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Best Prices on Scale Models?

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  • Member since
    August 2014
Best Prices on Scale Models?
Posted by Adam148 on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 3:04 PM
I know prices vary between dealers, makers, scales, etc., but I'd be curious to hear of your favorite sites for buying scale model kits.

I don't have an LHS, so I've been buying online through scalehobbyist.com. Their prices have been consistently better than other sites I've found. But maybe you know an even better site? I'm building 1/48 scale airplanes after being away from modeling for decades. Happy to be back, and finding this site very helpful.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 6:11 PM

www.spruebrothers.com

www.freetimehobbies.com

www.redfroghobbies.com

www.luckymodels.com

www.dragonusaonline.com

Look for sales around holidays,sign up for their ads to be notified of sales. Also shop around Ebay,bargains could be had,just watch shipping costs.

G-J
  • Member since
    July 2012
Posted by G-J on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 7:10 PM

I agree with Tojo72.  I use scalehobbyist the most, though.

On the bench:  Tamyia Mosquito Mk. VI for the '44 group build.  Yes, still.

On deck: 

  • Member since
    August 2014
Posted by Adam148 on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 8:44 PM
Thanks for the suggestions.

I haven't seen redfrog or luckmodels yet. I did sign up for email from SpueBros, et al. And I have set up some watches on eBay for an Eduard profipack Hellcat. I'll check out the sites mentioned here as well.
  • Member since
    January 2014
  • From: Nampa, Idaho
Posted by jelliott523 on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 10:50 AM

I have purchased several from Ebay and got pretty decent deals (some, I've probably paid too much for, but it was the only place I could find them.  I've also used hobbylinc.com, they have pretty competitive prices and often run specials as well.

On the Bench:  Lots of unfinished projects!  Smile

  • Member since
    February 2014
  • From: N. MS
Posted by CN Spots on Thursday, September 25, 2014 7:57 PM

Ditto on scalehobbist.  I've compare prices between them and most others and they usually turn out to be the cheapest.  They have, IMHO, one of the easiest to use sites for finding what you want and their packing and shipping (care taken with your stuff)  are second to none.  No sci-fi or space models though.

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Thursday, September 25, 2014 9:42 PM

I've shopped online at megahobby.com a couple times with no complaints.

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: Winamac,Indiana 46996-1525
Posted by ACESES5 on Saturday, September 27, 2014 1:01 PM

Adam148;  Try spruBrothers.com and Amazion.com       ACESES5                  Welcome Sign

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • From: San Antonio, Texas
Posted by Marcus McBean on Saturday, September 27, 2014 9:06 PM

When I have a model in mind to purchase I search all of those sites for the best price, including taxes and shipping costs.  Last week Amazon had a aircraft carrier for $40 dollars less than all these sites, plus free shipping.  The week before they had the carrier by $30 dollars over all the other sites with no free shipping.    

I suggest you keep a list of models you would like to purchase and check prices every week.

  • Member since
    January 2014
Posted by Offduty on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 7:50 AM

They do have si-fi and space just have to type it in search.

  • Member since
    February 2014
  • From: N. MS
Posted by CN Spots on Saturday, October 18, 2014 11:10 AM

Well I'll be.  I wonder why they didn't include a category for it?  They're losing out on some business.

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by jibber on Monday, October 20, 2014 7:47 PM

Squadron is another that usually has a large stock of kits.

  • Member since
    December 2011
Posted by Chrisk-k on Saturday, October 25, 2014 11:47 PM

Nobody in the US beats scalehobbyist in terms of price, search engine and customer service in my experience.

Iwata HP-CS | Iwata HP-CR | Iwata HP-M2 | H&S Evolution | Iwata Smart Jet + Sparmax Tank

  • Member since
    December 2016
Posted by Panzerboone on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 11:32 AM

I found the same thing to be true.  Most importantly for me they have great shipping prices and insanely fast delivery by UPS.  The contents are carefully packed, liquids are bagged separately, they use heavy duty cardboard boxes; they really are a first class outfit.   

It's also very comforting to have an order status page that they scrupulously maintain; I can see where my order is from placement to shipment, you get a UPS tracking number; you can cancel the order if you catch it before they process it too.  I've never had a single problem from them.  

If you look for an item that is out of stock you can get on a notification list which is done by email.  Their website is very easy to navigate with pictures of the items.  

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Friday, December 23, 2016 4:19 PM

And reviving an old post once more....

  • Member since
    February 2004
Posted by king.45 on Friday, January 27, 2017 4:25 PM

Try rollmodels.come, I shop with them and scalehobbyist.com. Both really good sites. 

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Saturday, February 4, 2017 5:04 PM

king.45

Try rollmodels.come, I shop with them and scalehobbyist.com. Both really good sites. 

 

 

The only knock I have with Roll Models is they're super slow fulfilling your order. Unless you're not in a hurry in getting it. Scalehobbyist is by far has the best prices around.

  • Member since
    July 2014
  • From: Philadelphia Pa
Posted by Nino on Monday, September 11, 2017 10:17 AM

Chrisk-k

Nobody in the US beats scalehobbyist in terms of price, search engine and customer service in my experience.

 

I’m afraid my list is pretty large. I started research on Model kits back in 2012. Lottsa Fun shopping.  Good experiences with all of the following sites.

FreetimeHobbies for kits no one in the US seems to carry (Selection is down this year)

ScaleHobbist: Prices/selection really good! Easy to navigate. Great web site.

HobbyLink: Good deals on many occasions. Easy site to navigate. (70 sailing ship kits)

Sprue Bros: Fantastic specials!

Tower Hobbies: Good when they have a Sale/Coupon.

Plaza Japan: Better prices then USA.. Bigger selection on Japanese OEM. S&H not bad makes price about equal to USA. Shipping time longer.                            

Hobby Easy: Same as Plaza.  ( No wish list- bummer)

HobbyLink Japan: Same as Plaza.  ( No wish list)

Martola: Great for certain Brands ie: Mirage.  Was great on price till EUR vs USD changed.

Models UA:  Same as Martola (plus MicroMir)

Armory:  Same as Martola (no Mirage now)  (Plus MicroMir)

OKB shop.okbgrigorov:Where else could you get a Seawolf Special Projects 1/700 sub?

VCS Hobbies:  Best prices I have seen on Gold Medal Models PE

Dragon Online store: Prices vary but their Moving Sale a few months ago was fantastic.

Goodwill: Good prices but S&H are very high. Best to be 1st bidder and hope.

Ebay and Amazon: What can I say. Ya gotta watch for that really good deal. Since 2006 I made over 400 Hundred Purchases of printer ink, tools, supplies, clothing, books, Movies, and Models and accessories!   2 failures: USPS lost an Aurora I-19 and Ebay sent me back my $4.00 when an Item never shipped. Good success: 100 Scalpel Blades # 11 with Free Handle $6.73    
 
And last, Polar Bear Production (www.subs-n-ships) for that Russian Sub you always wanted.

  Note: Except for Ebay, most of the above “stores” are really poor for Sailing Ships. It seems that if it’s got sails, there’s no sales.

 
     Nino.
 
Updated on 10/1/17.
  • Member since
    July 2017
Posted by crazypat on Sunday, September 24, 2017 10:55 PM
https://www.bnamodelworld.com/ you can get some very good deals and shipping is very cheap
  • Member since
    July 2014
  • From: Philadelphia Pa
Posted by Nino on Monday, October 9, 2017 2:29 AM

Till Midnight tonight, 10/9/17,   40% off on $100.00 at Dragon USA.

 That means their $99.00 Dragon 1/350 Scharnhorst 1943 will only be $59.97!

Of course you need to add $1.00 to that $99.00 to equal the $100. So, Buy some PE.

Coupon code COLUMBUS.

   Good Luck.

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Monday, October 9, 2017 1:09 PM

crazypat
https://www.bnamodelworld.com/ you can get some very good deals and shipping is very cheap
 

 

Good deals? Not compared to scalehobbyist.com.

 

Example - I compared a Tamiya 1/48 scale F-14A Tomcat kit # 61114:

BNA Model World sale price: $102.64

Scalehobbyist sale price:  $75.99

Squadron and Sprue Brothers price: $91.99

 

I think scalehobbyist has the best prices all around.

 

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by damouav on Monday, October 9, 2017 5:30 PM

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

 

 
crazypat
https://www.bnamodelworld.com/ you can get some very good deals and shipping is very cheap
 

 

 

 

Good deals? Not compared to scalehobbyist.com.

 

Example - I compared a Tamiya 1/48 scale F-14A Tomcat kit # 61114:

BNA Model World sale price: $102.64

Scalehobbyist sale price:  $75.99

Squadron and Sprue Brothers price: $91.99

 

I think scalehobbyist has the best prices all around.

 

 

Yes, scalehobbyost is by far cheaper, but no good if you live in the rest of the world as the don't ship beyond US and Canada. I use BNA for everything apart from kits as they have stock and delivery is same day if order placed before 3pm M-F.

I came across an ebay reseller in mainland China that sold a 1/48 Hobby Boss TBF-1 for $30 less than the other cheapest online hobby store with shipping!

In Progress
1/48 Tamiya P47-D Bubbletop
1/48 Hobby Boss TBF-1C Avenger (on hold)
Pending
1/48 Roden S.E.5a
1/48 Airfix Walrus
  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: N. Burbs of ChiKawgo
Posted by GlennH on Thursday, October 12, 2017 11:28 AM

I don't buy much and kind of got hooked into HobbyLink with the rewards thing. I will say I saw someone post a link to a model on this forum the other day and HobbyLink was ten bucks less on the same approx $50.00 model.

A number Army Viet Nam scans from hundreds yet to be done:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/southwestdreams/albums/72157621855914355

Have had the great fortune to be on every side of the howitzers.

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: N. Burbs of ChiKawgo
Posted by GlennH on Thursday, October 12, 2017 11:31 AM

Chrisk-k

Nobody in the US beats scalehobbyist in terms of price, search engine and customer service in my experience.

 

 

Search engine is outstanding and a real treat!

A number Army Viet Nam scans from hundreds yet to be done:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/southwestdreams/albums/72157621855914355

Have had the great fortune to be on every side of the howitzers.

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