Best Hobby Shops on the Web

[bigB]

Just placed my second order with Jim's Model Trains. Very easy to use website, accept paypal as well as cc's, inexpensive $4.95 shipping. Great for DCC, specialty circuit boards, and signals.

[Chugger]

I played hookie from work today and made a trip down to the retail store for ModelTrainStuff.com .,The retail store is called M.B. Klein and is just outside of Baltimore on the western side. There is nothing like personal service. I was on the fence between then Power Cab and the Zephyr. The nuances between the two were laid out for me by Fred at M.B. Klein. The drive alone was worth the advice and the filling of the knowledge gaps. These guys have earned my business... I'll post info about my system choice in another thread regarding my dcc decision process…

I stopped by the B&O museum on the way home. The round house is an incredibly impressive structure. Neat place. It is a new structure, but it would not be hard to imagine it as a greasy, noisy, smelly shop where real tough guys kept the loco’s going.


The civil War era trains were very interesting. They have vintage stuff that goes back to the early 1800’s, literally a stage coach with a truck under it!

[bigB]

Went to G&G Hobbies in Houston today as I wait out Hurricane Sandy's aftermath.

A very nice store and a decent website! Good mix of N/HO/O Scales and scenery products at competitive prices. They also have an impressive amount of new Athearn Bluebox locomotives and cars. Also good selection of paints. Most importantly, the staff is very friendly and helpful. I can verify that virtually every piece of their in stock rolling stock is on their website. The staff clearly worked very hard on it. Very organized store. I was impressed.

From now til Christmas, they have a special promotion where they provide free shipping for orders over $35. Free USPS 1st class under 20 oz, then free priority shipping over that weight or bulky items. Also for the remainder of October, they are giving 10% of internet sales to Breast Cancer/ACS.

Check it out...www.gandgmodelshop.com

[gregamer]

I'm really starting to like using eBay. You know the inventory, you know the reputation, and you know what the whole price will be. It seems like quite a few eBay stores now offer free shipping too.

[modeltrainguy]

Originally Posted by gregamer

I'm really starting to like using eBay. You know the inventory, you know the reputation, and you know what the whole price will be. It seems like quite a few eBay stores now offer free shipping too.

Definitely the first place I look when I'm shopping for hard to find parts, vintage trains, and discontinued model railroad cars. I'm not saying you'll get the best price on everything, but the selection definitely wins in my book. Plus I love to bid

[modeltrainguy]

Originally Posted by gregamer

I'm really starting to like using eBay. You know the inventory, you know the reputation, and you know what the whole price will be. It seems like quite a few eBay stores now offer free shipping too.

Definitely the first place I look when I'm shopping for hard to find parts, vintage trains, and discontinued model railroad cars. I'm not saying you'll get the best price on everything, but the selection definitely wins in my book. Plus I love to bid

[tootnkumin]

I'd like to give a "plug" for Tom&Phil Edwards of

JR Junction Train & Hobby
2176 Erie Boulevard East
Syracuse, NY 13224-1246
www.jrjunction.com

Their service to me in supplying 4 MTH 60' wood deck flat cars was exceptional.
1: considering the relatively small size of the order
2: that it was to be posted to the other side of the world
3: the excellent packaging to protect the items
4: the fact that my business was obviously as important to them as someone that lived next door.
I highly recommend them to the members of the forum.

[Monegeetta]

Don't visit the website of Model Train Stuff, it's cost me a fortune over the last 18 months. My last order (5th one) only took 7 days from placement of order to when I got it in my hot old hands. All my orders have only taken between 7 and 10 days which is great from US to Australia by USPS.

I find them and Fifer to be very good and reliable to deal with and with great websites.

[tootnkumin]

Originally Posted by Monegeetta

Don't visit the website of Model Train Stuff, it's cost me a fortune over the last 18 months. My last order (5th one) only took 7 days from placement of order to when I got it in my hot old hands. All my orders have only taken between 7 and 10 days which is great from US to Australia by USPS.

I find them and Fifer to be very good and reliable to deal with and with great websites.

Where are you in Aus, mate? Always seems to take another 4 days to get to me after tracking says it's arrived in Sydney.

[Fifer]

Originally Posted by Monegeetta

Don't visit the website of Model Train Stuff, it's cost me a fortune over the last 18 months. My last order (5th one) only took 7 days from placement of order to when I got it in my hot old hands. All my orders have only taken between 7 and 10 days which is great from US to Australia by USPS.

I find them and Fifer to be very good and reliable to deal with and with great websites.

Thanks so much.

Mike