I am going to be in LA attending a race at Irwindale Speedway in a couple weeks and will have some time to kill for one day and wanted to visit a good hobby shop. I am specifically looking for one that might still carry HO MDC/Roundhouse kits. Irwindale is at the 210 and 605 freeway junction.
I would prefer not to go all the way to Orange County but will if I have to.
Thanks.
Mike in Tulsa
BNSF Cherokee Sub
The closest hobby shops to Irwindale would be:
Temple City Trains and Toys
9087 Las Tunas Drive, Temple City
626.614.8094
http://www.nu-linestructures.com/newsMain.htm
The Original Whistle Stop
2490 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena
(626) 796-7791
www.thewhistlestop.com
Temple City is the newest shop in town and is owned by the same folks who own Nu-Line Structures. They also discount everything 10-20%. Since they’re new they don’t have a whole lot of inventory but are worth checking out anyway. They’re only about 10 minutes from Irwindale. Just head due west on Live Oak and continue west on Las Tunas. The Highland Pacific MRR club runs an impressive layout just a mile or two from there. Bill, the owner of TCT&T, is a real cool guy. Tell him Elson recommended you from the MR forums.
The Whistle Stop is one of the classic SoCal train stores. Great inventory with wall to wall trains and accessories, worth a visit. Prices are MSRP but you would be able to find a lot of MDC kits here.
Both stores are about 15-20 minutes from each other.
If you’re really looking for those Roundhouse kits, might I recommend The Roundhouse (no affiliation with the manufacturer) in North Hollywood. They’ve been there for years, the store hasn’t changed very much since the '80s. They have a bunch of MDC kits, I know that for sure. It’s a bit west of Irwindale but still much closer than Orange County. They’re on 12804 Victory Blvd at Coldwater Canyon. And since you’re in that
[#ditto] If one is going to start back up in the hobby, LA area is a good place to do it. Been to all of the above except Temple. (will make that my weekend trip [:)] ) Just to mention another:
Allied Model Trains
4411 Sepulveda Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90230
Bit pricy, but I will only let one guy handle my big steam DCC installs and he works there. Large store, not quite as big as Caboose in Denver.
I hit T.O.W.S. most offen as it’s rater close. IF your going to be in town on a Tuesday and have the night off, you might want to check out the local clubs. NO, not the bars - the train clubs! Some big’ens are around.
Hey Loco! (as in locomotive or crazy? :))
Temple City Trains just opened in October. I found out about them by luck from a posting on the N scale Yahoo group. They’re only open Wed-Sun though. And they just had their official grand opening in mid-November, so they’re that new. They also sell blue foam if anyone needs it. Some of the guys from Highland Pacific club drop by and hang out. In addition to N, HO, O and G, Bill from Temple City also sells some toys and Thomas stuff…he believes that’s important as it gets the little kids interested in trains.
They aren’t listed in MR yet because they didn’t make the advertising deadlines. But you’ll see them listed soon enough.
That would be a “Yes” LOL.
Always up for a new hobby shop to check out! And BTW, if you want foam, check out ‘Foam Sales’ in Burbank.
http://www.foamsalesmarketing.com
They sell a 1" x 24" x 96" blue foam for $14.45. While a 4" x 24" x 96" tops out at $57.70. They have the 1.5", 2", and 3" of course. The TR & VR foil backed foam (polyisocyanurate) is much more ridged - starts out at 1" x 48" x 96" for $18.95 and goes up to 4" for $57.90. Oh, in case your looking on the web page, they don’t post the price, had to drive there and talk with the helpful dude at the counter who hand-wrote me a full list AND gave me samples to try)
Not sure if they are the least expensive, but they always have it on hand and MORE than any of us would ever need combined. I’ve not checked into the shipping details as I just drive my truck over and back up! Heck, even if they were a bit more pricy, their cool and seem rather interested about what the heck I’m doing LOL. And it’s not like I’m buying a simi load for some huge movie set.
Yeah I bought my foam from them too. The 2" was really expensive, so I settled on two 1" boards and put them on plywood (I’m building my first N scale layout at the moment). I did some research and they actually are the cheapest in town with regard to foam. There’s a place in Garden Grove that sells insulation supplies but their prices are a few cents higher.
If you just want foam for mountains, hills, etc and plan to cover them with hardshell anyway, a lot of Home Depots locally sell white styrofoam (which isn’t good as a base but good for anything else) for real cheap…You can also use the
I was so there with you until the other day when I saw Pelle Søeborg use the blue foam “side ways” instead of “pan-cake” style. I really liked how the contours came out. Did you happen to look at the foil backed poly? It’s very strong… course ya got to take at least ONE side of the foil off. LOL Wouldn’t THAT be interesting when you combine a bit of AC/DC
Thanks guys, I will be coming from LAX so I can hit them on my way to the track.
Mike in Tulsa
Yeah but blue foam ain’t cheap around here. Otherwise I’d be using more of it!
N727AA, I was going to ask ya if you where coming in via LAX before I got off on a ‘blue’ tangent… Allied is just north of LAX, off the 405. Use the map quest thing. Worth a stop and see. They got a heck of a Xmas set up.
One tip, if you happen to be into G at all (I set up a Xmas train in G), do NOT speak of any other brand except LGB to the resident expert in the G scale departmen… LOL He is a little out there… Naturally I purchase all my G scale from him…
Loco…I’ve been to Allied before and planned on stopping there as well.
BTW…I used to be N727AA awhile back…but then we (American) retired the 727’s and bought 737’s so naturally I had to change my name…
Thanks.
Mike in Tulsa
The guy that’s been a big help to me is Bob. He is really good with the electronics. In fact he just finished by UP BB, now I got to find the $$ to pick it up LOL.
Origional Whistle Shop is my first choice. I Live in Glendora which is not far from Irwindale, and There is either the Origional Whistle Stop in Pasadena or The Train Stop in San Dimas, but I’m not to happy with them.
What Kind or race are you attending? I been there for the drag races but that’s pretty much it.
Z…I am taking my son (teenager) to see a drifting race there. That is the big thing these days, yes, drag racing was the big thing when I was in highschool…80’s.
BTW, I used to live in Orange County…Westminster to be exact. But most of the train shops that were there back then are gone. The farthest north I usually got was maybe Peco Riviara, but went to the rose bowl parade many times, so I think I will get around ok. When I lived there the 105 didn’t exist.
Mike in Tulsa
BNSF Cherokee Sub
I’ve been to most of them listed and thought I should through in the Train Shack in Burbank. But Allied is my favorite. And I would second that Bob is great, even though he always calls me scott, and my name is josh. I hope nick or bob reads this. Don’t forget to bring some spending money because I can’t get out of there without spending a small fortune.
Wetminster has Arnie’s Trains, 6452 Industry Way, (714) 893-1015. I’ve been there once, pretty good selection.
Been so long I will have to pull out my map to find it.
Mike in Tulsa
BNSF Cherokee Sub
I’m sure you’ve been there before, just not that location. I believe they’ve moved at least twice.
There used to be one near Magnolia and Westminster Blvd, that might have been the name of it. But that was back around '82.
Mike in Tulsa
BNSF Cherokee Sub
Isn’t that where Interstate 405 passes over the US Navy railroad?