Lobby - 31 miles from me and Hobby Town USA - 7 and 30 miles are the closest locations to me. (And I live in the DC metro area!!). Don't get it. You would think we have the buying power here.

The coupons will only really be useful on kits and airbrushes. I will spend a fortune on gas if I have to drive there every day with one coupon for one item since I am starting with no paint, no glue, no tools etc. Kind of overwhelming. But I have checked out Scale Hobbyist and their prices seem the best. Jut too bad they don't have Gunze stuff.

You can also do the coupon thing at Michaels if you have one near you.

for online I alays use scalehobbyist.com

If ou have a Hobby Lobby nearby, go to their website and print out some 40% Off coupons, then shop there for tools & supplies... It's slow going because you can only use one coupon per day (unless you're me, lol), but it'll save you a ton of money....  Also, don't be locked in to just buying acrylic paints that are "model" paints, i.e.: Tamiya, Model Master, Vallejo, etc...  Most acrylic craft paints are the same colors or very close to them, and are about a third of the price for twice as much...

Brushes, thinners, compressors, airbrushes, mixing jars, paint cups, pallettes, knives & blades, saws, work-benches, lights, magnifiers, paints, picks, scribers, sanding films, tools,files, and paper, wood,  wire, rod (brass & aluminum), pastels, diorama materials, casting resins and plasters, mold-making materials, templates, putties, all can be found at a Hobby Lobby and the coupons are good for that stuff too...

Don't go crazy buying paint either... Oils & tube acrylics come in starter sets that're pretty reasonable (even to me) and will last a long time...

Oh, and the coupon will REALLY come in handy buying an airbrush...  40% off an airbrush is a couple kits... 

www.squadron.com

www.greatmodels.com

Between those two places you can get anything your heart desires.