I’d been eye-balling some kits on the clearance rack at the local Hobby Lobby recently, just happened to stop in today and found that the kits, previously marked down to roughly $18 each, were now marked down to $11 each. I walked out of there with both of them and had to resist the urge to get a couple of the others.
The kits I bought - Tamiya 1/48 Tropical Spitfire Mk V, and Accurate Miniatures 1/48 P-39 Airacobra. I resisted the Tamiya 1/48 Fw 190 (not sure which version), which was priced at $15 and the Accurate Miniatures B-25B Mitchell, priced at $18. It was all I could do to resist those last two even though I (a) have roughly 4 Fw 190s in my stash and (b) recently built the B-25. But I’ll probably stop by there next week to see if those have been marked down just the same, as who am I to suggest I have too many 190s or B-25s?
The HL I went into at lunch (a different location than above) had a Tamiya Betty in 1/48 but it was still far too highly priced (roughly $42). Perhaps with a 40% coupon (even though I have built that kit).
Nice job, Steve. My HL has a pretty crappy selection of kits and the clearance rack never has anything worth a damn. Usually a couple of Revell cars and maybe a 1/144 aircraft or 2. I did use the 40% coupon off a couple of weeks ago to grab the Tamiya A6M5.
There is another 40% coupon this week. I’m going there tomorrow to see if they have anything good.
Maybe all of the HL stores are thinning their kit stock. This afternoon I bought the AM B-25 for $18, and the Tuskeegee P-51 for $15. My store also had the Buffalo, a P-400, some Spitfire and FW-190 kits marked down to $11, but I passed on any more than the two kits.
I picked up the P-39 and the Red Tail 51 also. Saw the Betty for under $50 and the Buffalo (have one) and a couple of other good kits. HL is the closest store and has most basic supplies. Plus mine has a Starbucks and a Gellato place in the same center.
HL here in Tuscaloosa, Al. has broadened their selection. Some new Tamiya 1/48 aeroplanes and 1/35 armor.
Looks like they took to heart that there are only so many builders out there and that they need to rotate in a variety of offerings to keep our interest. I mean, why do they only seem to stock the Tamiya 75mm gun kit and never get the clue that people might like to have the 37mm and 88mm kits to go alongside it?
Or stock a figure set other than the U.S. Gun and Mortar and German Machine gun crew?
My latest score was the new tooled Tamiya 1/48 Zero, 40% coupon bombed, of course.
Regards, PWB.
Trust me, they aren’t that great. 99% of the store is fake plants, holiday decorations and other junk… But for many of us (myself included) they are about the only game in town for a hobby shop… All 1 aisle of plastic model stuff.
Not knocking the store, they seem to make enough money to expand… Just don’t fall all over yourself to get to one because you won’t be impressed.
I don’t have one around here either. It would be nice to have a store that puts out a 40% coupon semi regularly like HL does. To be al;e to buy Tamiya kits for $teen that would be great. Of course that would mean my stash would get larger[:P]
I was there two weeks ago when they were having a 30% sale on all plastic kits. I had a 40% coupon but it was not for models. Bummer. I picked up the Tamiya A-10A for $24 and a few other 1/144 planes. I was on my way back from Hobbytown USA and had blown most of my spending money. From now on when I make the hour long drive out there, I’ll hit Hobby Lobby first. My store actually has a pretty decent selection of models.
I went back last week to get that B-25 I saw but someone else had already snagged it. I shoulda’ grabbed it when I had the chance. Still thinking about that Betty, and if I could find a P-47M I’d snatch that right up.
bought the 1/72 Gato sub there a year or so ago when I noticed it was marked at $59. I then used my 40% off cupon ontop of the marked down price. Felt guilty walking out the door with it!