Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby is a store trying to have something represented for every crafter/hobbyist. Its not a huge segment or profit center for them. Craft items have a much greater margin than hobby items typically do. They do have a good selection of paints and other things modelers need. Its not my go to place but its handy and no matter where I might be in the country I know I can source those items there.

There are fewer than 1000 hobby shops in this country, and many of those don't carry plastic kits anymore. Those that do, have to have a client base that continue sales to justify stocking them.

Nothing beats a little 40% coupon from Hobby Lobby. I agree they don't carry a huge selection of kits, paints, and supplies/hobby tools. I have sent emails to them about expanding their hobby paint selections (Tamiya, Vallejo, Model master for example) but I know nothing will come out of it. Every once in awhile you might something new.

Yes that 40 percent off coupon has saved me hundreds of dollars over the years so it is well worth while to shop there.

I just found out that they're putting in a new store a few miles from where I work!  I rarely buy kits from there but I do buy their building supplies and paints. Their selection is almost identical to what I had to choose from in retail stores when I was a kid.  Nice starter kits to get someone into the hobby but not much outstanding.  If you walk into an older Hobby Lobby and look at the dust on some of the kits you'll see why they don't put too much energy into expanding that category.

I usually buy my kits online a few weeks before I finish my current build.  Cheaper prices, better selection.

They actually had a decent selection back about 2007-2010, then started getting rid of the plastics. Their paint selection is anemic as are their kit stock. Once in a while something nice happens like grabbing the 1/48 Revell Stearman with a 40% coupon for about $11 or so.

Hobby Lobby isn't a store for kits, its mainly for supplies/paints, and other modeling things that cross over for arts and crafts. Don't expect anything other than general/old model kits.

  I don't get all the disdain for Hobby Lobby. A coupon and a little elbow grease goes a long way as far as I'm concerned. These are all kits from HL:

DSCF6637 by theirishavenger, on Flickr

DSCF8552 by theirishavenger, on Flickr

. by theirishavenger, on Flickr

Jonathan and dirkpit

I know it's a craft store and models are not their main interest line but just making a comparison with their stock of 7-8 years ago. They had the 1/72 Type VII/C and Gato subs, along with several Trumpeter and Tamiya naval subjects. A decent selection of the newer Tamiya aircraft lineup including the Mosquito and Swordfish in 1/48. They also had some Academy aircraft and helos.

Being a scifi, real space modeler HL doesn't have much for me as far as model kits go. A tiny selection of small scale Star Trek and Star Wars kits is about it!!! At one time they carried most of the Polar Lights line. I've not seen anything from Moebius or Pegasus scifi related kits.

I do buy paints, diorama, and model related supplies.

BTW, they have marked down some of their Vallejo Model Color paints. Don't know if they are getting rid of this line or old stock as not all colors are included.

Also they have clearance their Testors washes and stains.

It's time to move on, people. Hobby Lobby once had some more out of the mainstream items. Clearly that business strategy did not work, leading to reductions in the quality and size of this hobby aisle. They aren't, and won't ever be an actual hobby shop. Once in a while you may find something useful there, but expect the aisle to continue to dwindle in size and quality.

Okay, folks, it is time to get out your pitchforks and give the tines a good sharpening. LOL

Because I just now realized that The Hobby Lobby types of stores are exactly what the 21st century "mainstream" American modeler needs and wants.

A 21st century mainstream modeler doesn't buy kits the way I used to. I used to waltz into a hobby shop and pick out a stack of kits that I had saved up for, and then made the trip to that shop to get. Every trip I left some kits behind that I would "get next time", because I had a model list larger than what my wallet weight would support that day.

Then, I would alternate those trips with weeks whereby I sent my money off as a money order in a letter and waited 6-8 weeks for my package to arrive. That package would have kits too exotic for the LHS to take a chance on stocking, or on decals that weren't for sale in person, only via mail.

Now, it is the 21st century,,,and getting models, decals, books, resin and photoetch is a a matter of clicking on a website, and filling in a credit card or paypal form and then haunting the email inbox for the next two days in order to see how early that "your order is received" email arrives. Then posting online "where is my stuff?" after 5 days have passed. lol

So, how is Hobby Lobby a fit for the 21st century? Well, they fit because they do exactly what a "modern modeler" needs in the hobby. A modern modeler doesn't need a full range of plastic kits, he gets them somewhere else. A lot of modern modelers have never seen those clear decal binders that we used to pour over in the "olde timey LHS", so he doesn't miss those. A modern modeler doesn't even need his exact range of paints or any of the tools hanging in that section. He gets his paints from online shops that list page after page of paint ranges. Knives and blades and brushes, also.

What a modern modeler needs a shop for, is that "halfway through a project" running out of something type of event. When you run out of "woop-dee-doo" exact Blue, but, know the Model Master or Vallejo "nearly the same" color,,,,,you go to the Hobby Lobby or Hobby Town and pick some up to finish your project. The same when you realized that the cat played with your favorite #2 brush, or that you just snapped the tip off of your last #11 blade.

At those times, he dashes off to the Hobby Lobby, gives their dwindling supply of kits a lookover, and then buys two items, one of them, the most expensive one, uses that 40% off coupon.

Then when he gets home, he places an order from his favorite online vendor for a pack of knife blades (all 6 types he uses, after he checks his supply), a pack of brushes, and 8-20 bottles of paint, again after checking his supply and seeing that some of the other colors are about to run out.

All we really want from Hobby Lobby is just what they are doing, they give us a place to browse while SWMBO is getting a frame and matting done on that antique photo of her Grampa's second car.........or a place for newbies to find out that "hey, they still make plastic model kits?,,,,cool, I think I will try one"

They also give you far more options than a "real LHS" ever could, when it comes to paintbrush choices, casting supplies and mediums, and "real world" colors and paints,,,,and combining different mediums to enhance your paints.

Granted, you might have to "suffer" and use Model Master Enamels, because that store didn't have the same paint range as you usually use, but, not every LHS I was ever in had all the items that I wanted all in one place, even back in the heyday of modeling when I lived within biking distance of 8 hobby shops in Southern California.

Just some thoughts from an old time modeler, thinking about how we do it today.

Rex

"Pitchforks, Parrr,,,,,,,Raiddddd,,,,,,,Restttttt"

I won't shop at Hobby Lobby for ...personal reasons.

I'd much rather give my money to a real local hobby shop.

Hey, Doog, your sig reminds of a tee shirt that I read

There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those that understand binary, and those trying to figure out what the other 9 kinds of people are"

Just thought I would share that with someone that would get it.

Rex

the doog

I won't shop at Hobby Lobby for ...personal reasons.

I'd much rather give my money to a real local hobby shop.

While I don't buy many kits at HL, it is nice to walk out of there with a 1/48 Super Fortress for 30 bucks. But what I do like about HL is when I need materials or tools. I've gotten everything from air brush tips/needles to a pin vise set to an exacto resin saw, and all with the 40% off coupon.

HL is good for brushes and oil/acrylic paint plus supplies. I have a store relatively close and I make several trips a month to use the 40% off coupon for blades or whatever. Its certainly not a HS for us but if you choose wisely you can get some nice savings. Terry  

.

Don't turn your nose up at any source.  So HobbyLobby just carries a limited selection of kits?  That could change, maybe they'll add some, maybe eliminate some.  As others have noted, they are a good source of some supplies, and the 40% discount coupons can get you some good deals.  I don't shop there exclusively, but I keep it in mind, along with the other craft stores--Michael's, AC Moore--and HobbyTown, and the Internet, and the remaining old-school bricks-and-mortar stores.

I just purchased food coloring with the 40 pct off coupon.

Unlike the miniscule selection offered at major grocery store chains at high prices, HL sells food coloring in useful quantities.

I won't be using it for food but am following Don Wheeler's example.

Don Wheeler tests his airbrushes using food coloring:

https://sites.google.com/site/donsairbrushtips/home

I will be rebuilding an old airbrush and wanted to use something other than paint.

Hobby Lobby had just the item I needed.

Stopped by tonight and saw they are clearing out their Vallejo line of Model Color paint. Marked down to $1.79 each. Wow! I may go back and buy the whole lot of what's left of them.

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

Stopped by tonight and saw they are clearing out their Vallejo line of Model Color paint. Marked down to $1.79 each. Wow! I may go back and buy the whole lot of what's left of them.

Stopped by this afternoon. Sprue-ce is correct. Not every single Vallejo color is marked down - only certain colors. Picked up the last 2 Vallejp Thinner Medium (regular price) and 4 other colors. I wanted Cavalry Brown but those were gone. :(  I ended up getting Deep Yellow, Off White, Reflective  Green and WW2 German Camo. Beige.

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

Stopped by this afternoon. Sprue-ce is correct. Not every single Vallejo color is marked down - only certain colors. Picked up the last 2 Vallejp Thinner Medium (regular price) and 4 other colors. I wanted Cavalry Brown but those were gone. :(  I ended up getting Deep Yellow, Off White, Reflective  Green and WW2 German Camo. Beige.

But, there are other HL in range.............

Nathan T

Hobby Lobby isn't a store for kits, its mainly for supplies/paints, and other modeling things that cross over for arts and crafts. Don't expect anything other than general/old model kits.

That is true. They don't have much for winged vehicles though.  I'll just have to accept the fact that I'm doomed to eBay for all my kit purchases. 

mustang1989

Nathan T

Hobby Lobby isn't a store for kits, its mainly for supplies/paints, and other modeling things that cross over for arts and crafts. Don't expect anything other than general/old model kits.

Oh contrare!! I just recently started getting interested in automotive modeling. They have a freekin' wall of those kits! 

Yes, they probably have the best line of car models.

TarnShip,

    While probably most of what you've said is true and accurate.  And that probably most people would rather order something online.  I personally, and I would hope that there are others like myself as well.  Would rather go into a LHS or even a chain like Michales and purchase what we need now, rather than wait for it to be shipped after ordering it online.

    Also, by going into the LHS one can ask the staff for their recomendation as to this paint or model kit over another.  And in some cases one might even be able to take a class on a particular technique.  Which is service that one cannot usually get from an online retailer.

the doog

I won't shop at Hobby Lobby for ...personal reasons.

I'd much rather give my money to a real local hobby shop.

the doog,

     While I am pretty sure that there is a Hobby Lobby somewhere in the area, where I just am not sure.  Like you whenever possible I prefer to go to a real LHS.  For the reasons that I have already stated.

     That being said, I have and do go to one of the local Michales to purchase some supplies, and/or kits that the two closest LHS may not have.

     And as has been mentioned with HL, I do like the 40% or more off coupon that one can "download" on their phone/smartphone at Michales.  The last time I was there it was a 50% coupon and I had purchased a brush/paint holder for my ceramic brushes.  I want to get at least two more of those one for my clay cleaning tools and another for the brushes I use when I paint my models.