Where do you guys purchase your supplies if you don't live near a hobby shop?

[clovis]

i use to buy from Amazon but I notice for the prize of 1 car i gotten 3 on ebay. you be suprised. some are used but with everything in it, just a open box. i bought aot for under 11.00. ebay is the best way to go..

I totally agree. There are some killer deals to be found on ebay.

[my80malibu]

Whether its just down the street at the LHS, or if you are in a remote location on a Safari,Foriegn countries. How do you get outfitted with tools, plastic strip, Cars Truck, or Planes. Some of us in the U.S.A may have to travel, some people just mail order everything.

[disabled modeler]

I get some of my models from garage sales/antique malls/second hand stores....once in awhile Ill treat myself to a kit from our local hobby lobby if they have anything that is a good deal and interesting enough...tight budget like many of us here.

[slusher]

Hobby Lobby, model roundup .com and sometimes ebay.

[Speedfreak]

LHS, HL, ebay, order varies.

[cobraman]

Hobby Lobby, Hobby Bench, ebay.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Vintage kits and gluebombs, parts-lots from ebay usually.

Supplies and current kits from Hobbytown, HobbyLobby, etc. No more LHS close by.

Fillers, epoxies, some paints and primers from 1:1 sources

Edited December 1, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy

[rmvw guy]

I have enough already but, can't pass up 40% off at Hobby Lobby if they have anything new. I budjet $100 at two annual shows for as many kits, glue bombs, parts I can purchase. Trade with other modelers occationally and on a rare occation find one at a garage sale. I also have a couple of the girls looking for me at sales. Recieved a few as gifts and have purchased some at the local hobby store. I have done some trading with lhs owner for model trains and a bicycle. Now I need to quit talking about them and start building. lol

[Harry P.]

Kits: ebay.

Supplies/tools/plastic stock, some paint (Testors transparent Black Window Tint and metalizers, plus acrylic craft paint): Hobby Lobby and/or Hobbytown USA.

Most paints for bodies: Local home center (Menards) or auto parts store.

[martinfan5]

Kits, the internet, mainly Hobby Link Japan

Supplies(including paint), the internet, LHS/Hoby Lobby/Michaels

[Ramcharger]

Local Hobby Shop, Hobby Lobby, Swap Meets at shows, Ebay, Trades with Friends, in that order.

[kitbash1]

From my LHS, Wheel's & Wings. online places like Indycals, MS Hobbies, Model round up.

[robertw]

First off I live in a small town in the rural part of my province. We have a post office but only occasional courier service. I'm also confident that I'm the only modeller in the area (I feel like the Maytag man). I'm also over 100 miles from the nearest almost hobby shop and 150 miles from a real hobby shop. As a result I keep a huge stash of kits, paints, glues, decals in fact anything that I might think to ever need. I think I could model for over a year without making a purchase......but does that stop me from buying more stuff.....ya right!!

-Aftermarket & detail material come through mail order. I'll also occasionaly order unusual models through the internet like Hobby Link.

-All paint comes through LHS's since most paint can't be sent by mail here.( LHS as in 100 + miles away)

-I get into the city about once a month or month and a half except in winter when trips can be less frequent because of weather. When there I check out a fairly good LHS for new kits, stock up on paints etc that I'm running short of or might need soon. My LHS is independent and he's usually willing to order things I want if his supplier can get them.

-About two or three times a year I make a trip to the largest city in the province and check out their hobby shop but unfortunately their hobby shop is going down hill rapidly so those trips may be diminishing in the future.

-During the summer I travel a bit including trips to the US and my first check will be hobby shops & Hobby Lobby where I'm often able to find things that I can't buy here in Canada.

I can't get everything I want but certainly can find enough to keep me a happy modeller.

rob

[mustang1989]

I usually get all of my stuff from Squadron, Sprue Brothers and Hannants. Every now and then if I need something really quick like tools or airbrush supplies and limited paints I'll go ahead and hit Hobby Lobby up. It's a true shame that the LHS we had here in Corpus folded up right after I first moved here around 15 years ago. Bummer!

[Tom Geiger]

My kits come from swap meets and the dealers who sell new kits at shows. I can't remember the last time I paid retail for a kit at a hobby shop. I also buy things on eBay.

Supplies come from the local hobby shop, Michaels and auto paints from Pep Boys.

[ToyLvr]

After reading some of the other stories, I guess I'm really lucky.

I have two (2) LHS within a few miles of my home, as well as a new "Michael's". About 15 miles out, there's another LHS and a "Hobby Lobby". If I'm in the mood to drive a bit further, there's yet another Hobby Lobby and a Hobby Town USA. As a result, I can generally find anything I need at these stores. I try to coordinate my visits to these stores with various errands around town so that I don't waste gas on a special trip.

As an added bonus, a couple of the LHS also stock out-of-production and the occasional oldie kits, so I never know what I might find when I visit the store.

I don't buy much in the way of new kits, but when I do, I try to buy them only at Hobby Lobby or Michael's, where I can take advantage of their 40% discounts.

As others have mentioned, I try to save-up some $$$ for visits to annual Swap Meets hosted by local and regional model clubs. That's where I find most of the kits I'm seeking.

I realize that a lot of this stuff is available online, but I enjoy visiting the various shops around town and shooting the breeze with the shop owners and the people I meet there.

[lordairgtar]

I am lucky to live 18 miles from Milwaukee which has a couple of great hobby shops. Model Empire, which does have an online presence, and Greenfield News & Hobby. Plus a military model shop, Panther Models, which has some automobile kits and ordered my Opel Admiral for me. There are quite a few swaps during the year in our area and of course the Milwaukee NNL which has an event on the following day by another vendor group.

[PappyD340]

Kits: Hobby Lobby w/40% off coupon, LHS, which is only about 4 blocks from my home so most of the time I just stop in on my way home from work, Ebay, and swap meets

Tools: I like MicroMark, LHS

Paint and supplies: Walmart, LHS, Auto parts stores, Lowes

[LDO]

If the LHS has it, I get it there. It may cost a little more, but having a LHS is worth it. Not that I have money to burn, but after nearly 40 years of building models, I have lots of tools, supplies, and kits.

Anything old/out of production, I get from eBay.

[Tesla]

I Like Hobbylinc...great pricing and HUGE selection

[Dr. Cranky]

For me it seemed that the first year, the process of gathering was out of control. Tools, kits, supplies, and then you start organizing and you slow down over time. If you check out MICRO MARK, you will find every specialized tool you would ever need. For kits, I get mind from MODEL ROUND UP in Atlanta. They have a great variety for excellent prices. The other supplies you can easily find at your LHS but also your hardware store, etc . . .

[Chris White]

LHS, ebay, and this inter web thing. VCG Resins for example

[James2]

I have several black market connection I could never revile, for fear of death!

[Deathgoblin]

Models: Ebay, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, other places online like Jimnohio

Supplies: Hobby Lobby typically. The local center that has our local Hobby Lobby has an auto parts store on the other end, so I duck in there to get paint and primer. Also LHS if I need something specific.

[Art Anderson]

I get kits and supplies wherever I find them.

Art