Category: Hobby Shops
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Do You Budget?

No, that wasn’t a typo. And yes, I know I’m writing to scale modellers. But do you? Is your hobby under control? Can you say that it does not take the bread out of your children’s mouths? Or out of your own? Or does the bank have a jug of red ink with your name…
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What Would I Do With An Inventory Of Russian Products Right Now?

If I was a retailer with shelves full of Russian products right now, I would be worried. There is a war on in Europe between Russia and Ukraine and both sides are killing each other daily. People in the rest of the world are taking sides ( And isn’t it interesting which countries have decided…
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Well, It’s Not Gonna Buy Itself, Now Is It?

If you have any money, or a birthday coming up, or know where the household emergency cash is kept, you’re ready for a hobby shopping trip. But like every worthwhile and/or criminal activity, there are rules, and you’ll need to learn them. a. Do not shop on an empty stomach. When you try to concentrate…
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Lockdown Modelling

Put aside your politics, folks. I’m concerned with the practicalities of scale modelling when they call a lockdown in your area. If you’re at home to stay for a period of time, your best friends are not the TV or the cocktail cabinet. They are your library and your modelling stash. And possibly your computer,…
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Not Every Kit Is For Every Body

And some kits are for no-body at all. The choice you make of a kit to build is affected by many factors; type, era, maker, price, availability, and box art. The last-named may seem like a stranger to the list, but it frequently is the most powerful impetus to buy. Unfortunately it can also be…
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Your New Year’s Modelling Resolution

You may be feeling a bit queasy this morning after the New Year’s Eve just gone, but that doesn’t excuse you from your duty as a scale modeller to make a number of New Years Resolutions. Here is a list from which you may choose: a. You can resolve to complete the kits that are…
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Douglas RB-66B – Part One – The Shelf Queen

Some kits fly out the door of the hobby shop as soon as they arrive. Some stay until the sales. Some stay until the owner dies and the executors hacksaw the door open. The reasons for this can be many – the kit is horrible – the kit is so obscure than no living being…
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How To Make A Small Fortune At The Big Local Model Exhibition

Start with a large fortune and go there to sell model goods. Well, you knew that punchline was coming when you started reading. You should have stopped then. Too late, you have to finish reading this article now. Going to the Big Local Model Exhibition at Cannington Central with goods to sell is a sure-fire…
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RCAF Privateer – Part Two – Rebox Heaven

I don’t really understand the actual process of re-boxing kits. Whether they are pre-made kits that are packaged up or whether they are re-moulded sprue trees taken from old moulds is still unclear. I think we might be seeing both processes in action sometimes. In any case, I am delighted to report that it works.…
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RCAF Privateer – Part One – Hello, Old Friend

The last time I saw you, you were in three colours in a Matchbox kit. Scalemates says that you have been sold to Revell and reboxed. It also said that you were originally fitted out with alternate nose and tail sections to make an RCAF transport aircraft. Is it possible that you still have those…
