GET MORE CUSTOMERS FOR FREE!

Transcription

A dealer tells why you should show and sell
OCTOBER 2009
E-FLITE’S BLADE mSR — PAGE 30
RESOURCES FOR SUCCESSFUL HOBBY RETAILING
GET MORE
CUSTOMERS
FOR
FREE!
...by using Facebook, Twitter and
other social-networking sites
Time-tested sellers:
Metal detectors,
airbrushes and
rock tumblers PAGE 16
PLUS
Vol. 35 • Issue 10
10
NEW
PRODUCTS
REVIEWED
www.ModelRetailer.com
• iHobby Expo preview
• Five in the running for Märklin
• Trade report from Gen Con
• Anderson chosen for AMA Hall
Thunder Power RC products continue to be the number one choice of discerning
pilots and drivers, for sport and competition applications alike, world-wide.
From the world’s most powerful and reliable lithium polymer batteries, to the most advanced and safest chargers
and balancers available, you can be confident that our ever-growing line of premium products and accessories
offers the utmost in performance and value.
Aircraft Series LiPo Batteries
Surface Series LiPo Batteries
Chargers and Balancers
We offer many of the world’s lightest and most
powerful LiPo batteries for aircraft applications.
Available in capacities from 250 to 8000mAh, in
configurations from 2S 7.4V to 10S 37.0V, and
with continuous discharge rates from 18 to 30C,
there’s a battery perfect for almost any airplane or
helicopter application you can imagine.
By using the lowest-resistance cells available,
matching them for maximum performance and
placing them in custom-designed, impact-resistant
cases, we offer many of the world’s most powerful,
durable, and compact LiPo batteries for use in
surface applications. Continuous discharge rates
from 20 to 35C, configurations from 2S 7.4V to 3S
11.1V and capacities from 3300 to 8000mAh offer
drivers the best choices for a wide variety of offroad and on-road applications.
Our full-line of chargers and balancers includes
many of the world’s safest and most advanced
offerings to date. From LiPo battery balancers
capable of being used independently or interfaced
with a variety of chargers, to powerful chargers
capable of charging and discharging LiPo batteries
up to 10S 37.0V along with a variety of LiFe, NiCd,
NiMH and lead-acid cells, there’s a choice perfect
for any battery charging and maintenance need.
Accessories
Rotor Blades
Our ever-growing line-up of premium accessories
offers a variety of innovative products that deliver
incredible value and convenience. From industryfirst, individual-cell-voltage-monitoring electronic
speed controls, to power supplies, balance connector
extension leads, adapters and more, we offer the
perfect solution for a wide variety of needs.
The unique carbon fiber and foam core construction of our premium quality rotor blades offers
incredible stiffness for unbelievable stopping
power and response. Available in sizes from
325mm to 600mm in length, there’s a set of rotor
blades perfect for your favorite 400/450, 500
and .50/600-sized helicopter that not only offers
incredible performance, but incredible value too.
Insane Foamies Aircraft
For the best in performance, reliability and value, choose
Thunder Power RC products – available through the best
hobby dealers and distributors world-wide.
Thunder Power RC
O4720
W. University Avenue
OLas
Insane Foamies is a Thunder Power RC brand that
offers aircraft models from some of the world’s
leading pilots and designers. From lightweight,
competition-proven models built using 3mm foam,
to a variety of durable and easy to fly models
constructed from 6mm foam, there’s a model
for almost any pilot–from Sunday sport flyer to
competition pilot and everyone in between.
www.ThunderPowerRC.com
Vegas, NV 89103
O(702)
228-8883
ON THE COVER
A dealer tells why you should show and sell
OCTOBER 2009
E-flitE’s bladE s300 — pagE 24
RESOURCES FOR SUCCESSFUL HOBBY RETAILING
GET MORE
CUSTOMERS
FOR FREE!
...by using Facebook, Twitter and
other social-networking sites
Time-tested sellers:
Metal detectors,
airbrushes and
rock tumblers PAGE 16
10
NEW
PRODUCTS
REVIEWED
PLUS
Volume 35,
Number 10
ModelRetailer.com
Visit our Web site for these bonus
Product Lab reviews:
• PT-19 450 ARF E-flite
• Pack & Stack
Mayfair Games
• 1:20 Falke
Hasegawa
While you’re there, please be sure
to sign up for our e-newsletter!
• iHobby Expo preview
• Five in the running for Märklin
• Trade report from GenCon
• Anderson chosen for AMA Hall
Social networking isn’t
just for the kids anymore.
Businesses are discovering
this low-cost way to reach
out and grab customers.
Cover photo: Jim Forbes
PRODUCTS
F E AT U R E S
14 16
FIRST LOOK
Our first impression of seven
new products:
• Looney Labs Aquarius 10th Anniversary Edition
Special Report – The Strong Silent Sellers
Metal detectors, airbrushes and rotary
tumblers may not be the trendiest products, but they can be among your tried
and true.
• Squadron/Signal Publications Byzantine Armies 325 A.D.−1453 A.D.
18
• Mudpuppy “Monsters” 63-piece
puzzle
Social networking with Twitter and
Facebook can drive customers to your
store at low (or no) cost to you.
business basics – retailers are all a-twitter
• Midland Publishing Russian Airpower
30
• MTH HO-scale SD70ACe with Proto
Sound 3.0
• Revell 1:24 Rommel’s Rod
• Rapido Trains N-scale Panorama Line
Passenger Cars
38
24 PRODUCT LAB
We review three new products:
• Tamiya 1973 Ford Bronco CR-01
• Polar Lights 1:12 Robby the Robot
56
DEPARTMENTS
6
8
EditoR’S note Extending electronic reach
INDUSTRY NEWS iHobby Expo celebrates 25 years,
Five in the running for Märklin, Gen Con
good for publishers and retailers, and
much more.
20
Behind the counter How to sell? Try show-and-tell.
• E-flite Blade mCX S300
30
38
46
50
56
58
radio control
model railroading
MOdels
58
DIE-CAST
IN THE NEXT ISSUE
Holiday profits from licensed
products: Model Retailer tells
you how to build your bottom
line by tapping the power of
popular media licenses.
specialty
Slot cars
W H AT ’ S S E L L I N G
What business lessons have you learned
in the last year, and how have they made
your store better?
34
radio control
42
model railroading
52
MOdels/ DIE-CAST
MODEL RETAILER (ISSN 0191-6904, USPS 395-730) is published monthly, except two issues in October, by Kalmbach Publishing Co.,
21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612. Periodicals postage paid at Waukesha, Wis., and additional offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to Model Retailer, 21027 Crossroads Circle, P. O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI, 53187-1612. Canada Publication Mail Agreement # 40010760.
MODEL RETAILER OCTOBER 2009
1
Are you ready?
Your business in a
Recession…
Control costs. Maintain liquidity. Be
efficient. Cut spending. Key phrases
of our current economic times,
right? But how far can you go
before your business suffers?
“The first reaction is to cut, cut, cut, and
advertising is one of the first things to go,”
says Wharton marketing Professor Peter Fader,
“however, as some companies slash their
advertising they leave empty spaces in the minds
of consumers allowing savvy marketers to take
control of their customers.”
Today’s economy “provides an unusual
opportunity to differentiate your business and
stand out from the crowd,” says Fader.
3
2
Advertising in a
Recession…
• A McGraw-Hill Research study
examined 600 companies from
1980-1985 and found that those
who maintained or increased their
advertising during the 1981-1982
recession had sales 256% higher than
those who did not continue to advertise.
• Magazine ads are the most effective and efficient ways
to boost purchasing decisions.
- Marketing Evolution Study, 2008
• If you cut advertising it takes 4 or 5 times the amount
saved to get the momentum back just to be where you
were when you stopped advertising once the economy
turns around. (David Sable, COO of Wunderman)
• Magazines are the most successful medium in engaging
consumers to notice advertising
- Simmons Multi-Media Engagement Study, 2007
Kalmbach magazines in a Recession…
Kalmbach Publishing Co. has been in the magazine publishing business for 75 years. In
fact, “The Great Depression” is the reason the company came to be and had a profound
impact on the company values and mission.
Today, we remain committed to the hobbies we serve with our magazines, books, Web
sites and e-newsletters. More importantly, our customers remain committed to us because of
our determination to deliver value and quality 100% of the time.
“
The success of a business depends on several factors: Quality of service, quality of product,
but more than anything else, an overall integrity, honesty, and consistency of policy.
– Al Kalmbach, founder of Kalmbach Publishing Co.
”
Just as you may have made plans to weather the current recession, you need to make plans for the economic recovery …
…It’s coming!
www.Kalmbach.com • 1-888-558-1544
ADV-ADH-MD09392RH
EDITOR’S NOTE
by HAL MILLER
EDITORIAL OFFICE
21027 Crossroads Circle, Box 1612
Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
Phone: (262) 796-8776 Fax: (262) 796-1383
Web site: www.ModelRetailer.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Extending electronic reach
EDITORIAL AND ART
Publisher Terry Thompson
Editor Hal Miller
The term “social media” has become one
of us don’t care that our friends “had toast
of today’s hot buzzwords, referring to the
and jam for breakfast,” or “I’ve just fed my
Associate Editors Sue Brettingen,
Tim Kidwell
Web sites that keep people electronically
cat Sparkles; gosh, is she precious!”
Editorial Assistant Jenny Maaske
connected these days.
Art Director Tom Ford
But (and there is always one of these),
You might be aware of sites like Face-
more and more businesses are discovering
book, MySpace, YouTube, WordPress and
these sites are an excellent way to promote
Photographers William Zuback,
Jim Forbes
ADVERTISING
themselves, educate customers and gen-
Ad Sales Manager Rick Albers (x652)
erate sales. If used judiciously, they don’t
require much time, either.
Ad Sales Representative Aaron Jors (x537)
Ad Services Representative Sue Hollinger-Yustus
Messages on Twitter, for instance, are 140
Production Coordinator Diane Olp
characters or less. How long does it take
K ALMBACH PUBLISHING CO.
to type “All in-stock R/C vehicles 15% off
President Gerald B. Boettcher
through September 30!”? That’s fast adver-
Executive Vice-President Charles R. Croft
tising, targeted at interested customers or
V. P. Editorial Kevin P. Keefe
those already buying your products.
V. P. Advertising Scott Stollberg
And remember what I said earlier about
V. P. Marketing Daniel R. Lance
being free?
Social media isn’t just for the kids anymore. Businesses use it to push sales.
Another good thing: if you try it and
Ad Director Scott Bong
decide it’s not your cup of tea, just delete
Corporate Art Director Maureen M. Schimmel
Managing Art Director Michael Soliday
the account. That’s about as risk-free a proposal as is out there today.
Twitter. If you’re not, ask your kids; they can
We always seem to be wringing our
bring you up to speed in a few minutes.
hands about how we’re not reaching youth
Basically, these sites let you share what’s
with information about our hobbies. This is
going on in your life with people you know
a great way to reach them, and adults, too!
or those who have similar interests. You can
Hey, I admit, I didn’t understand why
let them know what’s going on through
some of this was so popular until I started
blogs, text messages, video and photos.
using it for business purposes and started
Their popularity lies in the fact they’re all
to see how you could connect to your audi-
free. They’re also accessible anywhere via
ence. Give it a whirl; it just might be benefi-
computer or Internet-capable phone.
cial to your bottom line.
If you’re familiar with them, you know
how annoying some of them can be. Most
Oh, and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ModelRetailer.
Production Manager Annette Wall
Assistant Circulation Manager Janice Zimdars
TO ADVERTISE
Toll-free: (888) 558-1544 x652, x537
TO SUBSCRIBE
Toll-free: (800) 558-1544 x818
CUSTOMER SERVICE
(Weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central time)
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E-mail: [email protected]
Subscription rates: Distributed free to qualified hobby
shop owners and managers. Others – U.S.: $85/year. International, payable in U.S. funds: $85/year, surface mail.
© 2009 by Model Retailer, division of Kalmbach Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Title and tagline registered
as trademarks. Model Retailer is an associate member of Game Manufacturers Association, International
Model-Hobby Manufacturers Association, Kite Trade
Association, National Retail Hobby Stores Association
and Radio Control Hobby Trade Association.
Printed in the U.S.A.
Send your comments to Hal Miller at [email protected].
!
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/!3%-3-4,"%1 INDUSTRY
NEWS
BY THE MODEL RETAILER STAFF
iHobby Expo turns 25
Hobby-industry retailers, manufacturers
and distributors will gather at the Donald
E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., for iHobby Expo’s 25th anniversary show, Oct. 22–25. Trade exhibit hours
are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on the 22nd and 23rd.
The show floor is open to the public on the
24th and 25th.
More than 200 exhibitors will attend
iHobby this year, with better than 60 being
first-time attendees.
Trade registration packets have been sent
to 20,000 dealers and distributors in the U.S.
and overseas, and include buyer categories for specialty toy, game and computer
stores. General merchandise and gift shops
have also received registration information,
along with hobby, toy and craft stores.
Now 4 years old, the Ticket to Ride promotion allows retailers to get back up to
ModelRetailer.com
Visit for the latest industry
news, bonus content and the
Business Pages directory.
Five in the running
to purchase Märklin
According to reports from several German
news sources, the field of qualified companies interested in purchasing model train
manufacturer Märklin has been narrowed
to five.
Insolvency trustee Michael Pluta says all
of the remaining suitors are Western European and have the financial capacity to
operate Märklin on a long-term basis. He
says a concrete offer could come as early
as October for the beleaguered company,
which also manufactures and sells largescale trains under the LGB brand.
While the company with the winning
offer could take over the company this fall,
Pluta says there’s no pressure to get a deal
done quickly, as financing for the company
has been secured through the end of 2009.
100% of their travel expenses by ordering
from participating vendors to earn vouchers
that can be redeemed following the show.
In its second year, the Dealer Pak promotion lets dealers purchase up to four sample
product “paks” assembled according to
HMA division categories (model railroading,
plastic/die-cast models, R/C and general
hobby). These are offered at low prices and
are shipped to dealers after the expo.
Also back for its second year is the Hobby
University business seminar track. This year,
subjects include in-store demos, e-commerce and surviving in a rough economy.
All exhibitors and member attendees
are invited to the 25th Anniversary iHobby
Expo Party on Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. in the convention center.
On the 23rd and 24th, actor Michael
Gross, famous for his role on the TV series
“Family Ties,” will be in attendance. A wellknown model railroader, Gross will be signing autographs and walking the show floor.
Steve “Mongo” McMichael, former NFL
star and Chicago Bear, will be on hand
Oct. 24, driving R/C cars and visiting with
attendees.
For a complete listing of events, please
see the 2009 iHobby Expo Show Guide. Here
are some of the highlights:
Thursday, Oct. 22
• 25 Tips to Survive in a Tough Retail
Economy, 7:30–9 a.m. — Retail sales
gurus and iHobby regulars, Rich Kizer and
Georganne Bender, talk shop and how to
turn a difficult economy into successful
sales.
• Hobby University: In-Store Demos
and Make & Takes Make Money, 4–5:30
p.m. — The HMA’s Tom Grossman discusses making your store a community destination and building your customer base.
• HMA/iHobby Expo 25th Anniversary
Reception, 5–7 p.m. — Join other hobby
professionals to celebrate 25 years of
iHobby Expo.
Friday, Oct. 23
• Hobby University: Today’s Inventory
Buying, 7:30–9 a.m. — Horizon Hobby’s
Bob Jacobsen talks about maximizing
inventory dollars and increasing profits.
A dozen other companies have
expressed interest in buying Märklin, but
without long-term outlooks for the company. Two more possible purchasers could
enter the second round, but they would
have to submit solid bids to be considered.
Märklin filed for insolvency protection
in February, owing about 600 creditors
approximately $157 million (110 million
Euros).
Gen Con good for
publishers, retailers
Gen Con 2009, Aug. 13–16, delivered
some unexpected moments and a handful of interesting products, but most
important of all, it delivered buyers willing to spend money on the industry’s
wares.
On the exhibit floor, attendees seemed
Retailers and consumers found plenty
to see and do at this year’s Gen Con.
more free with their money than many
exhibitors anticipated. Game lovers
picked up the latest releases from their
favorite companies, as well as early releases from several exhibitors.
Woodland Scenics (www.woodlandscenics.com) showed its landscapes,
INDUSTRY NEWS
buildings, and terrain-making products,
emphasizing how its products fit into
games of all types. Although most of its
displays focused on miniatures, many
roleplaying gamers showed interest as
well. Hobby stores can capitalize on this
trend as more roleplayers create elaborate
displays to bring their games to life.
Wells Expeditions received a strong
response from both collectible miniatures
gamers and classic miniatures players
with its new Arcane Legions game (www.
arcanelegions.com). The game follows
the classic fantasy miniatures style of
play, with multiple miniatures on a single
movement tray.
For retailers, Arcane Legions cleverly
mixes both the pre-set and collectible
purchase models, appealing to pretty
much every prospect interested in miniatures gaming. It also reduces the number
of SKUs a store needs to stock in order
to carry the game successfully. Since the
army units are unpainted, retailers can
use the game to boost paint and paint
supply sales, while also engaging customers with painting events and contests.
Other highlights of the show included
new releases from Bucephalus Games
(Dogfight, Kachina, and Michelangelo,
www.bucephalus.biz), Catalyst Game
Labs (Balance of Power, Leviathans, and
Merchants, www.catalystgamelabs.com),
and Fantasy Flight Games (expansions for
Battlestar Galactica and Battlelore, Middle
Earth Quest, Penny Arcade: The Card Game,
and Rogue Trader, www.fantasyflightgames.com).
10
Trade Day, Gen Con’s annual training,
demonstration and discussion day for
retailers, librarians and teachers, opened
Gen Con’s schedule again this year. About
100 people participated in the event. The
day included seminars on games in education, marketing through social media
and improving profit in retail stores. The
afternoon’s demonstration session gave
attendees a chance to get their hands on
games from event sponsors.
The day’s capstone panel presentation
by representatives from retail, distribution, manufacturing and education delivered some of the best information of the
day.
Retailers wanting to get games into
schools learned the value of working
with the “media specialist” (the person
that we used to know as the librarian) at
each school. Educators and librarians also
explained the bidding and sourcing process, including how local stores can beat
online discounters by including “local
delivery, set-up, and training” as part
of the Request for Proposal process. At
the same time, educators and librarians
heard how retailers can help them design
and deliver engaging programs and find
games to match their requirements.
The show’s final attendance figures
aren’t available yet, but it appeared to
buck the economy’s pressure by bringing
in a solid number of attendees. Judging
by the lines, the crowds in the halls and
discussions with both exhibitors and
show volunteers, attendance seemed at
least the same as last year, when Gen Con
posted attendance growth over the previous year. — John Kaufeld
business briefs
Z convention in 2010
Micro-Trains Line Co. CEO Eric Smith has
announced plans for a national Z-scale
model-railroad convention from April
30–May 1, 2010. The event will take place
in Medford, Ore.
Events include a tour of the Micro-Trains
factory, a private trip to Medford’s Railroad
Park with a barbecue dinner, a public show
day, clinics, contests and a dinner banquet.
According to a release from Micro-Trains,
show sponsorships and opportunities to
donate products for prizes are available.
Starlight Make & Take
Starlight Model Rockets has put together
a kit for its first national “Make & Take” day,
Saturday, May 1, 2010. The company and
its distributors have teamed up to make
available the “Zippy” 8-inch-long streamer
recovery rocket for $1.75, including shipping, to youth groups and brick-and-mortar hobby stores.
To reserve rockets, contact Stevens International; Red Arrow/Pyrotek; HobbyX; or
Ace Hobby Distributors. For more information, contact Starlight Model Rockets at
574-936-4469 or e-mail spootski@kconline.
com.
Let ters to the Editor
What’s old is nothing new
Well, it has happened. Last fall, I said that
the global credit crunch would lead to a
“failed harvest” with regard to new product,
and possibly lead to the eventual demise
and crippling of our industry. We are not
quite crippled yet, but the predicted lack of
new kits has arrived.
This summer’s crop of new arrivals has
been dismal. We have not see the usual
number of reboxings of existing kits with
new decals, or even very many new decals
at all. [AAA Hobby Supply’s] local economy
is stagnant and slowly getting worse. Our
customers have begun saving money for
the rainy day they can see on the horizon.
And the manufacturers have apparently
stopped, delayed or reduced new kit development.
One U.S.-brand manufacturer hasn’t put
out a totally new model in the two years
since its recent purchase. Sure, it’s spent a
little on variants and long-sought-after repops, but nothing totally new. Instead, we
get yet more variants of the same old tired
molds.
This economy is tough, certainly the worst
since the malaise of the late 1970s. A bunch
of companies went under then. The ones
that didn’t survived because they innovated
and issued new products. The ones that
died simply pulled into their shells and tried
to wait it out: a policy that cost them their
corporate lives. How many customers walk
in and ask, “What’s old?” New items are the
key to the survival of our industry; not resting on our collective laurels.
James Corley
AAA Hobby Supply
Marietta, Ga.
precisiontools
= pleasant profits
Profit from selling Xuron® brand hand tools
– the more you sell, the more you profit.
• Quick Inventory Turns
• Attractive Profit Margins
• Support of a Worldwide Distribution Network
• Factory Warranty
• Customer Satisfaction
Xuron Corporation manufactures high quality precision tools
for all hobbies and crafts. Call or email for free catalog.
Made in U.S.A.
62 Industrial Park Road
Saco, ME 04072 207-283-1401
[email protected] www.xuron.com
Employees should be No. 1
Someone should inform William J. Lynott
that his article (“8 Easy Steps to Survive,”
Model Retailer, Aug. 2009, pg. 16) was
good. However, he missed out totally on
point 8. In fact, as I describe point 8 below,
it should have been numero uno!
“Treasure your most important asset(s):
your employees.”
Without managing them properly and
without treasuring them completely, all
the other points just do not matter.
Paul Bender, CEO
Hobby People
Fountain Valley, Calif.
A s s o c i at i o n s
Anderson tapped for
AMA Hall of Fame
Great Planes Model Manufacturing founder
Don Anderson was inducted into the
THUMLER’S
TUMBLER
ROCK POLISHING
Professional Quality
Rock Polisher
An Exciting Hobby for the Entire Family. An Ideal Gift!
There are very few people who have
not at one time or another carried
home a pocketful of interesting or
"pretty" rocks from a hike or vacation
trip. It is a natural interest and
curiosity we all experience, for in the
world of Nature, surely few things
are more important than earth and
rocks beneath our feet.
MODEL A-R1 Special Kit No. 102
3 lb. Capacity tumbler. One rubber barrel.
Deluxe kit contains Model A-R1 tumbler
(pictured above) which has larger motor
than Model T, set of 4 grades of polishing
abrasives, generous supply of polishing
rock, jewelry findings.
The tumbling of stones is as old as
the earth, for Nature has been doing
so in may ways since the beginning.
Glaciers, wind, rivers and the oceans
provide an incessant tumbling of
Nature’s variety of rocks.
Model B No. 140
8 Models to choose from. Call for FREE Brochure!
1(800) 225-1017 fax: (253) 833-2349
[email protected]
www.thumlerstumbler.com
TRU-SQUARE METAL PRODUCTS / P.O. Box 585 • AUBURN, WA 98071
11
METAL
DETECTORS
Call
OUTDOOR
OUTFITTERS
800-558-2020
824 N Hartwell Avenue
Waukesha, WI 53186
262-542-7772 • Fax 262-542-4435
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12
INDUSTRY NEWS
Academy of Model
Aeronautics (AMA)
Hall of Fame on Aug.
1. Anderson received
the news from AMA
President Dave Matthewson.
Currently the senior
vice president of
Don Anderson
product development
at Hobbico, as well as president of Great
Planes Model Manufacturing, Anderson
co-founded the Radio Control Hobby Trade
Association and co-organized the Chicago
Toy & Hobby Show, later the iHobby Expo.
‘The Link’ online
The latest issue of “The Link,” the newsletter of the National Retail Hobby Stores
Association (NRHSA), is now available
electronically. The electronic issue is the
first for the organization and features its
latest news and retail advice. Members can
access the new issue by going to www.
nrsha.com and logging in.
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13
FIRST
LOOK
information on selected products to help you sell today
HO-Scale SD70ACe with Proto Sound 3.0
Prod. No.: 80-2010-1 (Union
Pacific Rio Grande Heritage; other roadnames and
schemes available)
MSRP: $249.95
Availability: Various modelrailroad distributors
Target consumer: HO modelers with a modern-day bent
First impression: An HO
locomotive with working
couplers? Yes! However, just
on looks alone, this model is
a stunner. Getting it out of
the box, one has to be careful
not to bend the handrails.
The paint and other details
are crisp. Snow plows are
included.
The full range of sound
and other options can be
accessed by an MTH DCS
system. Most of the functions
can also be controlled by
other digital command control (DCC) systems.
Byzantine Armies 325 A.D.–1453 A.D.
Target consumer: History
buffs, modelers of Byzantineera armies, and medieval or
Byzantine-era wargamers
Squadron/Signal or Osprey,
Byzantine Armies is a thick
one, weighing in at 136 pages.
There is a nice mixture of
color and black-and-white
photographic references. The
computer-generated representations of soldiers with
weapons and armor typical
to the era discussed leave
something to be desired.
First impression: When compared to similar books from
Why you should stock it:
Wargamers and historical
MSRP: $34.95
Availability: Distributed by
MMD
“Monsters” 63-piece puzzle
MSRP: $14
Availability: Galison/Mudpuppy; e-mail wholesale@
galison.com or visit www.
galison.com
Target customers: Ages 6
and up
First impression: Mudpuppy’s
14
Why you
should carry it:
This is a model of some of the
most modern motive power
available, so your customers
who model
today’s operations
will appreciate that. Second, it’s a great looking and
sounding model with many,
many features.
— Hal Miller
Squadron/Signal Publications
Prod. No.: SS8001
Prod. No.: ISBN 978-0-73532407-7
MTH
military modelers are always
looking for more and better
reference material to help
them with their hobby.
This book is not one that
traces the events of a particular battle, but can help
hobbyists understand the
military structure of Byzantine armies, as well as more
accurately reproduce their
weapons and equipment.
— Tim Kidwell
Mudpuppy
series of 63-piece puzzles features clever, quirky imagery.
Each puzzle measures 18 by 14
inches and comes in a cylindrical canister with a colorful rope
handle for easy transport.
“Monsters” showcases
mischievous and strange creatures in dusky shades of green,
blue, red and yellow, suggesting a twilight world, the time
of the evening when children
get ready to go to bed.
The thick pieces, printed in
nontoxic ink, snap together
easily and seem durable
enough to withstand rough
child’s play.
Why you should
stock it: This
puzzle is full of
tiny and whimsical details,
making it entertaining to build
again and again.
Parents will appreciate the canister packaging, which allows
for easy cleanup and
storage. The fun
and funky look
of the artwork
sets it apart from
more traditional
puzzles, and the
theme appeals
to a wide range
of ages.
— Sue Brettingen
Aquarius — 10th Anniversary Edition
Prod. No.: LOO-002
MSRP: $15
Availability: Various game
distributors or direct from
Looney Labs, www.looneylabs.com. Demo kits available
Target consumer: Anyone
ages 6 and up
First impression: As with all
Looney Labs games, it’s made
in the U.S. The cards are highquality. A color instruction
sheet is included.
Aquarius is easy to learn
and each game can be played
in 10–30 minutes.
Each case comes with six
games and converts into a
handy point-of-sale display.
Russian Air Power
Midland Publishing
Prod. No.: ISBN 978-1-85780316-7
by Yefim Gordon, this book
includes 550 color photos,
200 color profiles, and 120
regiment and squadron
badges.
The book gives readers a
comprehensive overview of
the current state of Russia’s
military air assets. It also
includes information about
Russian air bases, test and
MSRP: $63.95
Availability: Specialty Press
Target customer: Aviation
enthusiasts, modelers
First impression: Written
1:24 Rommel’s Rod
Prod. No.: 85-4261
Retail Price: $18–20
Looney Labs
The artwork is bright, and will
attract attention if displayed.
Gameplay is very easy to
learn, and can keep both kids
and adults engaged, which
makes Aquarius very versatile.
It can be taken on trips or
played on a good-sized table.
This new edition adds a
new style of element card
and
includes
rules
for use
with preschoolers.
Aquarius’ low
price point makes
it a good impluse buy or an
affordable alternative to more
expensive games. — T.K.
research centers, portraits
of leading Russian Air Force
commanders and notable
military pilots, and the missiles and bombs carried by
Russian combat aircraft.
military. Wellorganized
and colorful,
Russian Air
Power lends
itself to both
quick scans
and hours
of reading.
Aviation buffs and modelers
will find this book a valuable
guide to Russia’s modern
Revell-Monogram
Availability: Check your
favorite model distributor
Target customer: Modelers
of off-beat and nostalgic kits
First impression: Based on
art by Tom Daniel, Rommel’s
Rod is a reissue of one of a
very popular kit.
It has long been specu-
lated that the tooling for the
original was fouled, but this
re-engineered design is clean
and captures the classic look.
Parts come in five polybags, including tan, chrome
and clear plastic pieces, and
vinyl tires.
Rommel’s Rod is bound to
N-scale Panorama Line Passenger Cars
Prod. No.: 501030 (Canadian
National “E” Sleeper, 1954
paint scheme)
Retail Price: $47.95
Availability: Various modelrailroad distributors
Target customer: Detailobsessed N-scale modelers
— S.B.
First impression: Stunning.
The level of detail on these
cars is excellent for any scale,
and in N scale, it’s even more
impressive.
The photo-etched gates,
individually applied grab
irons, simulated indicator
light panels near the doors
and interior lighting put
these cars over the top.
be a big seller with modelers who were kids in the ’70s
and want to build a kit from
their youth. Revell, like other
model makers, is pushing
into the nostalgia market,
which seems to be big right
now, with other kits like the
Red Baron and Tijuana Taxi.
— T.K.
Rapido Trains
The price on these cars is
more than fair. If your store
has a strong N-scale following, your customers are going
to want these cars for their
layouts. And if they don’t
have passenger trains, these
cars will make them want
to.
— H.M.
15
special report: low-profile hobby products
The strong, silent sellers
Metal detectors, airbrushes and rotary tumblers may not be the
trendiest products, but they can be among your tried-and-true
By Sue Bret tingen
S
ometimes subtle things can be the
most surprising. While items such
as mini helicopters, new models of
locomotives and trendy toys may
immediately catch your customers’ eyes,
you may find that other, less visually prominent products may be just what they’re
looking for to get them into a new hobby
or to augment one they already have.
For instance, treasure hunters, beachcombers and others curious about seeking
out buried valuables often invest in metal
detectors to make the hobby more rewarding. If you don’t already carry some in your
store, you may want to consider bringing
in a few basic models.
“It is a fact stated by almost all stores
that stock metal detectors that a great
deal, if not a majority of first-time metaldetector buyers, are impulse buyers that
want the most inexpensive model in stock,”
said Carl Matheis, factory representative,
Garrett Metal Detectors.
However, it’s best to avoid the cheap,
toy-like detectors; they don’t offer the
depth detection needed to find old silver
coins and jewelry. Owners of these inex-
pensive models tend to get discouraged
and give up the hobby altogether.
“Most hobby stores do very well with
models in the $180 to $250 price range,
but usually don’t sell high-end models
to first-time customers,” Matheis said. As
metal-detecting hobbyists discover more
objects, they turn to more expensive
models, and that’s when you can bring in
ones with more bells and whistles. “Listen
to your customers; they will let you know
when to stock high-end models.”
Gary Phillips, owner of the HobbyTown
USA in Knoxville, Tenn., said Garrett is the
only brand of detector he stocks. He carries the Ace 150, 250 and 550 models, with
the 150 (entry-level) selling the most. He
had nothing but good things to say about
the company.
“First off, I like the price,” he said. “They’re
very customer-friendly with the pricing.
Reliability is second to none. We never
have a problem. Name awareness is big,
because a lot of times, people will see
[metal detectors] at the airport, and [airport personnel] tend to use a lot of Garrett
equipment for screening. The other thing I
Detecting the right brand
Carl Matheis, factory representative at
Garrett Metal Detectors, advised retailers to keep these points in mind when
choosing which brand to carry:
•Which brands are my competitors
carrying? Do I want to try to compete
with these stores?
•Does the brand I’m considering sell
factory direct on the Internet?
•Do they allow me to show and/or sell
the product on my Web site?
16
•Do they have MAP pricing that puts
me on an even price structure with
large competitors?
•Do they have toll-free factory support
to help me with customers’ questions?
•Does the detector come with both
printed and DVD instructions?
•Can I buy individual models, or is the
manufacturer requiring me to order a
package or bundled deal?
Demos have helped Henry Tremblay
sell Grex Tritium Series airbrushes.
like, too, is that if I have any questions, the
rep is right on the spot, basically. He’s easy
to get and friendly, and answers everything for me.”
Phillips said the customers looking for
metal detectors are usually new to the
hobby, or they’re searching for something
specific, like a property stake or a lost valuable. “The 150 is more popular with onetime users,” he said. “We try to sell the 250
to those who want to get into the hobby
more.” He said his store has a nice display
of an assembled model, and his staff does
demos on request.
Other items that sell well in tandem with
metal detectors are headphones, particularly for those who take their metal detectors to beaches, parks and other public
places. Trowels and gold-panning kits are
also popular add-ons.
Garrett also sells well at the HobbyTown
USA in Oshkosh, Wis. Bob Mazza said his
store carries the Ace 150, 250 and 1350
models. He praised Garrett for its good
customer service “which is rarely needed”
and said he liked the fact its products are
made in the United States.
Mazza said his metal-detector-buying
customers are primarily kids and retirees. “I
try to explain the benefits of exercise, fresh
air, and the ability to get away from the
house and phones,” he said. “It’s actually
very relaxing.”
Mazza said he’s happy to take a model
out behind the store and show customers
how easy they are to use. Popular add-ons
include trowels, classifiers and scoop classifiers for beachcombing.
“It’s important that the person selling
[the metal detector] has at least had the
opportunity to use one, if not own one,”
Mazza said. “Experience and knowledge of
how an item works helps sell anything.”
Sales of metal detectors are still strong
among virtually all hobby stores that carry
them, Matheis said. “The reason is, metal
detectors are probably the only hobby
product that the owner makes a profit on
while enjoying the hobby,” he said. “Many
people are out of work or have extra time
on their hands, so they have purchased a
metal detector to search for lost or buried
coins, jewelry and other valuable items
at parks, school yards, beaches and other
public areas. Many of these people have
found old gold and silver coins and jewelry
worth hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of dollars.”
Small investment, big return
Henry Tremblay counts several avid
modelers among his customer base at
Brookhurst Hobbies in Garden Grove, Calif.
Besides picking up kits, paint and glue,
they buy tools such as airbrushes and
compressors to achieve the best-looking
finishes they can on their models.
Although he already stocked other
brands of airbrushes and accessories,
Tremblay decided to bring in the Grex
line earlier this year. After the company
demonstrated the products to the staff,
the store demoed them to the public.
Tremblay said he had 10 to 15 modelers
buy Grex airbrushes on the spot. Since
then, Tremblay has carried the entire range
of Grex products, with the Tritium Series
of double-action, pistol-style airbrushes
among the top sellers.
“One of the nice things on the Grex,
price point-wise, is that it’s on the lower
end of the price point,” Tremblay said. “It’s
price-pointed to its quality ratio. Like the
new Tritium Series: when you look at the
price compared to other airbrushes on the
market, it’s a really good value.”
As for customers, “initially it was plastic
modelers,” Tremblay said. “That’s what we
market our airbrushes toward. But we took
Metal detecting can be a profitable and enjoyable hobby for old and young.
the airbrushes to Historicon (a historical-miniature gaming show that was held
in Lancaster, Pa., this July), and we did
phenomenally well there with them. It was
a market I didn’t expect to have a lot of
airbrushes sold to.”
During his first Grex demo, Tremblay
used Vallejo airbrush paints. Once modelers saw how well they worked for him,
they decided to use the paints as well. “I
got a lot of guys to start using it,” Tremblay
said. “They had never used Vallejo airbrush
paint before.” Sales in Vallejo paints have
risen dramatically. “Looking back, it doesn’t
surprise me at all,” Tremblay said. “But I
didn’t think about it in advance.”
“What we’ve seen with the slight
downturn in the economy that all hobby
shops are suffering through is a dramatic
increase in sales of our paint and glue,”
Tremblay said. “The guys are taking all the
models out of their closets that have been
sitting there for 10 years … That’s been
a real surprise. I think our paint and glue
sales have doubled, if not tripled, in the
last six months.”
An enduring classic
You’ve seen them at trade shows. Perhaps
you already carry them. They’re Thumler’s
Tumblers, Tru-Square Metal Products’ line
of rotary tumblers designed to polish
stones and for jewelry-making findings,
among other uses.
“As far as retailers go, having a tumbler
running in the store is worth a thousand
words,” said Al Thumler. “We can provide a
demo kit if they wish to do this. It consists
of a glass lid that will fit the small barrel,
some polished rocks, and plastic tumbling
beads. [Retailers] can take a Model T or an
A-R1 from stock, put the rocks and beads
inside, replace the lid with the glass on
(without water) and set it up in a suitable
place. The slight amount of noise will draw
attention, and the customer can see the
action that takes place inside.”
Vern Morseman of Ventura Hobbies,
Ventura, Calif., said the Model T No. 100 is
his best-seller. “Tru-Square’s products last a
long time,” he said. “I have my tumbler that
was bought back in 1969. They are built
to last!”
Morseman said the people who buy the
rotary tumblers come from all walks of
life. Sometimes all he needs to do is show
them the product to plant the seed that
will get them thinking about coming back
and buying one. As for add-on sales, he
said the replacement grits are great repeat
sellers. “I will sell the coarse and fine grits
in the 1-lb. box and the pre-polish and polish in the half-pound box to give the customer a better dollar value,” he said. “The
best part is, a sale only takes two minutes
to complete.”
Although metal detectors, airbrushes
and rotary tumblers may not be the first
items that come to mind when putting
together your product mix, they deserve
space on your shelves. And if you’re willing to show customers what these products can do, they may not stay on those
shelves for long.
17
BUSINESS BASICS: SOCIAL NETWORKING
Retailers are all a-Twitter
Take advantage of Internet social-networking sites
to drive customers to your store for practically nothing
By Shari Voigt
D
o you think marketing your business
online has to be an expensive proposition? Think again! You can promote
your store effectively at little to no
cost using the same social media tools that
your customers are using. Think about that
for a minute. You can reach your loyal customers and gain new ones at no cost by
investing just a little time, meeting them
where they already are: online.
Using Facebook for Business
With 250 million active users, it’s safe to
say that at least a portion of your customer
base is on Facebook. It’s no longer the
domain of college students, but the online
hangout for moms, dads, grandparents
and, more importantly, people of all ages
and interests from your area.
Maybe you’re already using Facebook
to stay in touch with friends and family. A
business page offers the same easy-to-use,
easy-to-look-at functionality, but it’s all
business. Your business page can display
up-to-the-minute status updates that any
“fan” will see on their own news wall.
House of Flowers, a florist in Oshkosh,
Wis., started a Facebook business page in
March 2009. Facebook became a quick,
effective form of communication with
House of Flowers’ customers regarding
new in-store and online products. Within
three months, the store had acquired
nearly 150 fans and had more than 30 fan
interactions through customer postings to
its wall.
House of Flowers’ primary goals are to
boost in-store traffic on non-peak hours
and to drive e-commerce sales. In working
to achieve these goals, it uses short, weekly, mixed-media updates (a combination of
photos, videos and shop news) to keep the
attention of its fans. The strategy is working, as evidenced by a growing fan base.
A social-media plan that involves Facebook does not require a huge time investment or any outlay of funds. This tool can
be used effectively by any store owner
who’s willing to commit a minimal amount
of time each week. First you set up the
page, and then you regularly update it
with fresh, interesting information. It’s easy
and it’s free!
Of course, Facebook isn’t the only game
in town.
Twitter: Waste of time
or useful business tool?
It seems the whole world is on Twitter.
What’s all the buzz about?
Twitter lets you tell the world about your
store specials and events, interact with
your customer base, and even solve problems before they become troublesome.
Last winter, I found an incredible deal
online and purchased a new monitor,
video card and extra memory for my computer. I was excited when the new gear
arrived, and I thought it only fair to let my
Twitter followers know. So, I logged on to
brag about it.
To my surprise, within five minutes, I
How to get started
Sign up for Facebook at
www.facebook.com and
Twitter at www.twitter.com.
1. Begin with setting up a
profile. Take a few minutes
to fill out your basic information. Add only the information that you’re comfortable
sharing with the whole wide
world.
2. Upload a photo.
3. Post a status message.
Something as simple as “Set-
18
ting up my Facebook/Twitter account” is enough to
get started, as long as you
remember to change it!
4. Find a friend … or 20.
Create a Facebook business
page.
1. You’ll need photos, your
logo and text about your store.
2. Set your operating hours,
types of payments you
accept, etc.
3. Before you publish, strategize. Will you post once
per week? Are you the sole
person in charge of the page
or will it be a team effort?
What type of content will
your audience find interesting? Videos? Action pictures?
Notices about sales and promotions? Customer reviews?
Promote your Facebook
business page and Twitter
profile.
• Help your current cus-
tomers connect with you
online. Use in-store posters,
your newsletter, fliers and
even advertisements.
• Add links to your Twitter
and Facebook profiles, and
to your e-mail signature.
• Add social widgets to your
store’s Web site. Both Twitter and Facebook offer easyto-implement applications
that encourage participation from your site’s visitors.
— S.V.
E-Mail: Start selling before customers get in your store
While the business world
continues to investigate the
use of social media, one of
the “oldest” electronic technologies is still one of the
most effective at reaching
out to customers and selling them something before
they actually come into your
hobby store.
E-mail marketing takes
your message directly to your
customers’ homes, their offices, and even to their wireless
phones. However, there’s a
fine line between being a
business magnet and a nuisance. That’s why many firms,
including hobby retailers,
put out a weekly or monthly
newsletter to let customers
know what’s going on at
their business and about new
product arrivals.
These newsletters put sales
in the background and focus
more on what the company
is developing, what’s going
on in the store or what’s
on the owner’s mind. It’s
perceived by customers as
a personal message, rather
than an e-mail that puts on
the hard sell.
At least a couple of retailers have seen their business
increase because of their
e-newsletters. Rick Berry at
Michigan Toy Soldier in Royal
Oak, Mich., and Frank Ruby of
Blue Ridge Hobbies in Greenville, S.C., have been putting
out e-newsletters for eight and
four years respectively. They
continue to do them because
of tangible sales results.
“If we do not send out an
e-mail, the sales stay flat,”
Ruby says. “If we send out the
e-mail, it’s like a wake-up call.”
Ruby, whose store is
focused on model railroading, sends out a couple of
newsletters a week, usually
corresponding with the sales
from Walthers and Horizon
Hobby. There might also be
information in the newsletter
about what’s going on with
the local model-railroad club.
Berry trumpets what’s new
in models and collectible figures once or twice a month,
depending on the time of
year.
It takes Ruby about an hour
to produce each e-mail and
two hours for Berry.
Both are currently using
an e-mailing service to send
their message out to customers. Ruby uses Constant Con-
had received a tweet (a message on Twitter) from the store, asking if everything
worked correctly and if I needed help with
anything. I will definitely be ordering from
that store again.
Xuron Corporation, manufacturer of
ergonomic, high-quality cutting tools and
pliers, began using Twitter in May 2009 to
reach out to its hobby-oriented audience.
Its goal was to connect with consumers
(not to sell to them) on a personal level.
To create interest and engage followers,
Xuron has done product giveaway promotions and found them to be very successful, and even fun! The company uses Twitter to drive traffic to its Web site and to the
Web sites of other companies and industry
tact and Berry uses Michiganbased Email Media Group.
Services like these usually
charge based on how many
e-mails a business wants to
send out. Similar services
sometimes provide e-mail
templates. Fill them in and
voilà, you’ve created a professional looking electronic
document!
“These types of services are
great because you can get all
the statistics you . . . need to
see how many people read
the newsletter . . . unique
opens, what links they click
on and more,” Berry said.
He adds it’s one of the
most cost-effective forms of
promotion he uses. “We mail
out 12,000 e-mails each time
and have a read rate of 40%
per newsletter.” Additionally,
he positively tracks effectiveness by running newsletteronly specials.
Blue Ridge Hobbies’ Ruby
says his sales go up with each
e-mail, and his customers
expect to see them often. “If
we do not send the e-mail
on Wednesday or Saturday,
some customers e-mail us to
find out why they did not get
it that week!”
events (such as iHobby Expo, NMRA and
IPMS).
Abby Robey, Xuron’s director of marketing, says, “I would love to see more hobbyindustry manufacturers, distributors and
retailers getting involved.”
Robey doesn’t advocate sinking a lot
of time into Twitter’s free application, but
does think it requires commitment to be
useful.
Robey says retailers should “take a few
minutes every day to post something relevant and interesting to those you expect
to follow you. Engage in dialogue occasionally so people see that you are interested.” Like everything else in business,
you will get out of it what you put in.
He adds, “We get a lot of
bang for the buck.”
Getting the customers’ email addresses isn’t difficult.
Ruby collects them through
customers ordering and signing up on his Web site, and
Berry via a sign-up on his
site, as well as through cards
customers fill out in the store
and a list the company compiles while doing collector
shows around the country.
Both businesses are also
using Twitter to promote their
stores, and Michigan Toy Soldier also has a Facebook page
and YouTube channel. All are
in the early stages, but thus
far, the results for both businesses have been positive.
Have a look at these stores’
e-newsletters by signing up
at their Web sites:
www.michtoy.com
www.blueridgehobbies.com
To learn more about e-mail
services, visit:
www.emailmediagroup.com
www.constantcontact.com.
— Hal Miller
“At this point, I now consider Twitter an
important part of Xuron’s overall marketing program,” she adds.
With time being your only expense,
Facebook and Twitter are both easy to
master. With a little forethought and planning, a solid presence on both sites can
take less than half an hour per day.
Shari Voigt is the co-owner of Zero To Sixty
Marketing LLC, a full-service virtual marketing company dedicated to helping small
businesses attract more customers. Follow
her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ShariV.
Visit http://ZeroToSixtyMarketing.com and
http://ExpressMarketingMemo.com for more
helpful advice on marketing.
19
BEHIND THE COUNTER
By william longcor, feels like home
How to sell? Try show-and-tell
At Feels Like Home, we take our store
name seriously. From the sweet “hello” of
our 2-year-old official greeter and granddaughter, Katie, to our popular in-store
events and demonstrations, our commitment to hospitality sets our retail stage for
continual development of customer relationships and increased business.
During these challenging economic
times, our Thursday night in-store events
and demonstrations have proven a solid
and successful method for sustaining and
growing our retail business. These evening
sessions also present us with opportunities to attract new customers and develop
long-term increased store traffic and sales.
In addition to specializing in antiques
and regionally made home essentials, Feels
Like Home is an authorized dealer for Lionel and MTH and serves as Lionel Service
Station No. 318. We’re factory-trained in all
aspects of MTH O gauge repair. I built an
in-store 4 x 8 3-rail O gauge model railroad
layout and began adding scenery; “serious
scenery,” as our model railroad customers called it. They all wanted to know my
secret. I kept telling them, “No secret. It
is easy. Just follow the instructions.” Their
continued skepticism was the catalyst for
the first of many Thursday-night scenery
demonstrations.
I realized that the tree-making demonstration I first planned was too easy and
too short. So, using Woodland Scenics
Learning Kits, I included some additional
scenery techniques. I chose these kits
because they teach basic, specific aspects
of modeling scenery: from coloring and
installing rocks to creating paved areas,
making trees, adding water areas and
additional scenery detail.
In my conversations with people at
Woodland Scenics, I found they have been
talking to other shop owners about the
retail benefits of in-store demonstrations,
and will soon have a demonstration kit
available to hobby shops and retailers. This
is exciting, because I can attest to their
success. Our scenery demonstrations are
very popular! Using our in-store layout as
the visual aid, we have completed approxi20
William Longcor explains scenery-building tips during a recent demonstration.
mately 18 inches of the layout.
We advertise the demonstrations on fliers posted in the store and in our e-mail
newsletter. Guests circle the layout area,
sitting comfortably on antique chairs,
engrossed in the demonstration, engaged
in conversation and sipping that evening’s
selection of freshly brewed Harney and
Sons tea.
I find that the demonstrations spur sales
of both scenery-making products and tea!
The free demonstrations attract people to
the store. We have several regulars who
enjoy attending, and we always have newcomers.
The newcomers, curious about our store,
take advantage of the free demonstrations
to come in and browse in a no-pressure
atmosphere. However, whether it’s the
regionally made goods or our centerpiece
display — a 1950s Maytag ringer washer
that entices visitors to share their stories
— lasting and profitable retail customer
relationships begin with genuine accommodation, simple chitchat and listening.
After all, it was listening to our modelrailroad customers that led to one of our
most successful methods of increasing
store traffic and sales. The success of
these demonstrations motivated us to
schedule other events.
For instance, Sussex County historian
Wayne McCabe spoke about the town’s
historic architecture recently. On the
schedule for late summer is another of his
programs on the Lackawanna Cut-off: the
famous 100-year-old railroad dubbed the
eighth Wonder of the Modern World.
Earlier, an auctioneer offered advice on
buying and selling antiques at auction.
And, since I’m a retired commercial photographer and teacher of photography, I
presented an evening of identifying and
dating old forms of photography.
The tangible benefits of in-store demonstrations and events are clear. Increased
sales, increased traffic and free advertising
all help Feels Like Home meet the shortterm challenges of today’s economy. However, the intangible benefits foster and
advance our long-term retail edge. Community exposure and relationship building,
growing name recognition and solid customer relationships built on trust help to
ensure continued Newton, N.J. hospitality
that lives up to our store name.
Feels Like Home is located in Newton, N.J.
Visit the store’s Web site at
www.feelslikehomeonline.com.
PLANES, TRAINS, AND SALES
with these new Kalmbach titles
MODEL R AILROADER ’S HOW-TO GUIDE
SC ALE MODELER ’S HOW-TO GUIDE
N SCALE
RAILROADING
Getting started in the hobby
Building and detailing
MODEL AIRCRAFT
— SECOND EDITION —
PAT HAWKEY
Martin McGuirk
The author shows readers how to build and operate
a complete N scale 4 x 8-foot railroad based on his
Androscoggin Central. From planning through bringing
the layout to life, everything is covered.
12428 • $19.95
ck for the
Benchwork and tra
ral
Androscoggin Cent
the goal
of everyday life is
Capturing a slice
s. We’re heading
of many model railroader
autumn morning when
into town on a crisp
by Maine Central
the stillness is broken
a
a long freight across
U25B 234 leading
g
it may seem intimidatin
country lane. While
will
appealing scene that
at first, creating an
easy.
friends is fun and
wow your family and
d
ng of realistic, detaile
g layouts by dreami
We all start buildin
truly rewarding to
if a layout is to be
the
scenes, 10-1. But
be taken during
operate, care must
build and fun to
as benchwork,
such
ction
of constru
regret
more mundane stages
steps and you will
wiring. Rush these
the
tracklaying, and
ing and operating
we talk about scenick
it later. So, before
a solid, reliable railroad
l, let’s first build
Androscoggin Centra
ly.
that runs smooth
of N scale railroads
I’ve built a number
doors for benchusing hollow-core
Androscoggin
work, but since the
than any door I
Central was larger
to build morecould find, I decided
rk. I intended to
conventional benchwo
dimensional lumber,
use 1 x 3 or 1 x 4
an hour at the local
but after spending
to find more than
home center trying
pieces of wood,
straight
dozen
half
a
d a 4 x 8 sheet
I gave up and purchase
. I had them rip
of ¾" birch plywood
strips, creating
the piece into 3"-wide
1 x 3s.
straight, knot-free
to support the
At first I was going
set of legs, but
layout with a simple
most model rail10-2
knowing that I, like
storage space
more
need
roaders, always
storage
scenery materials
provides some hidden
(for construction and
railroad and also
railroad and to hold
cabinet supports the
The 2 x 4-foot base
while building the
and locomotives
under the layout.
all those extra cars
once the railroad
we inevitably collect
the
support
to
is operating), I decided
base, 10-2. Sufrailroad on a cabinet
be amazed at the
fice it to say you’ll
needed to build even
amount of “stuff ”
of the unwritten
a small layout. One
g is the fact
laws of model railroadin just as many
needs
layout
that a small
(ground foam in varidifferent supplies
multiple sizes and
ous colors, wire in
tools, other scenery
colors, track laying
layout.
materials) as a large
makes cutting
One key tool that
to length is a
benchwork materials
miter saw. Other very
power compound
a cordless revershelpful tools include
drill, a small square,
ible variable-speed
The tools I used
a level, and a jigsaw.
tion are pretty
construc
for benchwork
you probably have
straightforward and
10-3
most of them already.
The cabinet base
cabinet is fairly
Construction of the
by following the
straightforward, and
you should have
photos and diagram,
it. The layout
no trouble building
the base cabinet, so
gridwork fits onto
bolted, or
the layout is not screwed, base cabithe
to
otherwise attached
the layout in place,
net—gravity holds
10-3.
isn’t critical,
The size of the base
to make it a little
although it’s wise
than the overall
narrower and shorter
designed to
The cabinet top is
cut into 3"-wide strips.
built using plywood
The benchwork is
with gravity.
hold the layout securely
is
Although the cabinet
layout to allow some
dimensions of the
while this is an ideal
“foot space.” Also,
layout that will
approach for an island
twice (you could
be moved once or
to park on this
even build a new layout
completed this
cabinet when you’ve
nded for layouts
recomme
one) it’s not
to shows on a
that you plan to take
regular basis.
call it portable!
moveable, I’d hardly
layout will be
The height of the
length of the 2 x 2
determined by the
height will be the
legs (the final rail
plus the thickness
length of the legs
plus ¼" for the plyof the foam board
in the bottom of
bolts
wood). Carriage
Adding aftermarket parts
10-1
12440 • $21.95
7
Benchwork
CHAPTER TEN
Readers will learn how to construct and finish plastic
model aircraft by mastering basic and advanced
techniques in assembling, aligning, gluing, surface
preparation, painting, and decaling.
87
Crosskitting a
Spitfire mk.ix
I
n 1999, a Portuguese
company called Occide
ntal released a
much-anticipated
1/48th-scale kit of
a Spitfire Mk.IXe. It
wasn’t
a bad kit (especially
for a first release)
but those hoping
for a
great Spitfire kit didn’t
get one. That Occide
ntal kit will serve as
a
starting point to demon
strate adding afterma
rket resin detail and
combining similar
kits, popularly known
as “kit-bashing.”
The Occidental kit
is fairly accurate in
outline except for
its nose, which looks
slightly inflated. Fortunate
ly Otaki (originally, then later released
as ARII and Airfix)
produced a Spitfire
Mk.VIII. There are
few
visual differences
between a Mk.IX
and
a Mk.VIII and though
the Otaki kit isn’t
perfect, its nose contours
are good. I’ll use
the Otaki kit from
the firewall forward
to
improve the lines
of the Occidental
kit.
Though the Occident
al interior is respectable, True Details
did a resin cockpit
specifically for it, which
I’ll also use. (In addition, I purchased
a couple different
Eduard
“Zoom” Spitfire IX
photo-etched sets
(not
designed for the Occident
al kit) to see
what useful items
may be found on
1
them.
Compare and contrast
Reinforce the join
from the inside with
a section of sheet
The first step to building
styrene and thickened
this model is to
superglue.
match up and compare
the Otaki and Occidental fuselage and
wings to determin
e
if this nose-swapping
plan is feasible. It’s
important to discover
that the respective
firewalls are in the
same place on both
kits.
Before grabbing a
saw though, some
refining is in order.
The exterior of the
Occidental kit has
a light grainy texture
to
it. Gun bay doors
are supplied as separate
pieces and once they
are slightly bent to
fit
flush in their respectiv
e wing openings
and solidly glued
in place, I sand all
the exterior surfaces
smooth with a
worn Norton 150
grit sanding pad,
1. Wet sanding with
320 would
accomplish the same
thing. Because
2
this model will wear
a flat finish, I don’t
have to be nearly
Otaki’s cross section
as fussy with the surisn’t as round as Occident
face smoothness factor
al’s.
as I was with the
RF-84, but that grain
definitely had to go!
I don’t bother with
the horizontal stabilizers, which are decidedly
thick and will be
replaced with Otaki
items.
Next, a nose job
With a razor saw and
a mitre box to
ensure a straight
cut, I do the nose
job
surgery, 2. Even with
the help of the miter
box, four perfect
cuts prove to be elusive.
Nose parts are taped
(not glued) together
and fuselage halves
are taped (not glued)
together.
With a good dose
of liquid cement to
allow for sliding and
adjusting, I match
up the Otaki and
Occidental items.
I don’t
allow any glue into
the centerline though.
3
I’m a long way from
gluing fuselage halves
Match up the Otaki
and Occidental items.
49
86
Make sure you have these titles in stock!
Contact your distributor or order direct:
Phone 1-800-558-1544, ext. 818
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Central Standard Time. Outside the United States
PMK-ADH-09X1459RH and Canada call 262-796-8776, ext. 818.
Fax 262-798-6592
Mail Kalmbach Publishing Co.
21027 Crossroads Circle
E-mail [email protected]
P.O. Box 986
Trade Web site Retailers.Kalmbach.com Waukesha, WI 53187-0986
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PRODUCT
LAB
IN-DEPTH TESTING, SPECIFICATIONS AND SELLING TIPS FOR ITEMS IN YOUR STORE
Tamiya’s Bronco tackles tough terrain
VITAL STATS
Product: 1973 Ford Bronco CR-01
Maker: Tamiya
Scale: 1:10
Stock No.: 58436
MSRP: $592
Brute strength and reliability are what
separates the Ford Bronco 1973 from other
crawlers on the market. Tamiya parts are as
tough as they come and very rarely break.
If anything does snap, parts are readily
available.
The one weak link on any crawler seems
to be the driveshafts, and Tamiya has
included an extra set just in case.
Marketing: The Tamiya Bronco
Product: Tamiya has been making
high-quality model kits since 1946. Its
motto — “First in Quality Around The
World” — isn’t just corporate fodder. The
company actually does make some of the
finest kits available on the market.
Each piece is precisely engineered to
mate perfectly with the next, the end result
being a highly detailed model that can
stand up to the abuse of a beginning modeler, or the stress given by a seasoned racer.
The Ford Bronco 1973, based off of the
popular CR-01 chassis, is an unassembled
1:10-scale 4WD kit requiring all electronics
(aside from the included motor), paint and
building supplies, and the ability to read
and understand complex assembly instructions. The finished Bronco is absolutely
gorgeous and looks equally as good on
display as it does romping around in the
dirt or crawling on the rocks.
Performance: The Bronco was my
fifth Tamiya kit and definitely the hardest
assembly to date. I struggled with identical
plastic pieces, screws that differed in millimeters, and missed steps during assembly.
Each step should be read twice, assembled, then read again! Doing so will ensure
you get it right the first time.
I found myself disassembling parts
24
on a number of occasions because I
installed them on the wrong side, or at
the improper angle, or in the wrong hole
on the chassis.
Once you get the Bronco put together,
it’s time to cut out and paint the body.
Paint numbers are provided; two sticker
sheets are included, making the finishing
process a relatively easy task that can be
completed in a few hours, thanks to the
fast-drying nature of the Tamiya PS polycarbonate spray paints.
The CR-01 chassis is designed for general off-road use, as well as medium-duty
rock crawling. It’s not designed as a competition-level rig, due to its limited axle
travel, but would be a great candidate for
a spec-class competition.
With that being said, the CR-01 is an
awesome performer on the rocks. It will
climb its way over all but the burliest of
rock gardens with true bead-locked wheels
and tires that grip better than most.
Even if there are no rocks in your area,
the Tamiya Bronco provides excitement
just spinning the tires in the dirt or crossing small streams and mud puddles,
thanks to the sealed transmission and
axles. Just remind the customer to enclose
the ESC and receiver in balloons if they
decide to take the truck through water.
should be considered an intermediate
to advanced build, but the popularity of
crawlers coupled with Tamiya’s awesome
box art will draw all hobbyists to it.
If you do sell the Bronco to a beginner,
make them aware of the time involved in
the build, along with the electronics and
paint that must be purchased. A great
electronic speed control to sell with the kit
is the Novak Rooster Crawler.
Also recommend a good metal-geared
high-torque standard servo that can stand
up to the rigors of crawling. Additional
items that should be offered when selling
the Bronco are a 6-cell NiMH or 2s LiPo
battery, transmitter and receiver, charger,
and Tamiya PS-1, PS-5, and PS-30 paints.
Any customer wanting a fun crawler
should be shown the Bronco, but its $592
retail price can be daunting. Reminding
them of Tamiya’s legendary quality and
performance can often seal the deal.
Review and photo by Matt Gunn
BOTTOM LINE
• High price, but high quality
• Requires electronics
• Somewhat complex assembly
PRODUCT LAB Build a sci-fi icon with Polar Lights’ Robby the Robot kit
Product: Long regarded as a classic sci-
ence-fiction film, 1956’s “Forbidden Planet”
featured Robby the Robot, a mechanical
man sprung from the mind of Bob Kinoshita who went on to design Robot B-9 for
TV’s “Lost in Space.” Polar Lights has reissued its 1999 kit of Robby featuring a new
base and fresh box art.
Molded in dark blue-gray plastic, the
kit’s major components include optional
parts, such as claw hands, and a different
chest plate to model different iterations
of Robby from his long film career. Clear
parts, as well a sprue of chrome-plated
pieces, round out the contents.
Performance: Although Robby is a
1990s mold, the fit and feel of the parts
is more akin to the 1960s, which is nice in
terms of nostalgia; however, it makes for a
more involved build.
I started by attaching the non-clear parts
to the head, including the faceplate and
transducer fins. The gray plastic was soft, cut
easily and responded well to liquid cement.
Next, I added the transducers, which
look like ears. They proved a little problematic because they’re molded in clear plastic
halves, with the join splitting the clear
fins right town the middle. It was almost
impossible to eliminate the seam. Also,
while the fins remained clear, the lower
parts were to be painted the body color. I
used quite a bit of putty to blend the clear
parts into the head.
The arms and hands fit OK, but I needed
to do a lot of sanding and filing to obliterate
the joint and make the arms in particular
appear to be one part. I had the same issues
with the legs and feet, and especially the
body, where the seam was particularly deep,
needing a couple of applications of putty
and a little super glue to eliminate. I assembled the body components, but left off all of
the face and head detail until after painting.
Priming was essential to show other
areas to be filled and sanded, including
around the chest plate, at the arm-tobody joins, and along the robot’s inseam.
VITAL STATS
Product: “Forbidden Planet” Robby
the Robot
Maker: Polar Lights
Scale: 1:12
Stock No.: POL810
MSRP: $18.49
A good primer will smooth out sanding
blemishes and provide a uniform surface
for the metallic paint to come.
Robby was a dark, metallic gray color overall; Testors Metalizer non-buffing gun metal,
available in both ½-oz. bottles for airbrushing
and in spray cans, is an almost perfect match
to the movie. I airbrushed several light coats,
gradually building up the color. Then, I mixed
a few drops of Metalizer stainless steel into
some gunmetal and airbrushed the upper
parts of Robby’s leg spheres, body, arms and
head. This gave the finish a little more zip. I
followed with a light coat of clear gloss.
The detail-painting instructions were a
little vague; a DVD copy of the movie and a
few color shots of the robot proved useful.
I used Tamiya acrylics to detail the chest
plate and face, deepening their appearance
with a wash of black artist’s oils and Turpenoid. This worked really well on the weapons neutralizers and gyros. I used Testors
clear parts cement to attach all of the clear
parts as well as some of the chrome.
I painted the base with a tan spray can
followed by a mist of a light tan and a
dark-brown wash.
Marketing: Polar Lights’ Robby the
Robot is all about fun. None of the fit problems is insurmountable with basic modeling
skills, and the sturdy parts help those with
less modeling experience. I spent about 12
hours of old-school modeling entertainment
on my robot, not including the hours spent
watching the movie for research.
I can easily recommend this kit to anyone: fans of the movie will love having a
good-looking replica on hand, and kids will
appreciate the ease of construction and the
novelty of the subject. While many of my
acquaintances can’t tell a Messerschmitt
from a Mirage, almost everyone I’ve
showed the model to recognized Robby;
he’s elicited more positive response than
just about anything else I’ve built recently.
Recommend buyers pick up a tube of
putty, some primer, clear part cement, and a
bottle or spray can of Testors Metalizer nonbuffing gunmetal while they’re in the store.
Reviewed by Aaron Skinner
BOTTOM LINE
• Iconic subject
• Builds like a ‘60s model kit
• Fun for all levels of modelers
ModelRetailer.com
Visit our Web site for these
bonus Product Lab reviews:
•Pack & Stack
Mayfair Games
•PT-19 450 ARF
E-flite
•1:20 Falke
Hasegawa
Plus the latest news, business
articles and much more!
25
PRODUCT LAB E-flite’s Blade S300 is flying fun straight out of the box
Product: The S300, the latest in the
popular Blade series, has a scale Schweizer
300C body and trim scheme. It’s available
in a ready-to-fly (RTF) version, complete
with helicopter, 3.7V 110mAh LiPo battery,
2.4 GHz transmitter with Spektrum DSM2
technology, and eight AA batteries (four
each for the charger and transmitter).
A Bind-N-Fly (BNF) version is also available,
which contains everything mentioned
above except the transmitter and its batteries.
Included with each version is a spare
set of upper and lower rotor blades; rotor
blade trim tape; spare servo shaft retainers; spare canopy mounting O-rings;
numbers and letters; and a small Phillips
screwdriver.
Performance: Performance, in a
word, is terrific. This micro coaxial helicopter is a joy to fly. I test-flew the RTF
and BNF versions, and each was excellent.
Binding the helicopter to my Spektrum
DX6i transmitter was simple, with minimal
VITAL STATS
Product: Blade mCX S300 BNF
(EFLH2380, $139.99/MAP $109.99);
Blade MCX S300 RTF ($179.99/MAP
$139.99)
Maker: E-flite
Availability: Horizon Hobby
26
trim required for stable hovering flight.
The RTF version likewise flew well right
from the box, which bodes well for the
beginning pilot.
The only nit I would pick with this
model is that the landing gear seems to
be a bit too short in back; perhaps that’s
a scale consideration, but the skids stop
just behind the aft mounting bracket. This
contributed to a tendency for both models
to tip backwards slightly on takeoff. That’s
correctable when you know it’s coming,
but the novice pilot may struggle a bit.
By way of comparison, the previous
mCX’s gear extends roughly ¼-inch past
this point, with no takeoff issues. The layout is almost identical, and I imagine the
shorter-length gear may stop near the
model’s center of gravity, making it a bit
more touchy.
That aside, the S300 is durable, maneuverable, controllable, and inherently stable.
The spare rotor blades are a nice touch,
because the model flies so well that it’s
easy to be aggressive with it, which can
result in some hard landings and occasional need for repair. And the replacement blades are white, so if only the lower
blades are replaced, they will be more
noticeable than the upper (black) blades,
giving the illusion of a single-rotor helicopter in flight.
Flight time on the stock battery is
approximately seven minutes, varying a bit
with the amount of maneuvering.
Marketing: This is flying fun in a box.
Keep an mCX S300 handy in your store,
and let your customers try it. They will be
amazed at how easy it is to fly, and simply,
how much fun it is to maneuver.
Your customers are likely to find, as I did,
that the S300 is so much fun that one battery is not enough. Fortunately, spares are
readily available (EFLB1101S, $7.49).
And because I have several models that
use these batteries, I ordered the E-flite’s
four-port charger (EFLC1004, $39.99) and
its 6V power supply (EFLC1005, $14.99).
That should keep things moving on the
old flight line, as well as clearing up the
clutter that can be created when the
supplied chargers start to stack up.
Good looks and fine handling characteristics make this a model I recommend
highly — for the experienced pilot who
wants a break from high-end models and
the novice who just wants to try helicopter flying. I am very happy with mine, and
I look forward to many more hours of flying fun.
Reviewed by Jim Haught
BOTTOM LINE
• RTF or BNF versions
• Easy to fly, yet maneuverable
• Fun in a box
Stock your shop with
2 0 10 e d i t i o n
AmericAn
r
e
FPOly
cKeT Price GUiDe
1946 -2010
This is the essential guide that
collectors need before buying
or selling any Lionel toy train or
accessory. The latest edition of the
famous Greenberg’s Guide lists
current prices and other reference
information for prewar, postwar,
and modern trains.
10-8710 • $18.95
2 0 10 e d i t i o n
LIONEL
TRAINS
NEW
SECTION ON
BOXES
POCKET PRICE GUIDE
1901-2010
This handy pocket-sized guide
provides current market values for
American Flyer S gauge trains and
accessories manufactured by A.C.
Gilbert and Lionel between 1946
and early 2010. This guide also
features S gauge train information
from American Models and
S-Helper Service.
10-8610 • $15.95
Contact your distributor or order direct:
Phone 1-800-558-1544, ext. 818
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Central Standard Time. Outside the U.S.
and Canada call 262-796-8776, ext. 818.
PMK-ADH-09X1342RH
Fax 262-798-6592
E-mail [email protected]
Trade Web site Retailers.Kalmbach.com
Mail Kalmbach Publishing Co.
21027 Crossroads Circle
P.O. Box 986 Waukesha,
WI 53187-0986
H
books from Kalmbach
R
Realistic Modeling Fo
Hobby
Realistic Modeling for
Toy Trains
Toy Trains: A Hi-rail Guide
IDE —
— A HI-RAIL GU
Classic Toy Trains contributor Dennis Brennan shows readers how
to build a hi-rail toy train layout such as his Sandy Harbor Terminal
Railway. He provides modeling concepts as well as practical techniques
for incorporating toy trains and accessories into realistic settings.
10-8390 • $19.95
CHAPTER EIGHT: Kitbashing buildings
8-2
8-1
Kitbashing 101
The sounds reverberate through
Kitbashing is often thought of as using two or more of the same kits to enlarge a building.
the industrial canyon as the little
steamer rumbles through on
But kitbashed projects can range from modifying the parts of just a single kit to combining
well-pounded rails past a variety
Brennan
of kitbashed buildings.
pieces from several different kits to make an entirely unique structure. Kitbashing can be
simple or complex, it’s up to you. And it doesn’t only apply to buildings. Almost anything
can be kitbashed—bridges, railroad cars, engines, and accessories.
ings • WateR
accessoRies • BUild
neRy
•
sce
K
oR
tRacKW
Dennis Brennan
Create a rockslide
Pour talus in various sizes
and shades on the slope
above where you want your
rockslide.
1
Drizzle the talus
with wet water.
2
Push the talus in place if too much
ends up at the foot of the hill.
3
4
48
will be done in the same work session. This way everything will
blend together nicely.The area already has the first basic layer of
dirt, and now we will add a top layer.
Start by applying fine-sifted dirt on the service road. I made
a mix for the road in a slightly lighter shade than what I used for
rest of the scenery. Apply ground cover to the riverbanks following the same procedure as on the hill behind the track.
Now apply ballast to the track. You will need to spread the
ballast immediately after you pour it on the track. If you wait too
long, the moisture from below will seep into the ballast and it
will be difficult to spread evenly. See page 72 for details on the
blend of ballast I used on this scene.
Pour plenty of talus in the riverbed, placing the bigger boulders individually.
Drizzle the ballast, dirt road, banks, and riverbed with wet
water. Patch areas with ground cover if the water causes material to flow away in some places. Drip thinned white glue across
the area, starting with the ballast and proceeding to the dirt
road, riverbanks, and riverbed. Because of the size of the boulders, you’ll need to give the riverbed plenty of glue.
All this water and glue has to go somewhere, so it is a good
idea to place containers to catch any runoff below the lowest
points of the scene. You can also poke drain holes in the foam
to control where the excess glue goes.
Apply some grass and turf on the riverbanks the same way
as on the hill. The application of the basic scenery is now complete. Let the scene dry thoroughly, which can take several days
depending on the temperature and humidity.
Adding vegetation
Drip the rockslide with
thinned white glue.
Apply some soil around
the edges of the rockslide
to make it blend with the
rest of the scenery.
Many old industrial buildings exhibit the decorative architectural
following standard architectural conventions produced a realistic early
flourishes common in the early 1900s. Note the three windows between
20th century factory.
the pillars on the upper floors.
About 80 percent of the buildings on
the Sandy Harbor have been altered in
some way, 8-1, but most viewers would
never know it. And that’s the way it
should be. A successful kitbash shouldn’t
give itself away. There is a definite art to
it, but once you know the basics, you’ll be
well on your way to kitbashing success.
Here are four important fundamentals:
• Pick the right kit for the job. Some
kits work better for expanding a building’s footprint rather than being stacked
to gain height.
• Look for kits with repeating patterns. These are well suited for making
larger structures, whether stacked or
expanding a footprint.
• Use a scanner or a copier to make
paper printouts of walls and other
components. Cut and paste these pieces
together in order to figure out various
possibilities. You can then use them as
templates.
• Make your cuts where they will
be the least noticeable. Remember,
this is plastic surgery. You may not be
able to eliminate the scars, but you can
minimize them by concealing them in a
natural joint such as a corner.
8-4
Decorative molding sets off the first floor of this building from the other stories. If applied
judiciously, signs and graffiti are interesting details to add to a model.
I wrestled with how to present this
chapter on kitbashing. I could’ve given
you detailed step-by-step instructions
for constructing numerous buildings.
But a big problem with that approach is
that some kits are no longer in production. So where would you go from there?
Instead, I’ll present detailed descriptions
of how I kitbashed Carp Machinery and
the freight house, which employ several
basic techniques that you should know.
Then, I’ll give broader examples of various other kitbashing techniques. These
builds will explain the kitbashing process
and provide a blueprint for guiding you
through your own creative discoveries.
82
83
A comprehensive how-to guide for constructing the most common forms
of scenery: mountains, deserts, rural areas, and city scenes. This volume
describes essential scenery tips and techniques through highly detailed
photos and step-by-step instructions.
12433 • $21.95
5
8-3
It took four kits to make Carp Machinery. Paying attention to detail and
After the scene is completely dry, it is time to add more scenery.
Start with the smallest details such as grass tufts and weeds, then
bushes, and finally some trees. Applying these scenery materials
goes much slower than the previous steps. Since the scenery
isn’t wet, there’s no reason to rush.
Add tire marks to the dirt road by rubbing the road with an
old, stiff paintbrush or with your finger.
Apply grass tufts and weeds to the scene. I used grass tufts
from Silflor in autumn and winter colors as well as light green
field grass from Woodland Scenics. The vegetation is greener
the closer it is to the river.
The largest concentration of grass and weeds is found along
the riverbanks. Apply each grass tuft with a dab of glue. The field
grass is cut to appropriate lengths and also applied with a dab of
glue using the techniques described on pages 22 and 23.
For bushes and small trees, use Woodland Scenics fine-leaf
foliage. The majority of bushes and small trees are light green,
with a few medium green examples added for variety.
Model RailRoad
e R ’ s H o w -t o G u i
de
Essential Model Railroa
d
Scenery
Techniques
Apply thinned white glue to the still-wet soil. Do this only on the
more level areas.
Sprinkle static flock grass and coarse turf on the area. I used both
light green and burnt grass in this scene.
The coarse turf needs a few extra drops of thinned glue to hold it
in place.
49
Pelle K. Søeborg
RADIO CONTROL
BY TIm Kidwell
Aircraft
Z-526 ZLIN AKROBAT ARF Great Planes
The Z-526 sport aerobat (No. GPMA1024,
MSRP/Street $299.99/$219.99) can be
equipped with a 2- or 4-stroke engine, or
an electric outrunner. Requires 4- or 5channel radio and four or five servos. Available from Great Planes Model Distributors.
Cars & Trucks
Blade mSR
E-flite
The perfect next step up from a co-axial
heli, the mSR is available as an RTF (No.
EFLH3000, MSRP/MAP $224.99/$179.99)
or BNF (No. EFLH3080, MSRP/MAP
$184.99/$149.99). Includes two batteries
and a four-port charger with AC adaptor.
Available exclusively from Horizon Hobby.
1:10 Strike SCT
a 2-speed transmission and a Losi 2.4GHz
DSM radio, the Speed-NT (No. LOSB0125,
MSRP/MAP $599.99/$399.99) can reach 60
mph. Distributed by Horizon Hobby.
1:10 BLITZ Short-Course Truck RTR
Losi
HPI Racing
The Strike SCT is available in both RTR (No.
LOSB0105, MSRP/MAP $349.99/$229.99)
and new Bind-N-Drive (No. LOSB01015BD,
MSRP/MAP $309.99/$199.99) versions.
Both feature Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM technology and a water-resistant NiMH/LiPo
compatible reversing ESC. Distributed by
Horizon Hobby.
The Blitz’s (No. 103171,$349) chassis is
based on the E-Firestorm, and has been
lengthened for stability. The truck comes
with an all-metal-gear transmission, 15T
motor, full ball bearings, 12mm hex hubs
and captured hinge pins.
Electronics
1:10 Speed-NT RTR
Odin 90/CF Compass Model
The Odin 90/CF nitro heli (No. 99-90-c,
$759.95) is fully ball-raced, possesses a
large pitch range and comes equipped
with an electronic cooling system. Other
features include hardened main and tail
shafts, and a dual-pin zero-slop tail pitch
system. Distributed by Common Sense RC.
30
MODEL RETAILER October 2009
Losi
5A High-Voltage Universal BEC
With features like a Losi 3.4 performance .20
nitro engine, a handheld spin-start starter,
Novak’s new BEC (No. 5466, $44.95) allows
Novak
drivers to run higher-voltage battery packs
up to 28V (9–22 NiMH cells or 3–7 LiPo),
and regulates output to 6V/5A to provide
consistent, glitch-free power to your customer’s receiver and servos.
"OATERSEVERYWHEREHAVECOMETORELYON/CTURA-ODELSFOR
THEBEST2#-ODEL0OWER"OATINGNEEDSSUCHAS
02/0%,,%23-%4!,0,!34)#
-/4/2-/5.43
5.)6%23!,3
25$$%23
4(2534"%!2).'3
3425$$%23
7!4%20)#+503
$2)6%$/'3
02/03(!&43
4!),.543
02/0"!,!.#%2
342543
&,%8)",%3(!&4(!2$7!2%-/2%
7HYSPENDMOREFORLESSINSISTON
GENUINE/CTURA-ODEL-ARINE3UPPLIES
BEC Stabilizing Capacitor
LRP
By plugging into an open slot on a receiver, LRP’s BEC Stabilizing Capacitor (No.
LRP80135, $9.99) prevents the receiver’s
voltage from dropping under its correct
operating level. Works for both FM and
2.4GHz receivers in nitro or EP vehicles.
/#452!-/$%,3)NC
.(AMLIN!VEs3KOKIE),ss&!8
7%3%,,$%!,%2$)2%#4
L-39
Batteries
composite
From $249.99
1600mAh 7.2V NiMH WITH
TRAXXAS CONNECTOR
F-16
DURATRAX
The DuraTrax 1600mAh 7.2V NiMH
pack (No. DTXC2192, MSRP/Street
$34.99/$24.99) features a Traxxas plug and
is designed specifically for the popular
1:16-scale E-Revo VXL and Slash VXL. Available from Great Planes Model Distributors.
EC3 Batteries
Venom
Venom has released its most popular
batteries with EC3 3mm connectors, com-
Call us NOW
1-800-976-7004
Dealer Inquiries
WELCOME
Fuselage Length : 41.3 inches
Wingspan : 32.3 inches
Main Wing Area : 17 sq dm
Wing
Loading : 76g sq dm
W
Flying
Weight : 41-46 oz
Fl
Motor
: Outrunner 2842 3200kv
Mo
Fan
Fa
an : 70mm 5 Blade
Retract
Ready *sold
*sold separately
separately
Ret
Flap
Ready
F
Fla
100+ Mph on 4S
Highly efficient 70mm fan unit
Full Flying Stabs
Sapac 2842 3200Kv
Brushless Outrunner
Lightweight Foam Design
Receiver Ready $209.99
Arf w/Fan and motor $134.99
www.SapacAmerica.com
31
RADIO CONTROL
rear with openings, a 65mm spoiler, and
comes with decals, window masks and
overspray film.
monly used with Horizon Hobby products.
Available batteries include: 3000mAh 7.2V
(No. VEN-15050, $38.99), 8.4V (No. VEN15051, $49.99) and 9.6V (No. VEN-15052,
$59.99) NiMH packs; an 11.1V 4000mAh
20C LiPo (No. VEN-15053, $169.99); and an
11.1V 5400mAh 20C LiPo (No. VEN-15054,
$224.99).
Bodies
1:12 AMR-12
Accessories
Transporter Race Case —
Silver
Venom
The Transporter Race Case (No. VEN-2007S,
$199.99) has integrated wheels and an
extendable tow handle. Inside are five
drawers: the lower four are perfect for storing transmitters and spare parts; the top
drawer can hold a 1:8-scale buggy.
.18–.28 turbo-head competition engines.
Suitable for nitro fuel containing 20–30%
nitro. Each plug retails for $15.99.
Pro-Line Racing
Made from clear .020 Lexan, the AMR-12
(No. 1611-21, $15.50) meets all EFRA,
BRCA and ROAR body requirements. The
AMR-12 features 173mm-wide front and
Turbo Glow Plugs
Reedy
The Reedy RT3 (No. 28040; very hot) and
RT4 (No. 28041; hot) are designed for
E-mail Tim at [email protected].
Unless otherwise indicated, contact information for all companies mentioned can be
found in Model Retailer’s Business Pages at
www.ModelRetailer.com.
Magazine advertising moves
readers to action.
More than half of readers took action on magazine ads or
had a more favorable opinion about the advertiser.
Source: Affinity Research
Call Model Retailer for information on how to move your
readers to action. 1-888-558-1544 ext. 537 or ext. 652
32
“iHobby Expo is a great showpiece
for the hobby industry and I feel it is worth my while traveling
from Ireland to attend.” —Mark Cuffe, Mark’s Models, Dublin, Ireland
“This was my first trade show.
I’m impressed and glad I came.”
Paul K Guillow
Pegasus Hobbies
Phoenix Toys & Novelties
Plastruct Inc
Premier Kites & Design
—Bob Kampe, Island Train and Hobby,
ProDesign Model Production
Pro-Line
Venice, Florida
Proxxon/Prox-Tech Inc
Puzzled Inc
Exhibitors Include:
Hangzhou Lin’an Beyonder Power
Quayside Publishing Group (MBI)
Co Ltd
AA Portable Power
R/C Car Magazine
Haoye Limited
Accor Hospitality/Motel 6
Racemasters, Inc/AFX
Hape International
Accurate Miniatures
RailCam/HobbyCam by ATS
Happytime R/C Hobby Distributors
Acela/Northeast Corridor Layout
Railway Productions
Heimburger House Publishing
Acrylicos Vallejo S.L.
RAM Models Inc.
Himoto Racing
Action Hobby
RC-HOME/Prostar Batteries Inc.
Hitec RCD USA, LLC
Air Age Media
Red Cat Racing
Hobby Manufacturers Association
Airborne Models
REH Distributing
Hobby Merchandiser
Airfix/Humbrol
Replicarz
Hobbycraft Canada
Alpha Precision Abrasives
RJ Speed
HobbyTown USA
Al’s Hobby Shop
Robotis
Hobbytyme
AMB i.t.
Rotory Modeler Magazine
Hobzob
aNb Media
Hong Kong Trade Development Council SCX Tecnitoys
AristoCraft Trains/Polk’s Hobby
Shenzhen Desire Power Technology
Horizon Hobby Inc
Auto Worldb2b Replicas
CO., Ltd.
Hornby America
b2b Replicas
Ship Chandler
Independent Highrailers Midwest
Bachmann Trains
Siriani
& Associates
Isolde Industries
Big Squid RC
Skywide (HK) Ltd
Iwata-Medea Inc
Blu Track
Smart Energy
Joe’s Brick Depot
Bob Smith Industries Inc
Soaring Arrow Electronics
Kalmbach Publishing Co
Burfitt Tools Australia
SoundTraxx/Blackstone Models
KATO USA Inc
Byron Originals
Stevens International
Kenosha Garden Railroad Society
Caboose Industries
Sullivan Products
KL Corporation
Carrera of America
Sun Star Die-Cast America Inc
Kookle Gifts
Castle Creations Inc
Sun Trade Ltd
LGB Model Railroad Club of Chicago
China Toy Association
Lionel Trains
CIS-Associates, LLC
M.T.H. Electric Trains
CMW Holdings/Classic Metal Works
Magnum Enterprises
Cobra RC Toys
Maplegate Media Group
Common Sense RC
Marklin, Inc.
Daron Worldwide Trading
Maxx Products International LLC
Delta of North America
Merlin Glow Plugs Inc.
DHS Diecast
Micro-Trains Line Co
Donegan Optical Company Inc
Midwest Products Co
Du-Bro Products
Minichamps North America Inc
EDS Racing Products
Minicraft Models
Eduard Model Accessories
MMD Squadron
Electronic Model Systems
Mobil Aviation Historical Exhibits
Empire Hobby, LLC
Model Builders Supply
Enerland Co Ltd
Model Power
Evergreen Scale Models
Model Rectifier Corporation
Excel Hobby Blade Corp
Model Shipways/Model Expo
Four Pi Inc
Moebius ModelsNine Eagles
Fun Lines
National Association of Rocketry
Games Workshop
Nine Eagles
Garrett Metal Detectors
Northwest N Trak Model Railroad
Gayla Industries Inc
Northwest Trainmasters HO Modular
GC Laser
Railroad Club
Golden Bell Press
Novak Electronics, Inc
Good L Corp
Over Dose Racing & Technologies
Great Planes Model Dist.
Palco Sports
Green Light LLC
Panache Place, Inc
Grex Airbrush
Guangzhou Walkera Technology Co Ltd Parma International
Sunrich Toys & Hobby
Sunward Aerospace
Tekin, Inc
The Car Room Magazine
The Coachyard/Thinfilm
The Desktop Cash Register
The Testor Corporation
Think Omnimedia LLC (Xtreme R/C
Cars Magazine)
Thunder Power RC
Thunder Tech Racing
Tiny Brite Lights, LLC
TM Books & Video
Topsoaring New Technology Co Ltd
Toymine International Inc
Traplet Dist
Traxxas
Tri-Technical Systems
Trossen Robotics
Trumpeter Models
Tru-Square Metal Products
Tyler Retail Systems Inc
Venture Crew 57 Club-Baden Powell
Modular Railroad Club
Venture Hobbies
Williams by Bachmann
Wingtote LLC
Wm K Walthers
Woodland Scenics
World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour
Xtreme Racing
Xuron Corporation
Zona Tool Co
“ The Hobby University
Seminars , and especially the one
on ‘The Bottom Line’, was extremely
valuable to a new retailer.”
—Carrie Green, the Clover Leaf, Union Gap, WA
October 22 and 23 — Trade
October 24 and 25 — Trade & Consumer
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont (Chicago) IL
See over 350 displays of “NEW”radio control, model railroad,
plastics & die cast, toy, and general hobby products.
Source products for children and adults
of all ages and skill levels.
Attend valuable educational seminars
to help you increase sales
Network with your industry peers
Meet future hobby enthusiasts—over 15,800 in 2008
Endorsed by
Sponsored by
DESKTOP CASH REGISTER
To secure your preferred exhibit Space, email
[email protected]
To receive attendee
registration information call
877-To-Hobby
or visit
www.iHobbyExpo.com
What’s selling: RADIO CONTROL
?
COMPILED BY JENNY MAASKE
What business lessons have you
learned in the last year, and how have
they made your store better?
Change it up. Move stock locations often.
Pay close attention to window displays.
Kevin Koch
Uncle Don’s Hobbies
Palm Desert, Calif.
Install a better security system and stop
taking checks.
Larry Bennett
RC Hobbies Plus
Lafayette, Ind.
We have only been in business for one
year, and I’ve learned that you can’t please
everybody. In fact, I am lucky if I can please
50% of the customers that walk through
my door. However, even if I only please
10%, those 10% are customers for life, and
their word-of-mouth advertising is better
than any other advertising I can do. I have
also learned that I can’t possibly stock
every item that every customer wants, but
WIN THIS PRIZE!
I can call around to other local brick-andmortar shops to make sure they get the
business. Customers are very pleased to
see shops working together as opposed
to the big-box store’s cut-throat mentality
that plagues this society.
Kimberly Miller
Turn 4 Hobbies
West Boylston, Mass.
Clear out old merchandise and keep bringing in the new stuff. Put it in customers’
hands, get them excited about it, and they
will start telling their friends about the
cool new thing they saw.
Glen McDade
HobbyTown USA
Schaumburg, Ill.
The biggest lesson we have learned is that
there is little we could do in our current
location to stimulate sales in this economy.
W RTH
MORO
E THAN
30
RETAIL0
!
$
We recently decided to revisit an opportunity to relocate.
We have been renting a property for 20
years with 3,600 square-feet of showroom
and 600 square-feet of back room areas.
Our outside R/C track was good 15 years
ago, but isn’t appropriate for the current
off-road racing in the area. We could either
sit here and wait for an economic recovery
sometime in 2010 or later, or be proactive
in improving our store.
Last year, we looked at a property that
offered 11,000 square-feet, including
6,000 square-feet of showroom and 2,200
square-feet for an indoor R/C track. We’ll
also have room to reassemble our two
slot-car tracks and set up an electric-aircraft flying field.
This relocation will be the best thing
that ever happened to our business. Everything I’ve read in trade magazines tells
us to do our best to survive in this tough
economy, and the companies that are prepared for the recovery will be in the best
position possible. Our shop will begin our
own turnaround in the fourth quarter of
2009, and will be poised for the economic
recovery.
William Ott
Modellbahn Ott Hobbies, Inc.
Gilbertsville, Pa.
You can win this Tamiya RTR car
and ParkZone BNF plane in our
next quarterly drawing. All you
have to do is participate in the
What’s Selling survey. E-mail
Jenny Maaske at [email protected] or call 262-796-8776
ext. 260 for more information.
Congratulations
Kimberly Miller of Turn 4
Hobbies in West Boylston,
Mass. She received products from Tamiya, E-flite
and DuraTrax. Thanks to all
the retailers who returned
the survey!
34
What’s selling: RADIO CONTROL
Sponsored by:
Atlantic
North
Central
South
Mountain
Pacific
Store location
Modellbahn Ott Hobbies
Gilbertsville, Pa.
The Hobby Shoppe
Orangeville, Ont.
RC Hobbies Plus
Lafayette, Ind.
HobbyTown USA
Charlottesville, Va.
Motorsport Hobbies
Casa Grande, Ariz.
RacePrep Hobbies
Simi Valley, Calif.
Vehicles
T-Maxx 2.5
Traxxas
Slash, Savage X
Traxxas, HPI
1:16 E-Revo, Slash
Traxxas
Stampede, Jato
Traxxas
1:10 models
Traxxas
SC10
Team Associated
Aircraft
Blade CX2, CX3
E-flite
Super Cub
HobbyZone
Super Cub LP
HobbyZone
Super Cub, Sukhoi
HobbyZone, ParkZone
Blade mCX
E-flite
Sukhoi Su-26m
ParkZone
Boats
Mini Rio
AquaCraft
Apache
Pro Boat
Hammer
AquaCraft
Zig Zag Racers
HobbyZone
Brushless RTR
Various makes
WidowMaker 22
Pro Boat
Accessories
manufacturer
Onyx chargers
DuraTrax
Radios, batteries
Spektrum, Venom
LiPo batteries, radios
Spektrum
DX5i, DX6i
Spektrum
645MG servos
Hitec
Brushless motors
Various makes
Store location
Turn 4 Hobbies
Paris Junction Hobbies
Paris, Ont.
Cavalry Games & Hobbies
Milwaukee, Wis.
GBI Hobbies
Havelock, N.C.
A Mad Mans Hobby Store
Lehi, Utah
The Lion’s Den
Sechelt, B.C.
Vehicles
Various models
Traxxas
MG10, Magnum NX
CEN Racing
Various models
Traxxas, Losi
1:16 models
Traxxas
1:16 models
Traxxas
No trend
Aircraft
RTF models
E-flite, ParkZone
Super Cub LP
HobbyZone
Blade helis
E-flite
P-51 Mustang BNF
ParkZone
Mini Super Cub
HobbyZone
No trend
manufacturer
Boats
No trend
Apache, Reef Racer
Pro Boat, AquaCraft
Various models
Pro Boat
No trend
Blast
Traxxas
No trend
Accessories
manufacturer
Parts, 1:16 hop-ups
Traxxas
Fuel, batteries
Morgan, Venom
Batteries
Venom
Radios
Spektrum
SuperCharge batteries
Orion
Brushless systems
Various makes
Store location
ABC Fly Before You Buy
Lockport, N.Y.
On Track Hobbies
Port Moody, B.C.
HobbyTown USA
Schaumburg, Ill.
D&S Hobbies
Florence, S.C.
Prairie Unique
Terry, Mont.
Palm Desert, Calif.
Vehicles
E-Maxx
Traxxas
No trend
1:16 E-Revo
Traxxas
1:16 Slash
Traxxas
Revo, Slash
Traxxas
1:16 brushless
Traxxas
Aircraft
manufacturer
LT-40, SuperStar 40
Sig, Hobbico
Mini helicopters
Various makes
Blade mCX
E-flite
Sukhoi Su-26m
ParkZone
Super Cub LP
HobbyZone
Sukhoi Su-26m
ParkZone
Boats
No trend
No trend
Hammer
AquaCraft
UL-1
AquaCraft
No trend
Zig Zag 3
HobbyZone
Accessories
No trend
No trend
DX6i
Spektrum
No trend
Chargers, batteries
Various makes
Batteries
DuraTrax
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
Lists are based on retailer reports of hot-selling items in each category. Survey was taken in August.
36
Dominate Your Chosen Battlefield
Kit #56028
1/16 R/C Russian
Heavy Tank KV-1
Full-Option Set
No one does “BIGGER” better than Tamiya. Our comprehensive line of large scale R/C and static tanks are
just what you are looking for. They include tons of detail as well as realistic action and sound on our R/C
Full-Option Sets. And you can take the next step and install the 1/16 R/C Tank LED Battle System (sold
separately) for exciting One-on-One battles with other similarly equipped Tamiya R/C tanks.
Plenty of detail, ease of assembly and precision engineering are all the hallmarks of a great kit and Tamiya’s 1/35 scale armor kits
lead the way. These armor models are some of the best designed on the market. Soon, our 300th kit, British Matilda Mk.III/IV will hit
the market. This kit brings the very best that Tamiya has to offer to the forefront. Accuracy, detail and above all, precision assembly
and fit are rolled into an amazing model building experience.
Kit #35295
German Tank Destroyer
Jagdtiger
Kit #32560
German Tank Destroyer
Marder III
Why follow when you can lead. That was Tamiya’s thought when they devoted their talents and resources to developing a
new product line of 1/48 small-scale armor. This long neglected armor scale has seen Tamiya explode onto the scene with
plenty of subjects with superior detail to meet the needs for any discerning armor builder. Perfect for detailing and use in
dioramas, Tamiya has brought new life into this wonderful scale.
(whether it is in your National Franchise Shop
or your Neighborhood Brick-N-Mortar)
One Model Maker, Three Major Scales, Hundreds of subjects...
No other manufacturer can bring together this many scales, subjects, level of detail and quality than Tamiya.
Whether your customers like their armor Large-and-Loud, Small-and-Detailed or the Standard-Bearer of armor
scales... 1/35, Tamiya has what they’re looking for in an armor kit. When deciding what kit manufacture to invest
in, why not pick the one that gives your customers the broadest range of choices and the highest quality. Those two
factors will create the greatest chance of an enjoyable building experience and thus a happy customer!
So why sell them something that they will “try” to build when you can sell a model
that provides the joy of building Tamiya armor. There is a reason that when other
manufactures kits are reviewed, it is common to read... “well, it isn’t a Tamiya!” So to
provide your customers the pure joy of scale armor modeling and the best of detail,
precision and ease of assembly, there is only one name to stock in your store... Tamiya.
Kit #35300 - British Matilda Mk.III/IV
©2009 Tamiya America Inc. 36 Discovery Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92618 800.826.4922
www.tamiyausa.com
MODEL RAILROADING
by JENNY MAASKE
Rolling stock
N freight cars
Micro-Trains line
New road names include a United States
Army 50-troop kitchen car (No. 11800040,
$20.35), a bay-window caboose painted in
CSX blue and gray (No. 13000040, $29.65),
a 40-foot hi-cube boxcar lettered for Burlington Northern (No. 10100090, $22.55)
and a 50-foot Koppers Company gondola
with coke container load (Nos. 10500711,
10500712, $23.95).
N Covered Hoppers
Deluxe Innovations
HO Drop bottom Gondolas
The first run of Delaware, Lackawanna &
Western cement hoppers is expected to
arrive in the first quarter of 2010. The twobay hoppers will be offered in black and
gray cement car schemes with six different
road numbers. Available singly (No. 75411,
$18.95), in a two-pack (No. 75412, $37.90)
or three-pack (No. 75413, $56.85).
REd Caboose
The latest offering includes steel-sided
gondolas lettered for Illinois Central,
Western Pacific, Soo and Union Pacific for
$33.95 each. Also available is a Southern
Pacific beet gondola with composite
sides and plywood extensions for $36.95.
Equipped with 33-inch metal wheelsets
and Kadee Couplers. Available from InterMountain Railway Co. in February-March.
locomotives
number on hood or yellow number on
cab), St. Louis-San Francisco (simplified
safety scheme) and Milwaukee Road (mid1960s with white X on sills or 1972 retirement scheme). Available with standard DC
($159.98) or DCC with sound ($249.98).
October delivery is expected.
N GE C44-9W Locomotive
Kato USA
December delivery is expected for Kato’s
C44-9W models featuring the BNSF
“Swoosh” (Nos. 1763508, 1763509) and
Warbonnet (Nos. 176-3510, 176-3511)
schemes. Features include new undercarriage and fuel tank detailing, illuminated
numberboards, and five-pole motor with
all-wheel electrical pickup and blackened
wheels. Retail price is $110 each.
HO Trinity spine car Athearn
This 57-foot, three-unit spine car newly
tooled with a precision die-cast metal
spine structure, etched metal walkways
and formed wire brake details. Available in
six road numbers for $89.98 each.
HO fairbanks-morse H10-44 proto 2000 by Walthers
New paint schemes include Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe (includes safety poster
sheet), Chicago & North Western (black
N Shay Steam locomotive Atlas Model railroad Co.
New paint schemes include Argentine
Central (No. 41635), East Side Logging (No.
41636), New York & Pennsylvania Co. Inc.
(No. 41637) and Pickering Lumber Corp.
(No. 41638). All numbered locomotives
feature black paint with white lettering.
Each is priced at $199.95 and will be available in December.
HO Trainman Plus NRE Genset
Atlas Model Railroad co.
New from Atlas is a model of the NRE
38
MODEL RETAILER october 2009
Timberline recently introduced a new
line of mine tailings, coal, ballast and
talus. Ballast comes in four grades and
five colors, coal in one grade, mine tailings in five grades, and talus (shown)
in four colors and blends. Available in
20-cubic-inch bags for $3.98 each, or 60cubic-inch shaker jugs for $10.98.
structures
Genset locomotive ($109.95). Initial road
names include BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Pacific Harbor Line and Union Pacific.
Two road numbers each. January delivery
is expected.
scenery
scenery materials
HO Redlon welding
TImberline scenery co.
walthers
NEW SD40-2 Loco
in Z Scale!
Exacting fan and vent detail
Powerful coreless motor
DCC ready
Finely detailed
plastic railing
Accurate shell detail
Horns
Directional LED headlights
Magne-Matic coupler
®
Cow catcher
Fuel tank
New 6-wheel truck
*Undecorated pre-production sample.
COMING FALL 2009
Available through your local authorized Micro-Trains dealer
39
This new Cornerstone kit (No. 933-3324,
$49.98) includes a separate shack with
rooftop vent, brick chimney, junk pile,
spare parts bin and cutting torch with
tanks. October delivery is expected.
electronics
MX630 DCC Decoder ZIMO ELEKTRONIK
Versions include MX630 with 9-wire har-
ness, MX630R with 8-pin plug on wires,
MX630F with 6-pin plug, MX630P with 16pin PluX connector, MX630H (high-output
version) and MX630V1 (low-voltage supply
function). MSRP is $40 per MX630; $42 per
MX630R. t
E-mail Jenny at [email protected].
www.modelretailer.com.
!
" ! " " % !$ ! !%!
! #!" !!!"!$"#!
#!!!
"""" C
enterline
" P
roducts,
#"!LLC
1229 E.'
4th Street,
Reno,
NV
89512
"
&
TEL (775) 337-6662 FAX (775) 337-6663
666(*/4*2-,/*120)5(43(0.
,/+0(*/4*2-,/*120)5(43(0.
8DB>C<HDDC;GDB6IA6HBD9:A
EgZ"dgYZg9ZVYa^cZ/HZei'-!'%%.EgdYjXi6gg^kVa/?VcjVgn'%&%
DG9:G;GDBNDJG6IA6H9>HIG>7JIDGID96N
Union Pacific
Missouri Pacific
Apalachicola Northern
CSX*
6IA6HIG6>CB6C C<E&*"&AD8DBDI>K:

• Scale dimensions and details • Directional lighting
• DCC Ready • Blackened metal wheels
• Dual flywheel equipped 5-pole skewed armature motor with
a low friction mechanism
Conrail Quality
*CSX Licensed Product
lll#ViaVhigV^cbVc#Xdb$CAdXd$ibc\e&*"&#]ib
Products bearing Union Pacific or Missouri Pacific marks are made under trademark license from Union Pacific Railroad Company.
###YdcÉi[dg\ZiiddgYZgC:L6iaVh6aa"HXVaZhIgVX`6XXZhhdgn8ViVad\h[dgndjg]dWWnh]de#6kV^aVWaZcdl
ANNIVERSARY
40
Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc • 378 Florence Avenue • Hillside, NJ 07205 • www.atlasrr.com
MODEL RETAILER october 2009
MODEL RAILROADING MART
Stock your shop with
sound locomotives that
make GREAT PROFIT.
•Paragon2 HO Sound Locomotives
•PUFFING SMOKE in Steamers
•Auto-Pilot Equipped=Hands-Free Operation
•Load-dependent sounds and speed
•MAP protected
Choices, Choices, Choices...
Broadway Limited Imports, LLC
Call: 386.673.8900
DT402D Super Throttle
$
250
00
MSRP
Full Featured with Support for
- 29 Functions
- Step-by-Step Option Setup
- Duplex Operation w/UR92
DT402R Super Throttle
$
235
00
MSRP
- 29 Functions
- Simplex Operation w/UR91
DT402 Super Throttle
$
185
00
MSRP
- 29 Functions
- Infrared Operation w/UR90
The New DT402 Super Throttles from Digitrax - You’ve Got the Power.
Digitrax, Inc. Copyright 2009 - All Rights Reserved
MONTH 2000 www.ModelRetailer.com
MODEL RETAILER
41
1
What’s selling: model railroading
?
A clean, orderly store makes better use of
space, keeps items from being hidden, and
keeps price confusion down on items that
are in the wrong area.
Dave Ramirez
Trains by Johnson
Pensacola, Fla.
I have learned that people do not always
buy what is new. I have tried to keep up
with the new items coming out in trains
and models. It seems that when I bring
in these items, they sit on the shelf for a
long time. I find that most of the people
that are looking for these items are getting
them from the Internet before I can even
get them in stock.
Because of this, I only bring in these
items if someone orders them. Also, it has
not made my store better, but has put me
at more of a disadvantage. My inventory is
lower and this has helped a little with the
WIN THIS PRIZE!
state of the economy. The only thing that
I have learned from this is the suppliers
are more interested in supplying the Internet stores first than the brick-and-mortar
stores.
Allen Fenton
Al’s Trains & Hobby
Bedford, Ohio
We are willing to find and special order
items for our customers if we don’t have
it. We will also help our customers with
problems they run into with any products
we sell.
James Otten
PopPop’s Trains, Hobbies & More
Eminence, Mo.
I am not sure if it is so much learned as
reinforced, and that has been customer
service and education. Now that we have
a larger location, we are able to offer so
W RTH
MORO
E THAN
20
RETAIL0
!
$
much more in the way of workshops, howtos and displays for our customers. We
have also learned that by having knowledgeable friendly staff available, we have
gained many new hobbyists and encouraged others to try new things.
Colleen Dobie
The Doll House and Train Emporium
Port Hope, Ont.
We have learned that despite what the
media says, people will spend money
on what they like. Our customers have
advised us over the last eight months they
would rather spend $30 on a model and
have something to show for it than spend
the same at Olive Garden.
We also have found that our customers think our pricing is excellent. Despite
price increases from the manufacturers
and wholesalers, we have still been able to
keep our price points low. In the last year,
both new and old customers have told us
they keep coming back because of prices,
customer service and turnaround time on
Web orders. If there is one thing to learn
for the year, it is keep the customer happy
if you can, and they will promote your
business for you!
Frank Ruby
Blue Ridge Hobbies
Greenville, S.C.
Win 9 N- and HO-scale cars and
locomotives from Micro-Trains
and Bachmann in our next
quarterly What’s Selling survey
drawing. E-mail Jenny Maaske
at [email protected]
or call 262-796-8776 ext. 230 for
more information.
Congratulations
Tom Palmer of South Side
Trains in Milwaukee, Wis.
He received 20 N-scale
freight cars from MicroTrains. Thanks to all the
retailers who returned the
survey!
42
ATTENTION RETAILERS
WHOLESALE TO THE TRADE ONLY
Are you looking for a distributor that will treat you fairly no matter how large or small your orders are?
Try ARIZONA TRAINS & HOBBIES. We feature great service at competitive prices. Our prices remain the same 1 piece or case lots.
We sell to retail stores only. We do not compete with our dealers.
We Proudly Distribute
Atlas • Atlas-O • QSI • Lionel • K-Line • Ready Made Toys • Aristo-Craft • Bachmann N thru G • Kato • Plasticville • USA Trains
Kalmbach Publications • Miller Engineering • Excel Hobby Tools • All World Scenes • Super Smoke® • Woodland Scenics
Midwest Products • Boley • Classic Metal Works • IMEX • Broadway Limited • MRC • Z-Stuff for trains • Timberline Trees
We Now Carry MTH!
ARIZONA TRAINS & HOBBIES
15605 Broadway Center Street, Gardena, CA 90248 • Toll Free: 877-889-2005 • Phone: 310-965-0005 • FAX: 310-965-0006
Visit Our Web Site: www.aztrainsca.com
LGB is Back!
Walthers, the North American distributor for LGB
products is fully stocked and distributing
LGB trains to hobby shops and train stores.
Visit walthers.com to see the broad
assortment of standard items and 2009 new
items designed to serve your customers'
cherished LGB hobby. Be sure to order a
supply of the full-line LGB catalog (#4262908 $16.99, Summer Delivery).
For more information visit walthers.com
or call 1-800-877-7171.
Ask your Walthers
representative to help you
get started with LGB:
• Ready-to-Run Starter
Sets
• American & European
Locos and Rolling
Stock
• Track & Accessories
426-23196
Colorado & Southern
2-6-0 Mogul –
Fall 2009 Delivery
walthers.com
MONTH 2000 www.ModelRetailer.com
MODEL RETAILER
ARIZONA TRAINS & HOBBIES
43
1
Atlantic
Central
South
Mountain/North
Pacific
Store location
Modellbahn Ott Hobbies, Inc.
Gilbertsville, Pa.
Park Lane Hobbies
Dyer, Ind.
Blue Ridge Hobbies
Greenville, S.C.
On Track Hobbies
Port Moody, B.C.
Palm Desert, Calif.
HO scale
Locomotive
Rolling Stock
Accessories
Märklin Big Boy
Märklin Wascosa tank car set
Faller 2009 building kits
Athearn UP turbines
BLMA Topgons
Walthers reversing mill
Athearn gas turbine
Atlas tank cars
Walthers Ashland Steel bldgs.
Athearn Oneida & Western
Walthers Thrall door boxcars
Lumber loads
Bachmann Santa Fe
Bachmann Santa Fe
Woodland Scenics
N scale
Locomotive
Rolling Stock
Accessories
No trend
No trend
No trend
Athearn F45
BLMA topgons
Woodland Scenics figures
Kato
Atlas tank cars
Walthers Cornerstone
InterMountain CN SD40-2W
Trainworx
Detail parts
Bachmann Spectrum UP
Bachmann NYC boxcars
Woodland Scenics trees
Other
Locomotive
Rolling Stock
Accessories
No trend
No trend
No trend
Williams GP7
Atlas Trainman freight cars
Lionel FasTrack
No trend
No trend
No trend
Bachmann Shay
Aristo-Craft BC Apple boxcar
Track
No trend
No trend
No trend
Store location
Scotsman’s Trains & Hobbies
Endwell, N.Y.
Al’s Trains & Hobby
Bedford, Ohio
Trains by Johnson
Pensacola, Fla.
The Doll House and Train Emp.
Port Hope, Ont.
Just Trains
Concord, Calif.
HO scale
Locomotive
Rolling Stock
Accessories
Athearn SD40
Branchline RTR
Woodland Scenics
Athearn
Branchline
Walthers Cornerstone
Athearn RTR
Athearn RTR 50-foot boxcars
Woodland Scenics
InterMountain FP7 A&B
Athearn CP Overland coach
Athearn Flxible Bus
Athearn RTR
ExactRail
Woodland Scenics
N scale
Locomotive
Rolling Stock
Accessories
Atlas
Fox Valley Models
Atlas track
Atlas, Kato, Walthers
Micro-Trains, Atlas
Walthers Cornerstone, Tichy
Kato SD70ACe
Micro-Trains
Model Power structures
Athearn FP45 ATSF DCC
Rapido passenger coaches
Athearn Flxible Bus
Atlas
Atlas
InterMountain
Other
Locomotive
Rolling Stock
Accessories
No trend
No trend
No trend
No trend
No trend
Aristo-Craft
No trend
No trend
No trend
No trend
USA Trains CP caboose
Aristo-Craft, USA Trains track
Lionel
Lionel, Industrial Rail
Lionel
Store location
Turn 4 Hobbies
HobbyTown USA
Schaumburg, Ill.
HobbyTown USA
Winona Garden Railway
Guelph, Ont.
Kelly’s Caboose
Kamloops, B.C.
HO scale
Locomotive
Rolling Stock
Accessories
InterMountain P&W U18B
InterMountain B&M caboose
Model Power Crown Victoria
Rivarossi Big Boy
Bachmann freight cars
Woodland Scenics buildings
Athearn
Bachmann flat cars, boxcars
Atlas track
No trend
No trend
No trend
Athearn AC4400
Rapido coaches
Kanamodel kits
N scale
Locomotive
Rolling Stock
Accessories
Bachmann NH switcher
InterMountain MEC boxcars
No trend
No trend
Model Power cars
No trend
No trend
No trend
Woodland Scenics trees
No trend
No trend
No trend
InterMountain F units
Rapido coaches
Atlas track
Other
What’s selling: MODEL RAILROADING
Locomotive
Rolling Stock
Accessories
No trend
No trend
Lionel Polar Express set
No trend
No trend
No trend
No trend
Lionel theme boxcars
Lionel FasTrack
USA Trains GP9
Aristo-Craft 40-foot boxcars
Revolution RC system
MTH CNR
Lionel BC Rail cars
Lionel FasTrack
Roman & Company USA, Inc.
US Importer and Exclusive US Importer for …
Featuring highly detailed models in HO, HOe, TT, N, O and Z-gauge.
Contact us for information to become a Roman & Company dealer or register online!
· All locomotives are highly detailed
· High-quality digital systems
· All AC locomotives equipped with decoder
· High-quality track with roadbed
· Many locos available w. ESU sound
· Cars and locomotives w. coupler pockets
· Unbelievable variety in cars and locos
· Most realistic buildings and accessories
888-ROCO-USA (762-6872)
44
www.roco.com • e-mail: [email protected]
P.O. Box 456 • Elburn, IL 60119
MODELS
BY TIm Kidwell
Aircraft
1:72 P-80C Shooting Star Sword
This is a limited-run kit! Engraved panel
lines, a detailed cockpit, two-piece canopy,
separate exhaust pipe and a load of resin
parts set this model (No. SW72025, $29.95)
apart. Decals and painting reference for
two planes included. Distributed by MMD.
1:72 RF-80A Shooting Star Sword
This is a limited-run kit! A clear-molded
nose conversion allows modelers to recreate the famous reconnaissance Shooting
Star variant. The model (No. SW72026,
$29.95) also includes resin parts and decals
for two aircraft. Available from MMD.
1:72 F-100C Super Sabre Fighter 1:32 AV-8B Harrier II Early
Version Attack Aircraft 1:72 Bf 109
Trumpeter
Airfix
All new tooling! The kit (No. 2229, $169.99)
consists of 423 plastic parts, plus rubber
tires. Flaps are positionable. Photo-etched
seat belts and harnesses included. Markings for two versions are provided. Imported by Stevens International.
All new tooling! This kit (No. A02029,
approx. $6.99) replaces the old Airfix kit
(No. 01072). This kit contains 41 parts and
is geared toward beginners. Check with
your favorite distributor for availability.
Trumpeter
All new tooling! This kit (No. 1648, $34.95)
contains 157 parts and markings for 36th
EDW, 1956, and 136th TFS, 1968. Imported
and distributed by Stevens International.
Armor
1:35 Ersatz M10 Smart Kit Dragon
The Ersatz M10 kit (No. DRA6561, $49.95)
includes a newly tooled turret and fender,
two glacis panel styles, new extra rear
armor and exhaust pipes. Distributed by
Dragon Models USA.
46
Available
Now
1:32 Scale
RAF S.E.5a ‘McCudden’
WWI British biplane fighter, early production variant
with Hispano-Suiza V-8 engine as flown by 57
victory ace James McCudden VC, DSO, MC. Kit has
detailed cockpit and engine, plus exterior with subtle
‘fabric-over-frame’ appearance. Features resin parts
(including exhaust pipes, cockpit decking with field
modified ‘bulged’ sides and standing figure of
Captain McCudden), extensive 3-sheet photo-etch
parts (exterior and cockpit details including color
instruments and seatbelts) and film windscreens/inspection panels.
Decals and color painting guide for 2 aircraft flown by McCudden while serving with No 56
Squadron RAF during 1917: B4863 and B4851.
EC32002
$69.99
1:48 Scale
UC-78/JRC-1/T-50
Bamboo Bomber
Late 1930s, WWII era and beyond, Cessna-built
commercial, twin-engined, low-wing monoplane and light
transport (T-50) or military advanced trainer and utility aircraft (AT-17/UC-78 and JRC-1). Injection-molded airframe
and clear parts; features cockpit and cabin interior, separately molded cabin door, subtle ‘fabric-over-frame’ effect
as applicable and resin parts (wheels and choice of highly
detailed Lycoming or Jacobs radial engines) plus photo-etch
details. Decals and color painting guide for Sky King’s T-50
‘Songbird’, US Army Air Force UC-78 s/n 42-58125 in
1943 and US Navy JRC-1 BuNo 64464 in 1943.
CM4819
No Minimum Order ... EVER!
MMD - Squadron •
$59.95
Orders Shipped within 24 hours, next business day.
1115 Crowley Drive, Carrollton, TX 75006-1312 • 1-800-527-0674 • fax: 972-242-3775 • web: www.militarymodel.net
MODELS
1:76 Matilda ‘Hedgehog’
Airfix
This kit (No. A02335, approx. $6.99) is a
modification to Airfix’s original Matilda.
Contains 81 parts and is targeted at builders with some experience. Check your distributor for availability.
Ships
clear acrylic cover and nameplate. Distributed by Sideshow Collectibles.
Tools & Accessories
1:32 Napalm Bomb Set True Details
Two WWII/Korean
War-era resin
bombs. Set (No.
TD32505, $11.99)
includes F-80
wing pylons with
sway braces. Distributed by MMD.
1:350 Admiral Graf Spee Pocket Battleship
Academy
This kit (No. 14103, $49) is 21 inches long
when assembled. It features a fully reproduced superstructure, with finely detailed
railings and weaponry. Can be built as a
full-hull or waterline model. Imported and
distributed by MRC.
cle/terrain” and retail from $3.50–$8.25.
Distributed by ACD.
Fantasy & Sci-Fi
1:8 Frankenstein
Moebius Models
All new tooling!
Frankenstein (No.
909, $34.99) is the
newest addition to
Moebius’ Universal
Studios monsters
lineup. Delivery
expected in September.
Cotton Tipped Applicators —
Low Lint Puritan Industrial Products
These 3-inch double-end cotton swabs
come in antistatic packages of 25 and
have four head sizes: 2mm (No. 890-PC
DBL); 2.6mm (No. 891-PC DBL); 3.2mm
(No. 891-PC DBL); and 4.4mm (No. 892-PC
DBL). Sold in 100 ct. cases. Call Puritan at
800-321-2313 for pricing and order information.
Hobby Brushes
The Army Painter
1:72 Millennium Falcon
Fine Molds
This fully assembled and painted model
(No. 900584, $799.99) can be displayed
with either landing gear deployed or on
a display base (included). Comes with a
display case that includes a finished base,
48
Designed to be sold as a set, The Army
Painter has developed 11 brushes to meet
all of a hobbyist’s needs. The Hobby Series
brushes are made with Toray hair; the
Wargamer Series brushes are made with
German Rothmander Sable hair. Brushes
range in size from “insane detail” to “vehi-
1:35 German SdKfz 138/1 Ausf H 15cm sIG33/1 ‘Grille’ - Premium Edition
Griffon Model
A jumbo package (No. GRMBPL35007,
$64.95; for kit DRA6470) of photo-etched
metal that includes 15cm shell cartridge
casings, track fenders and full driver’s compartment details. Comes with two sets of
decals and a resin MP40 machine pistol.
Distributed by Dragon Models USA.
Dealer inquiries welcome!
[email protected]
Visit the finest hobby shop
locator search engine on
the Internet!
HobbyRetailer.com can
help you find a hobby shop
close to you or across
North America.
The ultimate resource
for finding hobby shops
nationwide!
CHARMING.
Packed with diabolical detail,
crawling with creepy creatures
and garnished with gruesome
goodies, the classic Witch
kit really does have a unique
charm all its own. And with
the optional glow parts, you
can be sure that this little lady
truly has that special glow.
Check out all our charming kits at
V-MO
POLAR LIGHTS is a registered trademark of Learning Curve Brands, Inc. used under
license to Round 2, LLC. ©2009 Learning Curve Brands, Inc. All rights reserved.
© 2009 Round 2, LLC, South Bend, IN 46628 USA. All rights reserved.
49
DIE-CAST
BY Sue Brettingen
the International R-190 (No. 19-3838). Each
retails for $89.95.
trucks
1:50 Union Pacific RR
International kb-8 cab
Speccast
This combination cab and trailer (No. 39501,
$64.95) features new tooling. The hood on
the cab opens to reveal a detailed International engine; cab doors open to show the
full interior. The trailer is detachable and
comes with a spare-tire cage and tire.
1:50 kern co. peterbilt 335
mechanic truck
twh collectibles
The Kern County Fire Department has
more than 8,000 square miles to protect in
the southern Central Valley of California. It
counts the Peterbilt 335 among the vehicles
in its fleet. Some of the features on this
model (No. 098-01184, $150) are a 360degree rotating crane; accurate hose and
wire placement; realistic exhaust, gas and
air tanks; and a chrome grille, muffler stack,
front bumper and wheels. Available from
b2breplicas.
cars
1:34 mack b-61
refrigerated van
first gear
A Polar Ice Co. truck comes to save the day
for children whose snowman is melting
on a sunny winter afternoon. This model
features a detailed undercarriage and cab
interior, meticulously painted parts and
figures; the final matte finish paint, with
shading added, gives the model a vintage
feel. The van is available in two versions:
the Mack B-61 (No. 19-3837, shown) and
greenlight collectibles
Greenlight’s Hot Pursuit Series showcases
models of law enforcement vehicles. This
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1:18 1935 audi 225 roadster CMC
Audi got its start in 1909. CMC has produced a replica of the company’s 225
Roadster to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of the German automaker.
Two-tone versions include blue/silver (shown, No. CMC075B), red/white
(No. CMC075C) and black/yellow (No.
CMC075A). Each retails for $289.99. Available from Replicarz.
1:64 Hot pursuit Mack Granite with Rogers 4-Axle Flip Lowboy
50
first part of the series includes a 1965 Ford
Galaxie 500 Indiana State Police; 1971 AMC
Javelin Alabama State Trooper; 2006 Dodge
Charger Dodge City Police; 2008 Ford
Crown Victoria Wayne County, Ohio, Sheriff;
2008 Ford Crown Victoria Arapahoe County,
Colo., Police; and 2008 Dodge Charger Ridley Township, Pa., Police. The product number for each model is 29630; each retails for
$5.99. Contact Jeff Nelson at 317-287-0600
ext. 106 or e-mail [email protected].
1:87 1970 plymouth hemi Barracuda model power
Model Power’s replica of the Hemi Cuda features new tooling. Each model is fully painted and comes with rubber tires, accurate
wheels and separately applied details. Sold
in two-piece stackable plastic display boxes,
the models are available in three colors: purple (No. 19450), red (No. 19451) and orange
(No. 19452). Each retails for $5.49 and will be
available in October. Future releases include
a 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II Coupe
and 1968 Chevrolet El Camino.
E-mail Sue at sbrettingen@modelretailer.
com. Unless otherwise indicated, contact
information for all companies mentioned
can be found in Model Retailer’s Business
Pages at www.ModelRetailer.com.
What’s selling: models/DIE-CAST
?
Word-of-mouth is still the most valuable
tool besides having a good point-of-sale
[system] that can collect customer data, so
you can promote to your base via e-mail
and snail mail.
J.B. Thompson
Cavalry Games and Hobbies
Milwaukee, Wis.
Fresh product, friendly service and prompt
special orders for the customers generate
goodwill and encourage customers to refer
others to the store. Running special how-to
clinics and seminars continue to enhance
the customer experience at Park Lane.
JoAnn Skrabutenas
Park Lane Hobbies
Dyer, Ind.
We learned to become better listeners
regarding customers’ needs. This has
allowed us to bring in what the customers
WIN THIS PRIZE!
are really looking for instead of just ordering items.
Mike Carter
Motorsport Hobbies
Casa Grande, Ariz.
We worked with our bank to reorganize
our small-business loan and credit-card
debt into a single line of credit. This
allowed us to avoid high interest rates, stay
current on bills when the downturn in the
economy came, and gave us flexibility in
our purchasing options.
Arthur Garrison
Family Hobby & Crafts
Vestal, N.Y.
Given my customer base, it is important
that I use social media. I also have to consider the Internet more and pay much
more attention to eBay and online discounters when making my purchasing and
W RTH
MORO
E THAN
30
RETAIL0
!
$
pricing decisions.
Scott Thorne
Castle Perilous Games
Carbondale, Ill.
I am more reluctant to jump all over something just because it is new. I wait and see
if there is actually going to be a demand
for it.
Daniel Gory
The Lion’s Den
Sechelt, B.C.
Don’t fall in love with your product displays, no matter how well everything fits
on the shelves. Periodically shake things
up, and watch your regulars spend more
money than ever!
Carl Dann
Smoky Mountain Trader
Cleveland, Ga.
No one thing stands out. Regardless of
economic conditions, hobby-shop owners should be constantly evaluating the
performance of their store and looking for
ways to improve their merchandise mix,
customer service and profit margin.
Michael Magee
Hub City Hobby
Hattiesburg, Miss.
You can win this lot of Tamiya,
Roden, Hasegawa and Accurate
Miniatures models. All you have
to do is participate in the What’s
Selling survey. E-mail Jenny
Maaske at [email protected] or call 262-796-8776 ext.
260 for more information.
Congratulations
Carl Dann of The Smoky
Mountain Trader in Cleveland, Ga. He received 16
model kits from Dragon
Models. Thanks to all the
retailers who returned the
survey!
52
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1/87 DIECAST
p%NQ6GNKDR@KD(MEN/KD@RD"@KK!DSG
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HEMI
CUDA
NO. 19452- ORANGE
6D2TOOKX KK8NTQ%@UNQHSD+HMDR(MBKTCHMF
6GX,@JD#HDB@RS#HQDBS8NTQ2TOOKHDQ
p+NVLHMHLTLCD@KDQNQCDQR
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p6DNEEDQ@CD@KDQNMKXKNFHM
O@FDVHSGCD@KDQOQHBHMF
p6DNEEDQNUDQOQNCTBSR
EQNLNUDQL@MTE@BSTQDQR
MSRP- $5.49
1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI BARRACUDA
ALSO- NO. 19450- PURPLE, NO. 19451- RED
#DOS,#1.KC+@VQDMBDATQF1N@C%Q@MJENQS*8
5HRHSTRNMSGDVDA@SVVVCHDB@RSCHQDBSBNL RJ ANTS.TQ#D@KDQ"@S@KNFÎ
Fully Painted • Heavy weigHt metal • RubbeR tiResaccuRate wHeels • HaRd Plastic two-Piece stackable
disPlay box • sePaRately aPPlied details • Full inteRioR
Model Power s3-)4(342%%4&!2-).'$!,%.9ss&!8
VISITUSONTHEWEBATWWWMODELPOWERCOMsINFO MODELPOWERCOM
Distributors of Quality Toys
and Collectible Models
TWH Collectibles - Norscot - Spec-Cast
Tonkin Replicas - Greenlight - Bruder
M2 Machines - Eligor - Sword Models
Phone (417)206-9700
[email protected]
166 Spruce Street • Rutland, VT 05701
P 802-747-6672 • F 802-775-1981
If it’s Diecast, we have it!
[email protected]
www.replicarz.com
1989 BATMOBILE
From “Batman” and “Batman Returns”
1:18 Scale by Mattel Elite
MATR1794 MSRP $109.95
A fully detailed ELITE model due October 2009
1970 DATSUN 240Z BRE
SCCA Champion, John Morton
1:18 Scale by Kyosho
K08218A
MSRP $138.99
• Modified 240Z engine
• Full race interior
• Limited edition of 3,000
All the top lines of diecast models in stock • Over 50 brands, Over 3,000 models • We ship worldwide
No quantity requirements • Low minimum order
53
What’s selling: Models/Die-Cast
Atlantic
North
Central
South
Mountain
Pacific
Store location
Turn 4 Hobbies
The Lion’s Den
Sechelt, B.C.
Cavalry Games & Hobbies
Milwaukee, Wis.
Smoky Mountain Trader
Cleveland, Ga.
Motorsport Hobbies
Casa Grande, Ariz.
Military Hobbies
Orange, Calif.
Vehicles
No trend
Shadowsword
Games Workshop
Various models
Games Workshop
WWII German armor
Dragon
1:48 armor
Tamiya
Volkswagen van
Hasegawa
Aircraft
Rockets
Estes
Valkyrie
Games Workshop
Various models
Flames of War
1:48 U.S. Vindicator
Accurate Miniatures
1:48 WWI models
Eduard
1:48 F-16
Hasegawa
Ships/Die-Cast
2008 Challenger
Highway 61
No trend
No trend
1:700 ships
HobbyBoss
1:50 die-cast models
TWH Collectibles
Various models
Tamiya
Accessories
Paint, Zap glue
Testors, Pacer
No trend
manufacturer
Paint
Vallejo
Zap-A-Gap glue
Pacer
Model Air paint
Vallejo
Gun barrels
Lion Roar
Store location
Family Hobby & Crafts
Vestal, N.Y.
The Hobby Shoppe
Orangeville, Ont.
PopPop’s Trains
Eminence, Mo.
AAA Hobby Supply
Marietta, Ga.
A Mad Mans Hobby Store
Lehi, Utah
Palm Desert, Calif.
Vehicles
Cars
Revell
Cars, tanks
Revell, AMT, Tamiya
No trend
V-100 Series
HobbyBoss
2009 Dodge Challenger
Revell
No trend
Aircraft
Planes, rockets
Guillows, Estes
Jets
Revell
Huey gunships
Revell
Weekend Editions
Eduard
P-51 Mustang
Revell
Laser-cut models
Herr Engineering
Ships/Die-Cast
Die-cast planes
Model Power
No trend
Pirate ships
Lindberg
1:144 USS Fletcher
Revell
USS Arizona
Revell
No trend
manufacturer
Accessories
No trend
Various items
Testors
CA glue
Bob Smith Industries
No trend
Glue
Testors
Enamel, glue
Testors
Store location
Moose Miniatures
Rowley, Mass.
On Track Hobbies
Port Moody, B.C.
Clearview Hobby
Lorain, Ohio
HobbyTown USA
Prairie Unique
Terry, Mont.
Scholl’s Heavenly Gifts
Dixon, Calif.
Vehicles
1950s cars
Various makes
1:35 tanks
Tamiya
Various models
Tamiya, Italeri
Cars
Revell
Muscle cars
Revell, AMT
Classic cars
Revell, Testors
Aircraft
WWII models
Revell, Testors
1:72 Messerschmitts
Various makes
Various models
Guillows, Testors
Flat Cat rocket glider
Quest
WWII vintage models
Revell
Various models
Revell
Ships/Die-Cast
Die-cast planes
Hobby Master
Wooden kits
Various makes
Various models
Academy, Revell
No trend
WWII models
Revell
Modern aircraft carriers
Various makes
Accessories
HO-scale vehicles
Jordan Models, Athearn
Paint
Vallejo
Paint
Tamiya, Humbrol
Paint
Tamiya, Testors
Paint, glue
Various makes
Paint, glue
Various makes
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
manufacturer
PUT
REAL BRAND
POWER
TO WORK IN YOUR STORE
As one of the world’s most recognized brands, Caterpillar brings instant consumer acceptance
and sure-fire sales. Norscot makes it easy for retailers to tap into this brand power – with nearly
100 die-cast models of Cat machines, affordable pricing, flexible order quantities, and full
marketing support.
®
For more information, please call Norscot at 800-653-3313
or email [email protected]. We look forward to
developing a program tailored specifically to your needs.
© 2009 Caterpillar
CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” the “Power Edge” trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein,
are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
www.cat.com
Norscot, a licensee of Caterpillar Inc.
NORSCOT is a registered trademark of Norscot Group, Inc.
54
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SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
BY SUE BRETTINGEN
activity kits
spotlight:
ancient egypt
explorer $27.50) includes 100 smooth wooden rectangles for creating all sorts of structures.
Sets in other sizes and colors are also available. Contact Mike Lauter at 770-733-1863
or e-mail [email protected].
silver dolphin
Junior archaeologists will learn about
pyramids, mummies,
pharaohs and amulets
in this 24-page paperover-board book (ISBN: 978-1-59223-797-5,
$15.95) that comes with a spotlight-effect
illuminating secrets hidden in ancient
tombs. Meant for ages 6 and up, Ancient
Egypt Explorer will be available this month.
Eco rocket international playthings
An electronic toy that doesn’t need a battery? Yes, you read that correctly. The Eco
Rocket (No. ET50020, $29.9) just happens
to be one of those. Kids use a hand crank
to charge it up, at which point they’ll hear
a realistic countdown, watch the launchers
power up, and see it blast off with flashing
lights and cool sounds. For more information, call 800-631-1272 or e-mail sales@
intplay.com.
nature explorer Hill, which involves connecting ringforts
and bridge tiles; High Kings of Tara, which
introduces kings in all their ancient power;
and Poisoned Chalice, the most advanced
version, which features a battle of spirits. For
more information, e-mail info@tailtengames.
com or visit www.tailtengames.com.
le boomb
mayfair games
A special die and a toy
bomb are all it takes to
play this social game
for 2 to 16 players, ages
6 and up. Each round
takes from 5 to 15 minutes to play. A 12-pack
display (No. MFG73100) is $54.
tedco
Kids can get back to nature with this activity kit (No. 32273, $36), which allows them
to create a greenhouse, grow and study
different plants, keep an ant colony and
learn more about the environment.
toys
Ice-bat glow series uglydoll
The weather will soon be getting cooler;
so will the Uglydolls. The Ice-Bat action
figure is about to hit the market. Available
in six colors (clear, purple, yellow, green,
orange and blue), these characters glow
in the dark. Available as 6-piece blind box
assortments, minimum orders (No. 930211,
$96) contain 24 units. Call 866-439-8459 or
e-mail [email protected].
games
Catan dice game citiblocs citiblocs
Winner of the Tillywig Toy Award’s “Top
Fun Award,” this building set (No. CTB100,
56
tara
mayfair games
tailten games
Pay a casual visit to the world of Catan
with this dice version, which takes from
15 to 30 minutes to play and is suitable
for one to six players, ages 7 and up. The
game (No. MFG3109, $25) includes six dice,
a dice cup, a pad of two-sided Catan maps,
and game rules.
Gamers, ages 8 and up, interested in the
ancient legends of Ireland’s Celtic heritage
will want to try their hand at Tara (No.
TG552, $29.95), which features intricate
Celtic knot designs on the tiles. The game
can be played three different ways: Sacred
tools
B6-4 and C6-5. E-mail spootski@kconline.
com or visit www.starlightrocketry.com.
compact stubby bit holders
wiha quality tools
Wiha Tools recently introduced a new line
of six-in-one bit sets. Each set is pocketsized, with an overall length of 2½ inches.
The stubby bit holder has a soft grip handle and easy snap cap for quick access. Bits
in this set (No. 38043, $19.98) include two
sizes each of slotted, Phillips and Pozidriv.
... all fit into the scene featured on this 100piece puzzle (ISBN: 978-0-73532-466-4, $14),
stored inside a collectible tin box. Available
from Galison/Mudpuppy; e-mail wholesale@
galison.com or visit www.galison.com.
monsters
mudpuppy
Monsters on tricycles, monsters skateboarding, monsters walking their pet monsters
stick-on weights
Pine-Pro
model rockets
minute man
starlight model rockets
puzzles
pinewood derby
This Skill Level 1 rocket kit (No. 4355,
$11.95), for ages 10 and older, includes a
plastic fin unit, plastic nose cone, Mylar
parachute and decals to decorate the Minute Man. When completed, the rocket measures 16 inches long and 1 inch in diameter.
Recommended engines are the A6-4, A8-3,
Pine-Pro is now using zinc
instead of lead for its stick-on
weights, for both appearance
and safety. The stock number
remains the same: 10045. Each
2-oz. bag retails for $4.
E-mail Sue at sbrettingen@modelretailer.
com. Unless otherwise indicated, contact
information for all companies mentioned
can be found in Model Retailer’s Business
Pages at www.ModelRetailer.com.
Monthly inspiration
FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS
The Art of
Model Railroading
2010
2010
CALENDARS
Each month features a realistic model railroad description
Each month features a descriptive explanation of a
and scene shot by a masterful Model Railroader contributor,
North American train at work in rugged and breathtaking
selected by the staff of the magazine.
scenes shot by Mike and Tom Danneman.
68159
68160
Both calendars are $12.95 each, printed on durable, heavy paper, recognize national holidays
and feature plenty of room for appointments and reminders. The images are even suitable for framing.
To order, contact your distributor or order direct:
Phone 1-800-558-1544, ext. 818
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Central Time. Outside the U.S. and Canada call 262-796-8776.
PMK-ADH-09X1467RH
57
SLOT CARS
BY TIm Kidwell
Cars
1:32 Toyota Camry ‘Kyle Busch’
SCX
The highly recognizable M&M markings set
this slot car (No. 64130, $49.99) apart. Features include a tilting chassis, ARS guide
with suspension, and a removable and
adjustable magnet.
1:32 Ferrari FXX
SCX
Replicating one of Ferrari’s rarest street
cars, this racing model (No. 13810, $69.99)
sports Xenon-effect headlights, an ARS
guide with suspension, tilting chassis,
adjustable brakes and a removable and
adjustable magnet.
between Nigel Mansell’s FW14 B and
Ayrton Senna’s McLaren MP4/7. Equipped
with an 18,000-rpm motor and adjustable
magnet. Distributed by Hornby America.
1:32 Ford GT GT3 ‘Matech Dubai’
Ninco
Another model in the Ninco Sport range,
the Matech Dubai (No. 50549, $69.98) is
ideal for competition slot racing due to its
length and low profile. Comes with the NC5 “Speeder” motor. Available exclusively
from MRC.
aluminum chassis, are fully adjustable, and
come ready-to-race. Xlot bodies come with
decorated bodies and interiors. Usable on
1:32-scale slot-car tracks. Imported and
distributed by MRC.
1:28 Porsche 977 GT3 Xlot ‘MCP’
Ninco
These cars (No. 60003, $149.99) have all1:32 Alan Mann Racing Limited Edition Set Scalextric
The two cars in this set (No. C2981A,
$109.99) feature the 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina driven by Sir John Whitmore and the
1968 Ford Escort driven by Frank Gardener.
Both cars have working head and taillights,
and adjustable magnets. Available from
Hornby America.
Always with you in Mind!
WE SHIP FAST! Dealers only!
We Specialize In:
PLASTIC MODELSESTES, TESTORS PAINT
1/24 & 1/32 Scale SLOT CARS
R/C PRODUCTS & CARS
1010 N. Van Buren, Unit B
Enid, Oklahoma, 73703
1-800-543-5743 / (580) 234-3433 Fax
MasterCard
58
1:32 Monaco 1992 Limited Edition Set Scalextric
This two-car set (No. C2971A, $109.99)
commemorates the hard-fought race
The 2009
Bind-N-Fly
Campaign
One Campaign. Endless Opportunities.
Thanks to RC retailers like you, the 2009 Bind-N-Fly campaign
If you’re new to the Bind-N-Fly revolution, there’s still time
is in full swing and becoming a source of countless sales
to take advantage of this exciting campaign that includes
opportunities for those hobby stores that are a part of it.
national ads, in-store merchandisers and special
That’s because when you sell Bind-N-Fly, you’re selling
promotions designed to pull people
much more than just another category of RC aircraft. You’re
into your store and keep them
putting your store at the forefront of a revolution in ready-to-
coming back for more. Just call
fly convenience that RC enthusiasts everywhere have been
Horizon Hobby toll free at
waiting for. A revolution that is only possible because of
1-800-535-5551.
Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM technology.
™
®
Leaders in Spread Spectrum Technology
©2009 DSM , DSM2, ParkZone, Blade and E-flite are trademarks or registered trademarks of Horizon Hobby,
Inc. Patents pending. The Spektrum trademark is used with permission of Bachmann Industries, Inc. Spektrum
radios and accessories are exclusively available from Horizon Hobby, Inc. 16587
Ready to fly, redefined.
That’s Bind-N-Fly.