What are your favorite sites to shop from?

umm-usa is a goodern.

I like SPRUBROTHERS, SCALEHOBBYIST, DRAGON USA      ACESES5

I've been going to Squadron sense I was a kid.  Customer service is great and their "specials" and daily deals can be pretty good.  I will admit I have found slightly lower prices at Spruebrothers (hoping to order from them soon).  

Eagle90

Hannant's is in the UK, but they often have stuff difficult to obtain in the USA.  Their service and shipping is really fast; usually one week or less.  There is a minimum order in effect, for shipping overseas.

http://www.hannants.co.uk/

Within the U.S. I've been using Scale Hobbyist for the last 14 months. Prices are very competitive and they have a good selection with (to me) minimal out-of-stocks. I've shopped Squadron for 20 years, but for the last two years or so their number of out of stocks and prices have become less attractive- again, just my view.

I've not shopped them but continually hear very good reviews of Sprue Brothers; I don't shop Internationally at this point but I hear good things about Hannants in the UK. For tools and supplies you might take a look at Micro-Mark. There might be some debate about their pricing but they have an absolutely huge range of items. 

Nice! I was looking for bottles and found www.specialtybottle.com to have a large selection of all types and sizes of glass and plastic bottles and jars. The prices are very cheap, too.

I am quite fond of sprue brothers myself.  Prices aren't bad and I usually receive my order in a few days due to the warehouse being very close to my house.  Squadron is also a very good site with a nice selection.

What about decals? Are there any companies that really specialize with aftermarket decals?

I've been using Sprue Brothers, Scale Hobbyist, and sometimes MegaHobby...as they seem to have some of the esoteric finds.

The one that has the model I'm looking for.

I generally use Squadron, Sprue Brothers and if you can stomach a wait or plan a build around the wait ...Lucky Model. I found the Meng Me 410 for 56 bucks to include shipping and I couldn't touch the same kit here in the states for less than 90 bucks NOT to include shipping. Then I found the Aires "double throw down" update set for the 1/48 Tamiya Fw190 D-9 for 45.99 to include shipping and again couldn't touch it here in the states for less than 60 bucks and again NOT including shipping. Both were a little bit of a wait but I wasn't in any real hurry for them. If I'm in a hurry its definitely the first two choices.

I've been using Hobbylinc. Best prices by far on the types of models I buy.

ANY!!!!

I personally like Sprue Brothers.  Awesome selection and impressive service.  My order is usually on my doorstep in a day.  For decals, you can't beat E-bay.  You can find just about anything there.  I've found old Aeromaster P-47 and P-38 sheets on there which were way out of production.  I personally think Squadron has gone downhill.  They absorbed Aeromaster and True Details but their selection of these products seems to have waned.   I would like to see them re-release some of the old Aeromaster sheets.  

Joe

Many of the same ones mentioned,but good bargains could also be found on ebay

Sprue Bros. for speed and selection. Squadron for their sales. Hobbylink Japan for off the wall stuff.

Ebay and Spruebrothers.

Scalehobbist for supplies. good prices, pretty decent turn time on delivery. my Robotech/Macross models...ebay or Hobbysearch. 1999.com. good descriptions of tools and models, and sometimes have back catalog items. Also, they normally have the Instructions sheets for the model listed.

as for decals, i've seen a lot of people doing their own.Sure, it takes some time, some sort of photo software,more supplies,time, an inkjet printer....so, there is some up front cost to doing your own, however, once you get the groove, there's noting you can't decal. I'm starting this very same endeavor.

If you need a professional to do it, i have heard there are a few companies that will do special orders, but the price can be very hefty. If you find a decent decal service, please let us know!

Squadron mostly especially their blowout sales.  Just picked up a bunch of Aeromaster and Eagle Strike decals for $2.00 a piece.  Also Great Models which is now a part of Sprue Brothers.

Decals can also be found direct

3D-Kits

AirDOC

Condor

Caracal

Fightertown

Vagabond

Bombshell

Barracudacals

Linden Hill Imports

Impact

Mike Grant

I have also found a bunch of cottage industry sites for details

C & H Aero Miniatures

Falcon

Master Casters

AIMS Models

Antares (Luft '46)

Nostalgic Plastic (Anigrand Resin Kits)

Ultracast

Unicraft (Luft '46 and X-planes)

JOHN

If I'm in need of kits, paints, or tools, Scale Hobbyist all the way.  They're the cheapest I've been able find, even cheaper than Hobbylinc, whoI also used to use often.  If I'm in need of aftermarket, or backordered kits that I need at the moment, then it's Spruebrothers or Lucky (if I have the time to wait.  

MegaHobby is a fun place to shop, also,,,,,,RedFrog Hobbies is good

at Mega,,,,just for grins sometime,,,,,,type in just your scale and when you get the results, sort it by lowest to highest price, and the most per page on the display

I did that once for 1/72, and was surprised at how many listings I had to get through to see models for more than $10

if you can't find a decal sheet from any of your usual sources, or if you just want to see a lot of decals in one place,,,,,go to http://www.flightdecs.ca/ , they are a great place for OOP searches

This could be handy:

cs.finescale.com/.../154435.aspx

Very good choice of topics for a post.  Helpful to me as a "kit collector" for just that specific "something" I'm looking for such as Def. Model 1/35 GMC CCKW 2.5 ton truck wheels in resin!  The sprue bros. had it, and I just couldn't resist ordering a Dragon 1/48th command/service module to go along with the LM of the same scale and manufacturer I got for Christmas from the wonderful wife!

Tojo72

Many of the same ones mentioned,but good bargains could also be found on ebay

Agree. However, not for something you want by the weekend.

I've gotten some great deals on ebay for 1/3 to 1/2 what you would typically pay online but it took 4-5 months of checking almost everyday to finally land that Buy it now or an auction that you are the only bidder.

Spruebrothers is my go to place. Gave them my order Thursday and at the door last night now that's service! Plus they always pack stuff really well. Also really like Squadron been ordering from them since 2002 or so.

Also another place is Amazon. I've had good luck getting some kits really cheap with their free shipping. I just got a Monogram 1/48 B-29 for under $24 just because the box was dented.

Squadron and eBay, but I also use others with less frequency like Sprue Brothers and Dragon USA.

Hobbylink Japan for all the weird sci-fi, and Japanese A/C and armor.  Some of the Chinese kits are cheaper than US sources.  They have recently offered a "private warehouse" system that allows customers to mix and match items to try to get the best shipping cost.  It seems to work if used properly - no more shipping out a single 1,000 yen item!

Squadron for most of my normal scale needs.  Their turnaround time to Hawaii has dramatically improved from 4-6 weeks back in the day, down to a week.  I like their free shipping policy, but that means I end up buying too much stuff!  I usually only buy when they have sales, as I try to get my scale stuff from my LHS, even though I might pay more.

Sprue Brothers when Squadron doesn't have it.  Blindingly fast service - order on Thursday, get it on Monday!

I have ordered from Hannants a couple of times.  They stock exotic stuff that the others don't carry, but the postage is a little expensive.  Their service was good though; about two weeks to receive stuff.

Hobby-Space.com has ridiculously low prices on stuff made in China, but their shipping costs can be steep.   They're now my go-to source for Trumpeter 1/32 aircraft as they're underselling pretty much everyone else out there.    You might wait a few weeks before the package sows up as they ship via the slow boat.

For anyone looking for tools, files,knives scissors, saws vises dental picks, probes, cutters, jewelers tools, dental tools, pottery tools bits and bobs etc etc.

I can whole heatedly recommend  http://www.widgetsupply.com/

Very quick and reasonable shipping, even to Canada, I have done three fair size orders from them in the last month, just concentrating on my tool stash :) any excuse to hoard :) they simply can not be beat for one stop shopping. I think one more good sized order and I will have just about everything I could wish for, short of a mill, lathe, vacuum, pressure pot ...... well you guys know how this hobby and accumulating stuff goes :)