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Where to buy? Selection?

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  • Member since
    February 2007
Where to buy? Selection?
Posted by mitsdude on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 3:44 PM

One of the biggest changes I've noticed since getting back into the hobby is where you buy models in the Sci-fi and Real Space categories. New releases seem pretty much limited to Star Trek, Star Wars, and the Space Shuttle. Anything outside of these are simply reissues of older kits. I'm hopeful that new companies like Mobeius are successful and that others will follow.

Retail stores- Except for Hobby Lobby you can pretty much forget these places that were once my ONLY source of models.

Local hobby shops- Even back in the old days there was only one of these and it had a poor selection. It still exists but they mainly do RC and trains.

Online- Kinda hard to believe but even these guys are pretty limited on their stock. One exception, if you are into the space shuttle. I lost count of how many different versions are out there. Seems like every model company puts out at least two or three.

"Garage kits" (resin)- These guys do a great job and provide the hobby a great service, especially to niche markets. However, since they have such small production runs I cannot afford to buy very many of them.

Ebay- This has been my major source since I returned to the hobby. Its a little tough sometimes paying $30-$60 (not counting S&H) for a kit that only a few years ago I remember seeing for $10-$20. Fortunately I'm a builder not a collector cause it would be a lot worse. I don't care that the model is a Glencoe Space Station and not a Strombecker Space Station.

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Northern Indiana
Posted by overkillphil on Thursday, April 26, 2007 9:51 PM
Unfortunately, I can't produce a particularly useful response.  I've noticed too that SF/fantasy etc are not very prolific these days.  The big manufacturers make kits for widest possible appeal and therefore everything else gets the short shrift.  Honestly, I don't see it getting any better.
my favorite headache/current project: 1/48 Panda F-35 "I love the fact that dumb people don't know who they are. I hope I'm not one of them" -Scott Adams
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Pensacola, FL
Posted by Foster7155 on Friday, April 27, 2007 8:18 AM

Unfortunately, Space and Sci-Fi model kits have never been overly prolific when compared to the major modeling niches of Aircraft, Automotive, Armor, and Ships. Obviously there are exceptions. Modelers who focus on Star Trek or Star Wars have a pretty substantial quantity of kits, conversions, and accessories available.

I use starshipmodeler.com as my primary reference for everthing related to spacecraft or science fiction subjects. For purchasing kits, I usually buy from a LHS or federationmodels.com online. Two other good sources for information are fantastic-plastic.com and culttvman.com who both list many interesting models on their sites.

Robert Foster

Pensacola Modeleers

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Friday, April 27, 2007 9:05 AM
Hove you looked at the Cult TV Man's site: http://www.culttvman.com/ He's got a decent selection of sci-fi models. Also Monsters in Motion is a good source for sci-fi models.
http://www.monstersinmotion.com/catalog/
  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by IYAAYAS on Friday, April 27, 2007 11:04 AM

ebay is the best source IMO, if it's overpriced it is most likely oop, and not available any were else.

Another option is to get the manufacture, kit#, and item description, enter it into google (or yahoo) and you should get a listing of everywhere it is available.

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