WOW-I gotta get out more!

[fryer1979]

Awesome stuff in here. I've been a member since the beginning of the year, and with a few small exceptions here and there most of my time on the forums is spent on the 60-66 section. I just got bored and started looking around the site, and found this section today. I thought me and a buddy of mine were the only ones left building the plastic model kits, turns out there are quite a few very talented people right here on this board. Now I'm even more hooked on this site (oh the wife is gonna love this ). I have been building 1/24 and 1/25 scale cars and trucks since I was back in the single digits. I used to sit and watch my dad build airplanes, but never had the fascination with flight like he did, so when I was old enough I started building cars. I guess you could say my obsession for building real cars came from building plastic models (which I'm sure is quite common here). I've never taken any picture of the cars and trucks I've built so I have none to share at the moment. But when I get a chance I'll try to take a few and post them up.

Got a question for you guys; where is a good online source to get supplies and even kits? There is nothing left in town (not even Walmart carries model stuff anymore), and even the places in Reno Nv. are getting pretty sparce. I can find the basic paints and tools, but the hobby shops I was used to growing up had all kinds of extra stuff you could buy for scaled models: photo etched distributors, wheel and tire packages, engine packages, and even just plain plastic stock for scratch building. I just can't find this stuff anywhere any more. Anyone have a good source?

[markeb01]

Here are my suggestions lifted from an earlier post:

Real hobby shops are far and few between these days, generally don’t last long, and by necessity have to charge so much for their limited selection of kits as to make them not affordable. When I was a kid hobby shops were like the ultimate toy store, but today there are too many other distractions for a real brick and mortar store to remain profitable.

There are a few internet hobby shops that cater to the vintage model crowd, but even some of these have gone away over the last few years with economics being what they are.

Here are a few online places to check into for ideas of what is available or to purchase:

http://www.spotlighthobbies.com/

http://www.fantastic-plastics.com/

http://www.hobbylinc.com/prods/s_amt.htm

http://www.bobspromotionalcars.com/ (mostly preassembled promotional models)

You’ll almost have to embrace eBay at some point. There is no other source that has so much to pick from at prices that are set by market demand, instead of a collector’s opinion that his stuff is worth a fortune.

Older stationary stores and some art supply stores like Michaels use to carry models, along with small town drug stores and dime stores. Most are now gone or have very limited kits frequently priced well beyond reality. Once in a while you can find a bargain if you develop a passion for the hunt. You might also want to take a look at this site. They also have an excellent forum to pick up ideas:

http://cs.scaleautomag.com/scacs/forums/

[fryer1979]

Thanks Mark, there is some good info there. My buddy has a really good hobby store in his home town of San Jose, but that is a 6 hour drive for me. They are just getting their website up and running this year (and I thought I was behind the times), so all it really has is contact info, directions, pictures, and briefly tells about inventory. The couple of Michaels stores in Reno still sell the current kits, and a slight selection of testors brand paints and supplies. Prices are ok, and I have been able to get the things I need to put basic models together out of the box, but they don't have much for custom and fab work. There is one decent hobby shop there, but they cater mostly to the model train and RC airplane crowds. They still have a good ammount of useful stuff (and prices are fair there too), but last time I was in they were talking about closing down soon. Sad to see so much of a decline in interest in this hobby. It is something I have always enjoyed and hoped to one day pass on to my kids. Hopefully it gets to a point where the supply meets the demand and stops so we can continue, rather than just disappearing all together.

[markeb01]

Another one I forgot to mention is Micromark. Not so much for models, but for hobby tools and supplies.

http://www.micromark.com/

One of the items I have found particularly helpful is their panel scriber:

http://www.micromark.com/PANEL-SCRIB...DELS,7194.html

When changing a 2 door into a 4 door (or the other way around) I've never found anything better for creating new door seams. Just apply the old style Dymo label tape to the panel, and scribe with the tool.

[fryer1979]

Awesome Mark, thank you. I've been needing some good sources to help me take my scaled replicas to the next level. So cool to see so many fellow truckers involved in this little distraction/hobby.