I’m being transferred to Rome. Does anyone know how I can get supplies, kits, equipment, etc. from European sources? Or will I be stuck with using US suppliers and paying high shipping costs?
Hi,
I don’t know this first hand, but from what I gather there are hobby shops there - but not as many or specialized. Don’t forget, there is a large European contingent of MRs - especially in Germany.
Of course if you are looking for American kits/cars/locos, the transportation will be built into the cost.
As mobilman mentioned, if you are buying stuff from the US market in Europe, there will be shipping costs built in, whether you order the stuff from a US supplier or a local shop. Just like here in the US, you will need to locate shops in the area you are living - Rome being a big city should have hobby shops so you should get out the phone book and find one that carries US prototype products.
If you can find any US prototype clubs, contact them too.
A valuable resource for such “foreign line” explorations is Google’s translate feature. It works pretty well and let’s you read web pages in various languages.
There are a number of European modellers of North American prototypes. Some are in the UK, where language is usually not a barrier – although it can be[;)]
There’s also a large contingent of Germans who model US prototype, plus smaller numbers elsewhere. American model railroading supplies can be found, but will often be more expensive than in the US.
If you’re affiliated with the US government, military or civilian, then ordering supplies from back home is often simpler and cheaper. I was an AF brat in Germany back in the early 70s and always managed to find a way to spend what little budget I had. Shipping should be much faster these days!
Speaking of that, just being in Europe will likely open up your range of interests. I never became a European modeller, but do appreciate the neat work that European modellers do. And there are materials and techniques you can pick up and apply to US prototype modelling.
The best thing about living in Europe is that you have the option of taking the train almost everywhere.
The best thing about living in Europe is that you have the option of taking the train almost everywhere.
If you get a chance, take the train over Gotthard Pass to Lucerne, Switzerland before the new tunnel opens. It’s one of the most spectacular rail journeys you’ll ever take.
Andre
Andre,
Very true! We put our station wagon and tent trailer on a flat car and rode through the St. Gotthard Tunnel on our way back to Germany from Italy in 1972.
An extensive trip to Switzerland to ride the narrowgauge mountain lines is on my bucket list.
Some places for trains in Rome.
Giorni Modellismo - via dei Gracchi 31-33 - tel. 06 - 32 17 145
http://www.giornimodellismo.biz/catalogo/ferroviario
M5 Modellismo s.r.l. - via Gela 35/37 - tel. 06 - 70 16 977
Model Market - via Goito 13/15 (Stazione Termini) - tel. 06 - 49 40 564 (note: Stazione Termini is Rome’s main railway station) shop is a few blocks away.
Lokshop.it - Via Casilina 202 - 00176 Roma Tel: 393.73.05.770
Andre
I was in a train store in Calgary and 3 Germans came in, they each bought about $3,000 worth of train stuff, cars, locos, track etc, I asked them if they could buy North American railway supplies in Germany, they replied yes, but the $3,000 they spent in Canada would be over $10,000 in Germany, this was also their 3rd trip to Canada (Business with pleasure eh?)
I would assume it would be far cheaper to have equipment sent to you rather than purchase it in Europe, remember, it’s not 1965 anymore when the U.S. $ was @ 5 times as much in Europe.
Model railroading is a fairly wide-spread hobby in Europe, but modeling US or Canadian prototype isn´t. There are only very few sources, who also carry a very limited line of supplies.
I have been doing business with the following two mail order shops in Germany:
Rd-Hobby and
Rd-Hobby seems to be the best source available; you can also communicate in English with them.
In general, prices are much higher than in the US. This is mainly due to import duty and VAT to be added to the price. If you order directly in the US, please remember that you will have to pay 10% duty plus 19% VAT on top of all, including shipping cost. Unless you get a real bargain, it does not pay to buy directly in the US.
Welcome to Europe, myself being up North, in West Sweden.
While I generally agree that American stuff is more expensive here than in the US, I still think it’s cheaper than the European makers’. Think, that is, as I’m too much into your kind of trains to bother to compare. Our trains in Europe has their charm, but personally I fancy yours more. Anyway …
There are also British resellers, e.g. http://www.ehattons.com/ selling American train.
Within EU there is only the shipping cost, and the sales tax of the selling country, which should be included in their pricing (the UK being lower than Swedish).
I’ve got shipments from the US twice, sent to my job, say 1-2 cubic feet, sent internally in the company, or by a supplier of ours without any extra customs charges, so if you can have your stuff sent to a US address, and then from there as a “gift” … you might get away cheaper. Yes, I bought too much at the LHS to carry home [oops].
By the way, most European dwellings are much smaller or tighter than the average American house, so you might not have space for so much.
And of course, when you are here, take the chance to make as many trips in Europe as you can. Of course I recommend Sweden, but anywhere could be interesting. Send me a PM if you want any tips on Sweden.