New Models at Hobby Lobby?

Yes, but I suspect most serious modeler like "us" tend to get our kits from online shops, LHS's, or other places. The folks that I usually see at the local Hobby Lobby are usually kids and their parents or grandparents. The guys who I see at AMPS or IPMS I run into at the local hobby shops. Never at Hobby Lobby. Different demographics. Hobby Lobby is maybe 5%-10%, if that much, geared towards our hobby. It's more like the department stores used to be when I was a kid. Yeah they carry some stuff for us. But most of what they carry is not for us. One side of one aisle is kits. The opposite side is supplies and paints. How many aisles of products do they have in any store? And of course there are items they sell such as paint brushes, tools, etc. that are used in other hobbies besides this one. 

I actually wish that Hobby Lobby had been around when I was trying to get my kids to build models. The local hobby shops back then really did not carry "entry level" models. They were geared towards the serious modeler like "us". The local Hobby Lobby near me only opened about 5 years ago. After my kids were past wanting to build models with dad.

I've never been a fan of Hobby Lobby. Whenever I would go into one of their stores I always felt uncomfortable, like my every move was being watched. Fortunately there is one decent franchise hobby shop and one excellent family owned hobby shop in the area, each about thirty minutes from me in opposite directions. The excellent family owned hobby shop I have been trading with since the 1970s. The decent hobby shop only fairly recently. There are a few Michael's sprinkled about and I will occasionally shop at one with some coupons printed out from the website. The stack of Revell kits on the shelf almost all came from a Michael's.

I think Hobby Lobby bites it, big time! It's nothing but Michaels re done. While they have some stuff for guys, it's a womans store. The one near me is huge with just one aisle for model kits. The selection sucks, my stash is almost as big. Paints are Testors enamel and that is it. I personally will never set foot in it again. 

fotofrank

 Fortunately there is one decent franchise hobby shop and one excellent family owned hobby shop in the area, each about thirty minutes from me in opposite directions. The excellent family owned hobby shop I have been trading with since the 1970s. The decent hobby shop only fairly recently.

 

Where is this place at? I'm only aware of Colonial Photo and Hobby in Orlando and Hobbytown in Sanford.

stikpusher

Well, how about a home computer with a printer? Do you have that? All you need is internet access. Go to their website, mobile or desktop, look for the 40% off coupon, and print it up. The discount code and dates change weekly, so you could theoretically print up 6 per week, and use one a day if you're feeling miserly. Since they're closed on Sunday and only allow one customer one coupon and one item per visit...

 

Don't even need a printer. Just show them the coupon in your smartphone browser. You have to sign up for their emails, and they email you a link to the coupon. 

plasticjunkie

 

 

fotofrank

 Fortunately there is one decent franchise hobby shop and one excellent family owned hobby shop in the area, each about thirty minutes from me in opposite directions. The excellent family owned hobby shop I have been trading with since the 1970s. The decent hobby shop only fairly recently.

 

 

 

 

Where is this place at? I'm only aware of Colonial Photo and Hobby in Orlando and Hobbytown in Sanford.

 

Those are the ones...

Zar

I think Hobby Lobby bites it, big time! It's nothing but Michaels re done. While they have some stuff for guys, it's a womans store. The one near me is huge with just one aisle for model kits. The selection sucks, my stash is almost as big. Paints are Testors enamel and that is it. I personally will never set foot in it again. 

 

Well yes,their not a model shop.They are a direct competitor to Michaels,thats what they are.

I doubt they will miss you,your not their target customer.

Nathan T

 

Don't even need a printer. Just show them the coupon in your smartphone browser. You have to sign up for their emails, and they email you a link to the coupon. 

 

Yep that's how I use my coupons.

Frank

Kit selections at either place could be better. They both have excellent paint selection specially Colonial Photo that has some limited Gunze stuff.

stikpusher

Yes, but I suspect most serious modeler like "us" tend to get our kits from online shops, LHS's, or other places. The folks that I usually see at the local Hobby Lobby are usually kids and their parents or grandparents. The guys who I see at AMPS or IPMS I run into at the local hobby shops. Never at Hobby Lobby. Different demographics. Hobby Lobby is maybe 5%-10%, if that much, geared towards our hobby. It's more like the department stores used to be when I was a kid.

Stikpusher, I agree. The target demographic is definitely not people who are frequenting online model forums. And as far as entry level products go, I think they have an alright selection.

My point was simply that if they dedicated more of their shelf space to higher quality kits, they would probably sell very well. I mean, if I knew that HL carried a good selection of kits I'd certainly stop in more often, and probably throw a few other items in the basket, too.

Personally, I like HL. It's been a great place for my kids to pick up some very low priced models to get started. My son picked up a Lindberg Stuka/Me-262 kit on sale for like $7 or $8. I picked up the Revell Stearman there a while ago for something like $11, a steal. I stop in occasionally and pick up Tamiya primer, pipettes, tape, glue, brushes, etc. It's good for that type of stuff.

Just to show how much things have changed in the world of modeling:

I grew up in Southern California and we used to have a supermarket chain called Alpha Beta. In addition to being our source of milk and bread it was also my main source of model airplanes, because they used to sell model kits at the supermarket! Can't imagine that happening now.

K-Mart was my other source. They sold these really cool little model trucks that used tiny metal screws to attach the chassis to the cab or trailer. The box art was unchanged from the 60s, and I loved them. Wish I could remember what brand they were.  

That concludes today's stroll down memory lane.  

Roald

I also remember K Mart, Toys R Us, Food Lion Supermarket, and even some drug stores selling them too. 

You may be remembering Hawk Models?

plasticjunkie

Roald

I also remember K Mart, Toys R Us, Food Lion Supermarket, and even some drug stores selling them too. 

You may be remembering Hawk Models?

 

My main source was Kaybee Toys & Hobbies, K-Mart and this local photo & hobby shop. A discount store called Ames, like a lesser K-Mart, moved into the vacant department store in my town's plaza and introduced me to Matchobx models. I literally bought and built virtually every 1/76 scale armor kit and most of the aircraft kits.

Kaybee carried MPC's reboxed Airfix armor kits and a sub brand called USAirfix aircraft kits.

Between Matchbox and MPC/Airfix, they are the kits that took over from my building car models.

Rob

K Bee Toys!! Forgot that one too. I just remembered when Sears & Roebuck carried plastic Models and firearms. I still own a .22 rifle with the Sears brand on the barrel.

Roald

I was recently told by a friend that HL changes over a large portion of their model section fairly frequently, and offers new models while the old stuff goes on clearance.

I don't go to HL too often, but it seems to me that they have been carrying the same selection of models for quite a while.

Does anyone know if this is true?  

 

plasticjunkie

You may be remembering Hawk Models?

Plasticjunkie, I owe you. 

I googled "Hawk Model Truck" images, and boom. There they were.

http://www.collectormodel.com/category/hawklindberg/#sthash.pF8bE8V9.dpbs

It's funny, for some reason certain things from childhood stick in your head. For me, those little trucks rocked my 8 year old world. Seeing the box art for the first time in 35 is amazing. 

Apparently they were a Hawk/Lindberg line, in HO scale, and cost a whopping forty five cents. No wonder I loved them, it's all I could afford!

Anybody from Northern NJ would remember these stores for models in the 60's

Branch Brook

Two Guys

EJ Korvette

Always had models,especially remember Aurura kits.

I rely on Michaels and hobby lobby for their discount.  I've started to teach a plastic modeling class in our home-school co-op group for the past 2 years and I usually have 10-14 kids in each class,  this next year I have to teach 2 semesters!   So I try to buy the same kit for everyone each class. Makes it easier on me.

I have to use a lot of 40-50% coupons but what the heck!   The kids love it.

John

falconmod

I rely on Michaels and hobby lobby for their discount.  I've started to teach a plastic modeling class in our home-school co-op group for the past 2 years and I usually have 10-14 kids in each class,  this next year I have to teach 2 semesters!   So I try to buy the same kit for everyone each class. Makes it easier on me.

I have to use a lot of 40-50% coupons but what the heck!   The kids love it.

John

Hi;

     Did you say Hobby - Lobby has new models ? Since when ? I don't think , except for " Snappers " as I call them , that anything has changed much . At least it hadn't when I was there Saturday July 8 2017 .    

Yep that's how I use my coupons.

Frank

Kit selections at either place could be better. They both have excellent paint selection specially Colonial Photo that has some limited Gunze stuff.

[/quote]

I started shopping at Colonial when I first moved to Orlando in the summer of 1973. The store actually fronted on Colonial Drive back then, around the corner from where they are now. At the time they were a Squadron outlet and they were the only game in the central Florida area. When I lived in Valdosta, GA, I would have to drive to Jacksonville, FL to find kits and supplies. I don't remember the name of the shop I went to in Jax but I think it was out on Blanding Blvd somewhere. Having a shop like Colonial so close by was a real treat and a boon to my modeling hobby back then.

Tanker - Builder

Hi;

     Did you say Hobby - Lobby has new models ? Since when ? I don't think , except for " Snappers " as I call them , that anything has changed much . At least it hadn't when I was there Saturday July 8 2017 .    

 

the Baron

 

 

Tanker - Builder

Hi;

     Did you say Hobby - Lobby has new models ? Since when ? I don't think , except for " Snappers " as I call them , that anything has changed much . At least it hadn't when I was there Saturday July 8 2017 .    

 

 

 

 

I suspect that there is some variation from one franchise location to the next.  We have two here in the Lehigh Valley, PA, and they both carry the selection described above:  Lots of Revell cars; Revell re-issues of Monogram 1/48 kits, including the large bombers, and the smaller single-engined aircraft; Revell ship kits, from box scale to 1/1200; Tamiya armor kits, 1/35 and 1/48; Revell snap-together kits (ex-Monogram); and some Star Wars kits whose brand I can't recall.  They also have those Metal World PE kits.  As far as supplies go, they carry Testor and Model Master paints and Vallejo acrylics.  They have Aztek and Paasche airbrushes.  I've probably forgotten some items, but that's a description of the general selection at any given time.  And that doesn't include the general hobby supplies that we can use for scale modeling, like craft store brand acrylics, etc.

 

Baron your stock rundown is a carbon copy of the one HL near me and suspect the other one a few clicks away has the same boring stock. Too bad they don't carry Vallejo Air cuz even though I don't like acrylics I may just give a couple of colors a try to see how they behave.

Hey Mike !

 What's with the gas guages in your posts ?

In Ohio we have a chain of stores called Drugmart. They have about a 15ft. section of aisle with Revell models and Testors paint and supplies.(Like the ol' days) Lately they have been putting them on clearance. Months ago I picked up a bf109, Spit, and PT109 for $25. Today I picked up a F4U, F6, and a P47N for under 30. I hope they are just getting rid of their inventory and restocking with new kits. It's the store that got me back into models.

Picked up the Revell Mig on clearence at DrugMart along with the Meserschmidt a month or so ago.  Yeah I keep buying stuff there hoping they will restock with new stuff.

In Hobby Lobby today they had a Squadron pre-painted P-47.  Very basic kit.  I think we will see a big change in the next month or so

Tanker - Builder

Hey Mike !

 What's with the gas guages in your posts ?

 

If you had a free account with Photobucket,you now have to pay big time for 3rd party posting of pictures,if you don't upgrade your account,your pictures will no longer link.

Tanker - Builder

Hey Mike !

 What's with the gas guages in your posts ?

 

My posts? That's my new signature piece. Amazing what Photoshop can do if you know how to use it. Mine is unique.

What brand names does Hobby Lobby have for paints?  I see Vallejo and Tamiya products listed on their website.  Does that mean that there is a good selection of such paints in the stores?  

David2080

Picked up the Revell Mig on clearence at DrugMart along with the Meserschmidt a month or so ago.  Yeah I keep buying stuff there hoping they will restock with new stuff.

 

In Hobby Lobby today they had a Squadron pre-painted P-47.  Very basic kit.  I think we will see a big change in the next month or so

 

My hometown in Northeast Ohio had a Drugmart.  I guess that was where my model habit started as a youngster.  But, there are no Drugmarts in Southwest Ohio.