How far do you drive to local hobby store?

djrost_2000

Member since
February 2003
From: Where the coyote howl, NH

How far do you drive to local hobby store?

Posted by djrost_2000 on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 4:53 PM

Several years ago, the closest hobby store was about 20 miles from me. It closed down and then there was a hobby store 30 miles away that I frequented. Just found out today that that one closed down, and had to drive over 50 miles to find the closest hobby store. The store owner that I talked to today said there is no money to be made in this business. And guess what, he said he may be closing down at the end of the year. Angry [:(!]

I'm wondering how far I will ultimately have to drive to get my hobby goods. And beginning to wonder if I'd save money from the commute by mail order.

Just wondering how far you all drive to get to your' Local Hobby Store (LHS).

Dave

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saltydog

Member since
July 2003
From: Lower Alabama

Posted by saltydog on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 5:12 PM

i drive 80 or so miles to the nearest HS. i usually just buy paints and supplies from the HS, then go online for kits, AM stuff, or wait until Hobby Lobby has 1/2 off sales on kits, then mop up. later.

Chris

The Origins of Murphy's Law: "In the begginning there was nothing, and it exploded."!!! _________ chris

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 5:53 PM

I drive about 23 miles, which in traffic near the HS it translates to about 1 hr to a little more to get there except on Sun... I have been buying all my kits online and beginning to buy paint and stuff too because the LHS no longer stocks MM Acryl... I have also started watching ebay and found a few good deals on kits there, especially OOP kits..

And like Chris, I watch Hobby Lobby for the specials... I've been watching these 1/24 Spitfire kits they had there, I think they are AMT. They started out new on the shelf at 109.00... went to 80.00, went to 65 dollars... now they are 40.00. I have the feeling if they don't sell soon I may be able to pick one up for 20 or so....

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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MusicCity

Member since
January 2004
From: USA

Posted by MusicCity on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 6:08 PM

It depends on which one I go to Smile [:)]

One is sort of on the way home from work (not really, but less than 10 miles out of the way), a Hobby Town about 15 miles from home and another one about 25. Hobby Lobby at 15 and 30 miles, and a mom-and-pop shop about 15 miles away.

Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page

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rebelreenactor

Member since
October 2003
From: Clovis, Calif

Posted by rebelreenactor on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 6:37 PM

30 minutes. with no traffic. I think there is one or 2 more in the intire county. Disapprove [V]

John

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 7:30 PM

Depends if I can catch the two lights just right it is 3 min. If they turn red on me it takes about 5 min.
The only other one around is about 67 miles away and it is about an hour and a half drive.

Paul

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 7:44 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by saltydog

i drive 80 or so miles to the nearest HS. i usually just buy paints and supplies from the HS, then go online for kits, AM stuff, or wait until Hobby Lobby has 1/2 off sales on kits, then mop up. later.

That's me too. I only buy supplies anymore at the LHS which is about 18 miles away. My closest moved away.

Eric

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lizardqing

Member since
July 2003
From: Dahlonega, Georgia

Posted by lizardqing on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 7:52 PM

Well just had a Hobby Town open up about 20 minutes away which is right across the street from a Hobby Lobby. Or I can go about 15 minutes the other direction and hit a hobby shop/ gun shop/ pawn shop. Or I can drive about an hour to go to another shop which is just a plastic paradise. There are a few others as well within an hour.

Chris The Scale Firehouse The Lizard's Workshop

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rjkplasticmod

Member since
February 2003
From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State

Posted by rjkplasticmod on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 8:12 PM

Closest is about 5 miles, but best is about 15 miles.

Regards, Rick

RICK

At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...

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diggeraone

Member since
July 2003
From: Ozarks of Arkansas

Posted by diggeraone on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 8:14 PM

Well how shall I put it?My hobby shop is 5 blocks away from the house.I can walk to it which is 10 mins or less or drive to it at 2 mins = depending on the light you can add a min.Digger

Put all your trust in the Lord,do not put confidence in man.PSALM 118:8 We are in the buisness to do the impossible..G.S.Patton

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 8:26 PM

Here, it's not so much the distance, but the time involved (fighting traffic, finding parking, or taking the subway), it's about 45 minutes to any LHS except the little RC place pretty close to me which is okay for paint, but has not much else for static modellers.
Al

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Foster7155

Member since
July 2003
From: Pensacola, FL

Posted by Foster7155 on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 8:40 PM

My two stores are about 10 minutes and 20 minutes away.

Enjoy your modeling...

Robert Foster

Pensacola Modeleers

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 8:44 PM

I drive 15 miles to Al's Hobby Shop and I live in Chicagoland.

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 9:06 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by diggeraone

Well how shall I put it?My hobby shop is 5 blocks away from the house.I can walk to it which is 10 mins or less or drive to it at 2 mins = depending on the light you can add a min.Digger

Grrrrr... you got me jealous there... problem is my LHS is slowly turning into a RC shop... seems that's where the money is for em so I can't fault him... but still... once again I say... you think the fifth biggest city in the nation would have better hobby shops...
No.... indeed it's all turning to RC here... ::sigh::

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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diggeraone

Member since
July 2003
From: Ozarks of Arkansas

Posted by diggeraone on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 9:13 PM

Tho9900,well about two years ago I useto live in N.E.TX where the lHS was not that good so I had to drive 80 miles to S'port-Bossier city,LA to get to a good hobby shop.Latter hobby lobby came to texarkana,tx and that is still the same way today.Digger

Put all your trust in the Lord,do not put confidence in man.PSALM 118:8 We are in the buisness to do the impossible..G.S.Patton

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renarts

Member since
April 2003
From: Sunny Florida

Posted by renarts on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 11:34 PM

30 miles

Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 11:42 PM

Less two kilometers for me. Big Smile [:D]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 11:51 PM

My regular LHS is about a ten minute drive,The other i use is about twice the distance depending on traffic.................

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darson

Member since
February 2003
From: Melbourne, Australia

Posted by darson on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 12:19 AM

Where I work in the Melbourne CBD I have three hobby stores located in about a six block radius. Depending on what I'm after I can pick one or all three to walk to during my lunchtime Big Smile [:D]

.
The closest one to where I live is about a 20 min drive away, so it's good for a drop in visit on the weekend.

I buy almost all my kits and paints from the local stores, but always order from the US for detail sets or decals, as it's cheaper and quicker.

Cheers
Darren

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 12:28 AM

My store is about 30 minutes by bike. that's my usual mode of transportation(at least for a little while, i'll be getting my Learner's license soon). sometimes when i plan on getting something big, my dad will drive me. but he wants me to bike there most of the time. Thumbs Up [tup]

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Mark Joyce

Member since
March 2004
From: Placerville, CA USA

Posted by Mark Joyce on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 12:40 AM

Good question, Dave! I've wondered how other people's situations compared to mine.

For me, it's about a 40 mile drive, and takes close to an hour to get there. Due to the time and distance, I only go when I am in the area for other reasons, so I only make it every couple of months. As a result, I do most of my shopping online. However, whenever I stop at the store I try to leave with something Smile [:)]

. My way of supporting the local economy! Wink [;)]

Mark

Ignorance is bliss

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chopperfan

Member since
November 2003
From: Oklahoma

Posted by chopperfan on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 1:30 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by diggeraone

Well how shall I put it?My hobby shop is 5 blocks away from the house.I can walk to it which is 10 mins or less or drive to it at 2 mins = depending on the light you can add a min.Digger

Russellville has a hobby shop????????
Wow!!!! That's another one within an hour and a half drive!!!!! And to think, all I ever saw in Russellville was the loading docks of chicken plants!!!!
I have a Hobby Lobby and Hobbytown within a 20 minute drive.
If the wife decides to do a get away, it's 3 hours to Oklahoma City, 1 1/2 hours to Tulsa, an hour or so to Fayetteville, AR and 2 1/2 to 3 hours to Springfield, MO. So, when we do the get away thingy, I do a lot of phone book surfing! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Randie [C):-)]Agape Models

Without them? The men on the ground would have to work a lot harder. You can help. Please keep 'em flying! http://www.airtanker.com/

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armydogdoc

Member since
March 2004
From: Camp Couch Colorado

Posted by armydogdoc on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 2:27 AM

I drive about an hour and 15 minutes to get to Don's Hobby Shop in Greely Colorado, a true mecca for any type of hobby that you could possibly want. 4 floors of trains, planes and automobiles!!!! Im drooling now LOL. Luckily I work out there so when I need something Im already in the vicinity. As for my last trip to Don's, (when I went home on leave) it took me about 20 hrs by jet, but whos counting LMAO!

Ron "One weekend a month my$1***$2quot;

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 4:15 AM

hee hee hee, im lucky, my fave hobby store is about a 10 minute brisk walk from home. Big Smile [:D]

and there are neumerous other hobby shops along the train line so i have never ordered stuff online. well maybe thats cos shipping to singapore takes the better part of 2 months, but anyway.

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 6:35 AM

Ya'll are gonna kill me, but the closest (and luckily, one of my favorite) shops is a five-minute walk from my apartment here in downtown Osaka. There are at least another 6 within a twenty-minute walk (including Tamiya World), and add 4 more to that list if I ride a train for 15 minutes.
As you may have guessed, we have a lot of hobby shops in Osaka! Big Smile [:D]

~Brian

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djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 7:52 AM

Spoiled for choice, huh, Brian..??!

I'm lucky enough to have 2 small hobby shops close by, say max 4 mins of cycling from home. Another one is located in the town where I work, a 10 mins walk (this one being better for kits than supplies). A 15 mins train ride a 5 extra mins of walking take me to the best hobby shop in Kent (I think so anyway), and about 1 hour and 15 mins of train/underground take me to Hannants in Northern London.

But most of my purchases are really done at two shows, EuroMilitaire and Trucks 'n' Tracks, both in Folkestone, 1 hour and a half, plus 5 mins walk from home.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 9:24 AM

japan must be hobby shop central !!! u lucky guy brian!

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diggeraone

Member since
July 2003
From: Ozarks of Arkansas

Posted by diggeraone on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 10:23 AM

Randie,I bet that you thought that trix was only for kids too.lol,This lhs in Russellville is just a small one and not a large selection but the Lady who owns it does get me what I what.This lhs has RC,RC Planes,Ho trains,art supplys,beading,novelites,modeling tools and collectors knifives.She has put a lot of stuff in one place.And you thought of only chickens ha,ha.I still have yet to visit the other hobby shop in Centerville,Ar which is about 20 mins away.There is also going to be a Hobby Lobby coming in here within two years.As far as anymore hobby shops there are a few in Little Rock,Ar which is 1hr an 15mins away from me.Digger

Put all your trust in the Lord,do not put confidence in man.PSALM 118:8 We are in the buisness to do the impossible..G.S.Patton

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KINGTHAD

Member since
May 2004
From: Dallas

Posted by KINGTHAD on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 12:22 PM

I have one about 20-30 min away, i could walk but it would take a half a day, Everything in Dallas is so spread out. Here lately the 1/2 off sale at Hobbylobby have been getting my kit bussiness.

Thad