Category: Hobby Shops
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Selective Ordering

A recent Youtube post by a Canadian hobby shop owner pointed out the selective nature of the current tariff brouhaha. He gets supplies in from US distributors and recently had a shipment stopped by Canadian Customs, with a 25% tariff fee slapped on it. When he was notified of this he took his ordering invoices…
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If A Model Is Priced Out Of Your Range

Quietly ask yourself a few questions: a. Is it beyond saving for? You may have some some change each week that can be put toward the kit, and many sellers will lay something buy on steady payments. b. Is it the only possible model of this prototype? Granted, you’ll not find many kits of Fandiddler…
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Fairchild Argus – Part One – Model 24

The box says Provider and the decals say Czechoslovakia, but I say Argus and RCAF. This AZ model started life on the Hobbytech shelf at $ 44.99 and stayed put. Then it went to WASMex 2024 at $ 20.00 and stayed put. When it came back to Hobbytech it still wore the show price sticker,…
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The Rises And The Falls

Someone mentioned a long-time model making firm was closing. Sad, but then lots of long-time firms have gone ( Aurora, Frog, Pyro, etc. ) and we are still building models every week. For the most part, the models we build are better than before. The closing of one firm means we turn to the opening…
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It Might Do What It Says On The Tin

But what if you can’t read the blasted tin? The hobby item packaged with a language you cannot understand is no better than the kit with no instructions. You may have a faint inkling about the dilution, application, drying time, or characteristics of a paint or varnish, but that might not be enough. The maker…
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Kit-O-Plasm

The spirit of dead models made to rise again. Let’s all sit in the dark, hold hands, and ask the ghosts of 1950’s kits to hover round us. Or we can go on eBay and do some exorcism. Or just go round the hobby shop and see what Revell have re-boxed. I’m waiting for the…
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The Kit You Aways Wanted

To throw out the window. You saved for it, lusted for it, and finally got it. Now you are going to suffer for it. No pain, no gain, so look forward to the next three weeks as a period of unrelieved progress… First thing- are all the sprue trees there? If not, you can take…
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Pick On Someone Your Own Size!

And your own scale! Do you have models in your collection that are all different sizes? I do. Are they all different scales? Generally, no. This may not be a problem for you if you are a widespread modeller. But if you want a consistent collection that can tie together, you need to discipline yourself.…
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Petlyakov Pe-8 – Part One – Metro’s Bargains

Metro Models In Melbourne have a sale every now and again – chiefly the models that have sat in dusty neglect on their shelves. I take advantage, as I am also dusty and sit on a shelf much of the time… In this case the original price was some $ 60 and they applied a…
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Getting Away With It

Note: I did not write ” cleanly ” at the end there. There are always consequences. A friend has speculated that a mathematical formula should be worked out to tell our spouses how much the new kit has cost. I applaud a scientific mind and sense of honesty and will mention it in his eulogy.…
