Hi everyone I’m looking to start working on the rail road modeling hobby, the thing is that there are not places to buy things here in Puerto Rico so I will have to rely on the internet and on you guys. Which are good and reliable sites to buy from? Thanks every one!!!
HI, gustavoadolfo. Two high-priced but completely reliable places would be Woodland Scenics and Walthers. They have excellent products, but you can expect to pay quite a bit more than you would from etailers such as internethobbies.com, modeltrainstuff.com, trainworld.com, traintrack.net, toytrainheaven.com, discounttrainsonline.com, caboose hobbies, Cherry Creek Hobbies, who will sell much of the same lines, but for quite a bit less. They also have sales, although so do the first places I mentioned. I have had good results also with valleymodeltrains, wonderful prices as service from Broadway Limited Imports Factory Outlet (see BLI’s website and then find the link to Factory Outlet on their masthead…it is a site to get refurbished and refused items). Factory Direct Trains has won acclaim here in recent months for offering BLI and Precision Craft Model locomotives for as much as 60% off the suggested retail price.
That should give you a couple of evenings worth of surfing? Good luck. This hobby gets very expensive for those who have to have something new come to their door every other week.
For HO scale, and only HO scale, Cherry Creek Hobbies in Torrington, Wyoming, is very good.
Avoid internettrains.com at all costs. They have a professional looking website, but Ithey charged my card back in august and I haven’t gotten a thing yet!
I’ve called them several times and they said they are sending it “next week”. But next week comes and still don’t have anything.
Caboose Hobbies in denver seems to be the most trustworthy!
I know a few for N scale, are you N or HO?
EDIT: just replacing a deleted post.
For scenic items it is hard to go past scenic express good range good stock levels and excellent service. I suggest you get their free catalog.
Here’s a few of my favorites:
Empire Northern Models - http://www.empirenorthernmodels.com
Tony’s Train Exchange - http://www.tonystrains.com
Litchfield Station - http://litchfieldstation.com/lobby/index.htm
Trainworld.com - http://www.trainworld.com
M.B. Klein - http://www.modeltrainstuff.com
The first three are very good sources for DCC items and information. The last two have some terrific deals on locomotives.
Tom
Welcome Aboard!
I’ve been in the hobby since 1955 and have bought a lot of stuff over the years. Typically, the major advertisers in Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsmen are very reliable. One that I have used with great success is “Toy Train Heaven” - www.toytrainheaven.com, who is a discounter. Of course if you don’t mind paying retail, Walthers just can’t be beat.
I don’t know how far along you are in the process, but I strongly urge you to get a couple of the basic primers for your scale as offered by Kalmbach publishing. They are a life saver and will keep you from going down too many rabbit trails …
By the way, I have no affiliation with any of the above!
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
I forgot to mention I’ll be using HO, and I just learned never ever to use parcel post, its been a month and a half and still waiting. Thank you everyone, got some homework to do.
Hi there, I’m in New Zealand, and have had no problems trading with Standard Hobby Supply for on line shopping. As already stated, there are merits with dealing from Advertisers in M.R, with the usual cautions. Delivery time can become extended due to connection details, but all items ordered have arrived secure and well packed. Certainly well priced even when freight is taken into consideration against NZ hobby shop prices. Happy R.R ing.
Paul.