They are putting one close to me and was wondering what to expect? I was wondering what kind of model companies they carry or is it like A C Moores and Micheals
Jason
The Hobby Lobby near me carries Revell kits primarily, but also some Tamiya and Trumpeter kits and Testors paints. I only shop there when they have one of their 40% off sales, otherwise I head for the local hobby shops. Occasionally I find a good deal on a marked down, close-out item.
My local HL has one isle for models. One side has the tester’s paints (enamel only, and they don’t carry the model master line), Iwata and Pasche airbrushes, etc. and car models, lots and lots of car modelss.
The other side of the isle has military planes, tanks, ships and scifi. In other isles they do have some resin casting starter kits, K&S metals (small selection), exacto knives, and balsa/bass wood.
The next isle has HO and N scale train stuff, model rockets, balsa wood models, and other flying toys and science kits.
I’ll print off four 40% off coupons every time I go, but I end up passing them out to other customers because I can’t find any model kits I like. 
But those 40% off coupons are good for other stuff. For example, fine wire from the jewelry making section, sculpy in next to the other clays, sheets of foam core, some decent paint brushes, grumbacker oil paints, etc. In winter, they carry LED christmas lights which you can cut up and use to light models.
You’re only “allowed” to use one coupon per day, but if I find more than one thing (usually not model related) I’ll have my wife go through another checkout lane, or come back a bit later and use a different cashier. 
So I have mixed feelings about the store; not a good selection of models, but some other good stuff.
m@
The HobbyLobby here in Tuscaloosa, Al. is decent. I would echo some of Watchmann’s comment and add a couple of things.
Ours does carry the ModelMaster paints, both enamel and acrylic. As far as kit brands are concerned, on the military side, ours carries Trumpeteer, Dragon, Tamiya, Accurate Miniatures, Revell, Academy.
HobbyLobby has the ability to order any type of kit from these manufacturers, though like all corporations, they have a “best seller” list that they work from. They allow their managers some leeway but do require them to follow the corporate guidelines.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to become friendly with the mangers in charge of ordering product. If you are a member of a local club, or have a few friends that you build with, go together and show the manager that there is a core group of customers that will support his/her store.
Their 40% coupon is a fantastic aid to the modeler. I live very close to my local store so I am able to make a purchase in the morning, then go back on my way home in the evening when another shift is working and drop another 40%er as well.
Like I said before, HobbyLobby can be a fantastic source for you if you are willing to devote a little effort into getting friendly with the people there. Remember, though they are cogs in corporate machine, they do have a certain degree of latitude in their ordering and would be more that happy to work with you if you ask.
Good luck and regards, PWB.
Thank you all very much. This store is still about an hour away but it looks very intresting. Will be giving it a try.
Jason
Not a great place to find a specific kit you’re looking for. However it is a great place to purchase modeling supplies(w/the 40% coupon.) From pastels to brushes to balsa wood, HobbyLobby is the place to go.
they just put one in by me. got some nice brushes for my figures real cheap! didnt stay to look around. didnt know they had kits…not that i need another one! [;)]
I hit mine practically every day… Every day there’s a 40% coupon in effect, that is… The first thing I did when I started going there was to make friends with the store manager… That gets me inside the loop for “kit ordering day”… She has to follow the corporate list, but they allow her to use her discretion for 20% of the kits ordered, based upon local sales figures… So it helps if you can tame the manager, or even the stocker/clerk that handles that department… Just don’t, and I mean never, EVER ask for a specific kit and then, when it comes in, renege on the deal…
But even when there’s no kits to interst me, there’s plenty of supplies to be had… The trick to Hobby Lobby and it’s supplies are to get OUT of the Model Kit aisle and go back into the crafts area… Especially when it comes to paint… If you like acrylics and don’t mind using “Mushroom” instead of “Flat Military Tan”, you’ll save a lot by buying the paint there… 2 ozs of “Anita’s Craft Paints”, for instance… 3.49 for a 1/2 oz. bottle of Testor’s Model Master Flat Black… “Anita”? $1.09 for 2 oz squeeze bottle with a flip-top. I very rarely buy any “Model” paint there… It’s just a matter of taking some samples with ya to compare… Or, just take the MM with ya to compare it to the “Anita” color you want, since they, like said, have those fruity “chick-names” for paint colors…
Also, if you’re a scratch-builder, or want to be, or whatever, the coupons come in VERY handy for scratch-building supplies, like RTV and resin for casting, aluminum and brass tubing, and for the diorama guy in ya, Hydrocal Plaster, Celluclay, plaster mold materials, all kinds of wood; balsa, basswood, pine, plaques, strips, chunks, and then there’s metal to had as well… Minature lighting stuff is there too… Dollhouse lighting, model Railroad lighting, airbrushing stuff out the Wazoo… And that 4-% coupon for major end-items like a new bench, a new compressor, or the like? Major bucks get saved that way…
I guess you could say I’m a fan of HL… I use practically the whole store… Another trick up m’ sleeve on coupons… Since you say you’re an hour away, but you still can pull “it” off… By “It”, I mean use more than one coupon in a day… Make your first sweep and purchase just before shift-change at the registers… Make your purchase, take it out to the car, go get a soda or something, whatever to kill a half-hour… Then head back in and get the other thing you had yer eye on… Taking an accomplice helps too…[;)]
I can’t get away with at “my” HL anymore because half the store knows me & my wheelchair, but for the first 3 months or so…[:D][8D]
'Course, I still buy the kits when they come in, but since it’s only about a mile away, I don’t need the game anymore, lol…
I like Hobby Lobby a lot better than Micheals. The sales are better and so are the coupons. I print out several of the 40% off coupons and use them all the time. They have one going on right now but it may or may not end today.
I echo the people above 40% is great. I use it even on 3$ bottle of paint. I get some odd looks though. I just bought an Iwata HP-CS airbrush, lable price was 194.99 but I got it for 120~ with tax so it was cheaper than mail order. My store even has milliput. They are expanding it now, I hope they add more model stuff but I dought it. They only thing I wished they carried was plastictruct or other pasticard for strach building. They don’t carry much in the way of Sci-Fi though but a few polar lights and Revell.
Later,
Greasy,
I use the 40%er on the paint as well. Shoot, I’ve used it on glue.
I’m like Hans von Hammer in the fact that I only go there during the coupon time.
I go about 1-2 times a week, but I am killing a lunch hour. I only buy on 40% off week though. I actullay hate when I show up with my coupon and see there is 25-30% sale on hobbie stuff as it overrides the internet coupon. it’s odd when you don’t like seeing a sell.
I’ve never had them overide my coupons… Must be your store manager…