How far to your model shop??

Isn't it strange how many of you work so close to a model shop ??? spooky or what. Could it have something to do with being able to buy outrageously expensive kits without the little lady knowing what you did at lunchtime.!!!!!!!

I have 3 hobby shops within 15 min of home, neither of them really carry a good range of products that I am interested in. I usually have to travel to a shop that is 30 mins away to get what I want.

Hi DJ-MODELS. I used to live in Colindale. Hannants is great isn't it. Plus you have your reference material just five minutes away at the RAF museum.What more could you ask. Have you tried the old BEATTIES in HOLBORN. They have been taken over now and have a huge range of kits. My first port of call when I get back to London.

about 15-30 depending on whether the bus will stuck on traffic or not!!!then 5 min walking....5-6 shops on the same street dubbed the plastic valley....One shop down last month though.....

I'm extremely blessed. I have five model stores all within 20 minutes drive from my home. Two (Granddad's and Piper's in northern Virginia) have yet to let me down. Every time I needed something, they either had it or could get it faster than mail order and without shipping costs. I feel for the rest of you guys. There is something about a 40 foot wall covered with aircraft kits that you simply cannot experience with mail order. and that doesn't include the armor and ship walls. Support your local hobby dealer before there are none.[:0]

The two hobby/model shops (same owner) here in Riyadh are closing down soon. Forget mail order here 'cos only about 1 in 3 packages make it through. So soon my Local hobby shop will be just over 3000 miles away in Lincoln, England. A bit too far to pop into at lunchtime! Luckily I'm home three times a year, & I fly out tonight for five weeks, hopefully I'll remember everything I need to bring back!
I doubt I'll have time to log on at home, So I'll get back with you all at the end of November.
Cheers
Pete

stoopidfish,

Where do you live? I grew up in Memphis, in the Frayser area. Got out of there in 1984 when I joined the USMC. I can't say that I miss it much.

Anyway, here in Indy, we have a hobby shop (not counting Hobby Lobby) at each of the compass points, with two in the southern quadrant. The closest one is about 18 miles from my house (I live on the NW side of Indy). There's one on the east side, called Big Boy Hobbies, that has the cheapest prices locally, and is competitive with the Internet companies. He's usually a few dollars below retail. We have two HobbyTown USA's also.

Count me as one of the lucky ones - I have two excellent ones, each exactly a mile and a half from
my house (in opposite directions). I try to support them both equally, but one does have an edge
over the other - they carry more ships and sci-fi.

My favorite model shop is Phillip's in Nashville 55miles/ 1 hour away. They have a nice selection and if you want to LOOK at the kit they'll let you LOOK. I've bought several that I might have missed out on without seeing the kit. They'll special order and the staff is very helpful.
Fuzzy

Let's see:
1. Hungate's--in the mall. About 15 minutes. Terribly overpriced and fair to good selection.
2. Hobbytown. About 30 minutes depending on traffic. Fair selection. Overpriced.
3. Denbigh Hobbies--About 45 mins.-1 hour. Good selection. Overpriced.

And then there's No. 4:
4. The Internet--Seconds away. Fantastic selection. Superb pricing--even with shipping. Worth it in terms of just gas and time.

Gip Winecoff

click...click....tap...tap...chick....enter!

Thats about as far as I have to go!

Kenneth

Where I live, what hobby shops? There are none, and Hobby lobby doesn't really qualify, aside from the every few month cheap kit thing. I rely on the internet, until I can get up the money to pay for gas to find one 70-100 miles away.
The last kit I bought I had to travel over an hour one-way just to pick it up.

demono69

A ten mile, half-hour drive through Los Angeles traffic. It's got quite a few model kits, also a lot of RC stuff, but I usually find what I need there. It is inconvenient when the Model Master gloss black dries in the bottle and you have to fight the traffic around here! If I'm in the Pasadena area, there's a model train shop I'll go to for unusual parts and things that can be adapted to what I'm building. Another great hobby shop is unfortunately for me, over in Tempe, Arizona (near Phoenix), so whenever I go to Arizona, I usually at least drop by. They've got a lot of everything--static models, aftermarket parts, train stuff, RC stuff. . .

When I'm home the hobby shop is about 9 miles away but it was only about three blocks from school. Walmart is a 30min drive and I usually already have the planes they get in. and no offense but I hate cars (between chronic motion sickness and the fact I once ran into a car headfirst t-boned while it was moving i really have issues)
On campus two blocks to a gaming place that has some good stuff, five more to a place with a decent selection and a ten minute ride to hobby lobby
I visited a strictly plastic shop for the first time while in Mons, belguim. I'm going back there when I die cause thats heaven!!!!!!! Armor, figures, ships, planes each had there own alcove if not room.
and there is always model expo by mail

I have a well stocked hobby shop 3/4 mile from where I live and there are a few more in town but they are far away. Lucky me.
Borislav

I have a hobby store about 10 houses down, turn the corner, past the gas station and I'm right there. It's primary business is trains, but they have a decent selection of plastic kits and supplies. But no gaming stuff. For that, I have a HobbyTown which is about 20 min. away.

There are things which I need or want which neither carry and then, it's a matter of a click of a button and a couple days and it's here. Or a bit longer if it's eBay -- auction ends, payment, shipping time.

Previously I really have no idea since I'm new to this place. But I didn't give up trying to find a good one & I did. It's about 10 min. drive from the house & I just recently checked it out. It was fabulous! I mean the place got the inventory to almost everything I need... now if I could just find the money I need to buy those stuff.

QUOTE: Originally posted by alex amarra now if I could just find the money I need to buy those stuff.

You and me both.

I've been looking for that fabled money tree, but have yet to find it.

OK guys I think I got most of you beat here!
I grew up near Cleveland, and there were (are) dozens of hobby stores in that area, as well as several IPMS chapters. Recently, however, I moved to New Hampshire. For those of you not familiar with northern New England, here are a few facts: Modeling is not a big hobby up here. As far as I can tell, the biggest hobbies are hunting, fishing (year-round, I might add), getting drunk and running into trees with snowmobiles during the winter, and getting drunk and running into trees with ATVs during the summer. There is a hobby store nearby, which is mostly dedicated to trains and dollhouses; it's also an art supply store. The owner's idea of model stock is to keep about 10 or 12 armor kits, most of which were released 15 years ago, which when he sells one he replaces with the same kit, and about 200 snap-together airplane and car kits.
Another fact up here is you measure distance in terms of hours. There are some great hobby stores around, but you have to drive a bit to get to them. Mike's in Rutland VT is 2 hours away; HobbyTown USA is in Plaistow NH, 2 1/2 hours away; there are two in Keene NH, 1 1/2 hours away; one large shop in Manchester NH dedicated to trains and airplanes (Honest! The only plastics he sells are airplanes!), 2 hours away; three shops in Burlington VT at 3 1/2 hours away...... well, you get the idea. Needless to say I get a LOT of my stuff from the Internet. Boston is fairly close by (3 1/2 hours), so someday soon, before the snow flies, I plan an all-day foray into the Big City to explore their model shops.

20 minutes walk from the office or about 13 mins drive (and about the same looking for a car park) from home. As 43rd is the main scale I work in I have to get those kits from mail order - mainly England or Japan and that generally takes about 7 days airmail. The postage costs from the US/Canada are too high so little comes from that source.

There is a chance that a twisted minded owner of a book-toy store will bring a revell and hasegawas series....Why I say that....The shop is JUST across the road from where i live......OH the temptetation....lol

I am very lucky. There is one thats a 15 minute walk, another is a 10 minute drive and yet another a 25 minute drive.

Not counting the mailbox, my favorite is 168 miles away. I hit them every time I go to the VA hosp for my appointments. The day before I hit the bank to ensure the wallet is adequate, then I make sure the wish list is in order. We have nothing closer in NE Mi that compares to this shop in Saginaw.

I have a small shop about 20 minutes away, but they are more geared toward trains. If I want a kit or paints / supplies and I don't order them online, the closest is about 40 minutes away.

there are 5 to choose from but they are all 35 miles from my location

My nearest shop is a hobbytown about 30 min away, but I must have got a dud. it would be perfect for me if I was into R/C, there is only a couple little shelfs of plastic kits. It is fine for buying paint but I have a larger selection of kits at the meijer down the street. i now order all my kits from over the net, it may cost more sometimes but it is a whole lot easier. I can always get what I want.

Brad

The closest I have to travel is about 1 miles from home and the furthest I go is about 13 miles. But there are 7 hobby shops in between. I can usually find what I'm looking for at any of them, but if not I mail order.

I live about 4 miles from a very good hobby shop, but I still buy most stuff online.
Unlimited selection and I can price shop.

How close to a HS for me. ARe we talking or taking a train:

Walking:
1.) 50m
2.) 200m
3.) 300m
4.) 350m
The two closest ones are the best stocked ones with the best selection.

Via Train\Bus anything from 5min~50 min and that includes about 50 shops, but there are more I haven't visited yet.

I have A Hobbytown USA about a hour from the house I go at least two or three times a month also to some online shopping too.