Local Hobby Shop Closing

[Oceaneer99]

I thought I'd been fortunate in having a local hobby shop, when so many other members here no longer have one.  Imagine my shock, when I went to the hobby store last week to discover that it is closing, as is the model train store downstairs!

Seattle hobby shop landmark closing after 42 years
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014294981_hobbyshop22.html

There is still one a bit of a drive away.  They specialize in RC, but have a fairly good plastic model selection.  But I'll definitely miss my local store, where I could quickly buy a new bottle of paint or new decal sheets.

Garet

[Balsabasher]

Garet reading that was so depressing ! but sadly it is prevalent througout the world,things are really biting hard and this little story of a once bustling empire sounds it out,too many distractions for the youngsters that require very little if any effort,also the ability to make things from scrap and bits and pieces brought on by the war years is fading into social history.
One outcome of the lack of model shops for me at least is that I have changed my materials in model building,difficulty in getting clear dope,piano wire,model fillers etc has made me delve deeper into suitable substitutes to use,I make my own balsa cement from celluloid soaked in acetone,another throwback from shortages in WW2,I exploit the use of thinned down PVA adhesive for many applications way beyond what it was ever intended for,car auto paints instead of dope but they work well for me at least,car fillers and most fun of all is searching out the many hundreds of useful bits and pieces from car boot sales which we have here in the UK weekly during the summer months,second hand tools are much sought after,old rasps and spokeshaves and those delightful wooden block planes now collectors pieces but I still use them,I am so sorry to hear of your model shop closure,it is the convenience and ability to browse for that something different.
To add a real touch of nostalgia to all of this how many here remember the time when you could go into your model shop and buy stamped out tin propellers,cast metal or fired clay engine cowls,tiny wheels and wheel spats,dope that was topped up in your own bottles ! 1=72nd scale plans by Veri-True obtainable over the counter,obeche and pine strips,celluloid sheet,even cockpit covers for popular warplanes ? those days are long gone and my dwindling stock has now mostly been used in replica projects,the advent of plastic models killed off the solid model in the shops but at least we have enough plans in our archive to keep us carving and sanding for a long time to come,this is a great little group,my favourite in fact.
Barry.

[Will]

I must be lucky 'cos here in Southern Hampshire UK within 20 miles of home there are at least 2 chain hobby stores, 3 model train shops, 2 model flying shops (selling balsa and sanding sealer!) and 1 specialist plastic kit shop.  The situation does vary from year to year, both up and down.
I can walk to a toy shop that sells Revell kits and paints.  We also have hardware, haberdashery and a quilting store that can provide handy odds'n'ends.
My small market town (pop. ca. 13000) has an active model railway AND an active plastic kit club, the members for both come from within ten miles or so.  Intriguingly the train modellers were more impressed than the kit modellers by my solid modelling - I think scratch building is still seen as the highest point of railway modelling, rather than it being the most expensive kit you can afford.  There's also a nearby model aerodrome in the New Forest!
As to the future and kids having the necessary concentration - it depends.  One of my daughters (she's ten) will spend a whole day painting or sewing or ...yes...building a model - obviously she prefers any of these activities when me, mum or a grandparent join in.  When I was ten an airfix plane would be built and painted in a day too.

Hope this puts a positive light on things...
Will

[Oceaneer99]

That does put a positive light on it, Will.  And to be clear, American Eagles is not the last hobby store in my area, but they are getting few and far between, especially given the population of the Seattle area.  There are rocket clubs and RC airplane clubs that meet most winter weekends at a park east of here, and there are annual model railroad shows at the science museum and at a county fairground north of here.  The local IPMS (plastic model society) is pretty active, and has a public show every year at the Museum of Flight.  So there is definitely interest in the model hobbies locally.

Barry has a good point that solid modeling is the most conducive to substitution and using non-model parts.

Garet

[Peter]

Hi Garet,

I didn't realize your in Seattle. If you ever head up to Vancouver BC let me know we have some good hobby shops around. Not as many as there used to be but there are some good ones. I'm hopefully going to take my boys to the Museum of Flight and Boeing field on Spring Break. All it takes is time and money :-(

Peter

[cliff strachan]

I've been following the discussion and found it very interesting especially Barry's suggestions regarding substitutes when parts and materials that we are used to using are not readily available. This has implied, along with other remarks and the general tone of the conversation, that there is something distinctive in scratch building solid models. Distinctive and apart from plastic kits to take one example. Almost an art form. However, what is evidently missing is the monetary value that has been historically attached to the traditional  say, "painting." Therefore, should not our group - being as it does represent a unique approach to this activity and all it aspires to represent - initiate a value to various models; an auction if necessary. Or something similar.
Cliff

[Oceaneer99]

Peter, and now, a passport(!).  I didn't realize that you were in Vancouver.  When I moved out to Seattle from the east coast, I drove the Trans-Canada highway, camping along the way.  The children I ran into said, "Oh, Seattle, that's basically Vancouver." 

I also recommend the Boeing tour at Payne Field, provided your boys are tall enough (there is a minimum height due to some solid balcony railings).  I took some Boy Scouts there last year, and we were able to see the first few 787s on the field, and numbers 5-7 under construction.

Garet

[Peter]

Hi Garet,

The Trans-Canada is beautiful drive, except the prairies. My kids are all tall enough for the Boeing tour so we'll check it out. Then dinner at the Crab Shack! 

Peter

[animek]

Well! at least this store did closure the right way, instead of doing fraud just to keep his business afloat, just like this guy did.
(Michigan Toy Soldier Company in Royal Oak)
http://www.freep.com/article/20110209/NEWS03/110209047/Royal-Oak-businessman-sentenced-misusing-Hollywood-director-s-credit-card?odyssey=tab
http://royaloak.patch.com/articles/royal-oak-store-owner-charged-with-ripping-off-famous-movie-director
I mean, think of all his workers, family and loss clients. He's doing 10 months for this crime.

Ben