Michael's selection getting bigger

That's where all my NASCAR kits have gone!?

With all honesty, I still love building cars, but due to a (major) lack of space, I'm considering building more 1/72 and 1/76 scale armor, as well as 1/87 scale fire trucks and the like.

(I really hope Michaels will stock up. Nothing's better than toget a $5 kit with a 50% off cupon)

I agree. I wish they would put some small scale armor in there. Its my favorite scale in armor.

Same with paints. I wish they would put some Model Master paints instead of the basic colors of the Testors square bottle paints.

With the paints, I'm sort of O.K. with the selection.

I normally just use artist's acryllic paint (from both Michaels and WAL-MART), but, when I need those metalic paints (like aluminum and Silver) or if I need a clear color for a lightbar or something, I really need it, and it's another trip to the hobby shop.

I will start with small-scale armor soon. The things that attracted me to it is

1: the small size of my display case (shrinking steadily with each completed model)

and 2: how little money it costs to get the kit and/or extras (the adverage 1/72 scale armor kit rarely goes over $10, and it's fairly cheep to get thin brass sheet and brass wire. After that, I just need to scratch-build tools and I'm on my way)

Unfortunately, it seems like there's a lot of German armor in 1/72. I'm O.K. with that. It just gives me more tanks to knock out of action

I usually go to my LHS for the bigger selection of paints, but I only go there like once a month because of the traffic is pretty bad every time I go. My LHS is a little less than 20 minutes away without traffic. With traffic its almost 40 minutes.

(Its almost like everyone in town gathers around that one little spot when I go to my LHS.)

You must be going to my hobby shop, because the same thing happens to me

 Well, acually, traffic is backed-up for miles around my LHS, because it's located next to the mall, the most crowded (and dangerous) place in the county.

Funny, I noticed an increase in Revell kits on my last trip. I have one very close to me, and no local LHS. I use the 40-50% coupons to get supplies, brushes, stuff like that. I think I have all teh revell kits they have that i want lol

~Railfan 233~ So your LHS has a lot of traffic in front of it too.

~JMart~ I wish I got 50% off coupons. The only time I get them is on a major holiday.

jetmodeler

~Railfan 233~ So your LHS has a lot of traffic in front of it too.

Yes, it's a living nightmare. My family has an unwritten rule that says that we will never go anywhere in that area during a holiday or Friday afternoon-Sunday (rarely is that unwritten rule broken)

I guess my point about Michaels is they don't carry any Dragon or Tamiya armor, which I mostly build. HL has been know to carry them, but I believe that they are harder to come by these days. Michaels just pretty much carries cars. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

~Railfan 233~ My family has an unwritten rule a little different from yours. If we go somewhere with traffic, we get there early to beat some of the traffic. Especially on Saturdays, and Sundays.

~tigerman~ Your almost like me. When I build armor, I usually build Dragon's kits.

It sounds like your traffic patterns are better where you are at, Jetmodeler. Where the LHS is for me, it's wall-to-wall traffic on weekends and holidays. During the week, I can't really go to the shop early, because they open at 8, so I'd have a good, long wait.

 (mabe that's the excuse I need to experiment with my new invention:the Brief-case workbench. Or, I could get some of the books on tape from Amazon or from the book store, and listen to those)

I  happened to meet a management store tour during lunch hour at my local Michaels.  I  mentioned this FSM forum thread on Michaels model kit selection as well as our interest in seeing a larger selection in that department. in part due to a decrease in LHS and the HL kit selection decrease.

The Midwest Manager I talked to stated he, as a former model builder,  was in favor of expanding the kit selection and was interested in ways to draw more male customers.

After listening to my suggestions regarding what to carry, the gentleman suggested that an effective method for convincing Michaels Corporate would be through  their Message Boards

http://forums.michaels.com/community/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm

I will be posting my own wants.

Please visit and post your requests.

Hopefully, corporate will see enough potential business to fulfill our needs.

I took a look in the Michaels forums, but I don't see an area where scale models fit in. What category does Michaels consider scale models to be in? Also, have you started a topic on it Sprue-ce Goose?

As soon as I find out, I'll jump in and voice my opinion on what type of models I want in my local Michaels

Railfan 233

I took a look in the Michaels forums, but I don't see an area where scale models fit in. What category does Michaels consider scale models to be in? Also, have you started a topic on it Sprue-ce Goose?

I haven't had time to compose a post as dinner, Motorweek and Tracks Ahead will be occupying my time till later this evening.

No section for scale models on the forum- presumably due to a majority female customers.

i will be posting in general after signing up for their website as a posting member.

O.K., I'm not meaning to rush you or anything. It was just something I was wondering about. I hope it will help in getting some more kits into Michaels (especially 1/72 scale armor, and some brass sheet. I got my first one from the hobby shop today [the trumpeter JagdTiger] and I'm hooked)

I wouldn't mind if they expanded the car selection to include some 30's cars, as well as Monogram's re-release of their Ford F-250 Superduty (I can turn it into a lot of different work trucks with scratchbuilding)

On the aircraft front, I would like to see more bombers (like the B-26, B-17, B-24, and others) as well as more jets.

[ Well, now that I'm thinking about it, mabe I should have saved it for the Michaels forum posting]

Just posted a preliminary request for more kits and variety under

More Plastic Model Kit Variety Request

http://forums.michaels.com/community/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=58339&#Post58339

To post on their website will, like FSM , require registering.

Any additional posts to the Michaels forum or on my thread on their forum will help show I'm not the only Plastic Model building customer.

PlasticModelBuilder ↓ Michaels, The Arts & Crafts Store » Forums » General Discussion » Michaels Project Discussions » More Plastic Model Kit Variety Request

Alright. You got the discussion up, Sprue-ce Goose. It's late at night right now, and it's about time for me to turn in for the night, but I'll sign up for the Michaels forum tomorrow, and I'll support you.

Here's to a good result from our campaign, and an increce in model kits in our local Michaels sores across the nation

Sounds like a very good idea. I might join and help you out. Does it cost anything to join?

It costs nothing to join, and takes only a minute or so of your time. We should already have a couple of dozen posts requesting that MICHAEL'S pump up their hobby department. So far we have only the OP's and mine.

Help EVERYONE out by posting your two cents over there people.

Thanks, MikeS.

I also posted a separate Do You Want More Kits at Michaels? Please Post

just in case folks bypass this thread without reading our most recent posts.

I just posted in the Michael's forum a few minutes ago. Hopefully we'll be heard.

I just posted my support/request.

Here's to a good turn-out in support from our fellow forum members

Railfan 233 (a.k.a.CSX railfan on Michaels forum)

Both Michaels in my area, Apple Valley and Burnsville, MN have been getting new stuff like the USS ARIZONA, MISSOURY etc. The 40% coupon is great, waiting for a week to use it sucks. I just Google Michales print coupons'' and viola! Print the coupon valid to be used instantly. I don't mind they only carry REVELL stuff, I'm pretty sure other lines like Tamiya, Academy etc wouldn't have enough profit for a 40 or 50% discount. What I really love to see at Michales is the Model Master line in both, ½ oz. and spray. They did recently introduced in my local stores the Lacquer line for cars for $1.00 more then the regular spray cans. Of course, with the coupon I pay 40 to 50% less than my local HT. So my vote would go to the Model Master Acryl series.

You can acually get these cupons in the Michaels E-newsletter. I've been doing that ever since Michaels discontinued their Sunday print ads in my area. The good thing is you can print out 7 cupons, and go once every week (You could go more often,  but I've never red all of the fine print. It could be possible that you can get enough cupons, and just go and get 1 item at a time, and get 40-50% off each item. I think...

El Taino

So my vote would go to the Model Master Acryl series.

Please post on the Michaels forum and let them know.

I feel kind of dumb because I don't know this. How do I register for the forums there?

jetmodeler

I feel kind of dumb because I don't know this. How do I register for the forums there?

Clicking  on this first  link takes you to registration

https://www.michaels.com/art/online/registrationForm

the second link below is the thread I started

http://forums.michaels.com/community/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=58339&#Post58339

Thanks Sprue-ce Goose. I just posted my comment.

I've been following this thread and I really need to get over to the Michael's web site and express my request for them to expand their model selection.  Thanks for getting the ball rolling.

On a secondary note-did I read that the new distributor for Hasegawa is the same company that owns Monogram/Revell or am I imagining it?  If so, then expanding and adding Hasegawa kits should be a little easier....or not....

bobbaily

On a secondary note-did I read that the new distributor for Hasegawa is the same company that owns Monogram/Revell or am I imagining it?

I'm not really sure if they are or not.

I might have to look that one up.