I am visiting Washington DC and New York (Manhattan) next month and I wouldbe really grateful to know about really good plastic modelling shops in those cities. Last year I spent 3 days in DC and never saw anything resembling a model shop other than in the Museum Shop at the Smithsonian Air and Space. Even a look in FSM appears to show no shops in downtown Washington/Georgetown. Maybe I was not looking in the right place??!!
Any ideas anyone?
Thank You
Hugo (Cumbria, England)[:)]
Welcome to the FSM Forums [#welcome]. Not familiar with the area, but I thought Squadron still had a store in the DC area.
Regards, Rick
Welcome to the gang, sorry never been to DC either.
Welcome!
It’s been awhile since I lived in DC but don’t remember any shops downtown… best to get on the metro and head out to Bethesda or Rockville if ya wanna buy a kit… There’s one in Federal Plaze in Rockville I know of…
I looked it up and it’s at:
Hobby Works
Federal Plaza
12274-G Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: (301) 468-6330
Take the Red line metro train to Twinbrook station and it’s less than a 2 minute walk to the strip mall…
----edit----
just thought I would explain that better… the metro is the train system which you probably got, it will cost about $2.20 at the most to get there… (it was 1.80 when I was there, just allowing for inflation)
Just find a metro station and tell them you need to get to Rockville (Twinbrook platform) and they will put you on the right track. It’s only about 20 min or so from Downtown by train. The twinbrook station is almost right at the store itself…
(in case this is your first trip)
For anything else you want to do in D.C. when you are there, the Metro is your best bet… renting a car and driving is not worth it unless you want to go into Virginia or Md (outside of the metro system), the traffic is just too bad… it’s cheap, clean, there are always Metro police on them so it’s safe… The people in the kiosks at each station will help you with a guide for which train to ride to which stop and even if it’s off the rail line a little bit, tell you which bus to tranfer to and give you a free ticket for the bus! I lived there for 6 years and still took the metro any chance I got…
Enjoy your trip!
Welcome
Thad
Welcome to FSM!
Can’t help you with DC or NY hobby shops, but let me know when you’re coming to Osaka!
PIPER HOBBY
13892 METROTECH DR
CHANTILLY, VA
Ph: 703 803 3103
I lived in northern VA for several years and this was the shop I always went too. It’s about 20 miles or so north west of downtown D.C., about a 30-60 minute drive depending on the time of day. I’d call for directions when you get there.
Darren
I just went to DC and I will agree that the Hobby Works shop in Rockville is very nice. HUGE inventory, tons of RC stuff, including armor. They also have a built 1/6 scale Tiger. Lots of AM stuff. I am going there agin on Monday. Hope this helps.
Keep in mind Traffic is a DOG there. Anytime of day, a 15 mile drive can take an hour and a half. Gridlock at it’s finest. As mentioned earlier, use the Metro. Have fun on your trip. BTW, there is little in DC besides Memorials (which are very very good), Museums (Which also rule), politicians/criminals, hookers and traffic, head to the outskirts, VA, MD, and such.
Ted
Sentinel Miniatures (Figures and related items only) is just north of New York in Valhalla NY. Check http://www.sentinelminiatures.com for store hours and phone number .
Now I am depressed… there was nothing but a little model shop there (in that plaza) when I lived in Rockville… it was close to the metro with good service… to think with all my dfficulties and driving for hours now to get to a good shop I would be living next to a very good one if I still lived there… of course with the cost of living there, if I were that close to a hobby shop I think I would be homeless very fast…
----edit----
I am sure you have an itenerary set for your trip, but as Ted said, if the urge for something different hits you there’s lot’s to do in suburbia… at the Tenleytown station (within a mile or two both directions of it) is nothing but sidewalk cafes and little restaraunts… almost any type of food imaginable… my favorites were the Ethiopian and Thai place there…
Or you can take the blue line to Arlington National Cemetary… a rather sobering site… row upon row of headstones… like fields of corn almost… the Army honor guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier is awesome to watch… total precision…
The Green line will take you to the Washington Navy Yard… a very nice nautical museum… lots of memoribilia and history there… near it is the 8th and I barracks (if memory serves me correctly) where the Marine ceremonial gaurd practices every day… totally breathtaking.
Anyway like I said you probably already have the schedule made up… but a few interesting side trips for pennies in case you get the mood… if you are a model ship builder the Navy Yard might be a good diversion…
Hello Hugo,
Welcome to the forums. As for good plastic model shops in New York City, sadly, we don’t really have one. There are only a couple in Manhattan. Perhaps the best one is Jan’s on Lexington Ave. between 93rd and 94th Street. A fair selection, but the prices are quite steep. He has at least 5 lines of paint, though, good selection of cements, putties, polishes, etc. If he takes a shine to you he’ll let you go down to the crypt where some of the older stuff is stashed (I found a Heller Patrouille de France box set down there, I know Heller stinks, but who else makes a Fouga Magister or Dassault Ouragan in 1/72).
Now, instead of cruising our meager and somewhat disappointing model shops, what you should do in Manhattan is hit the Intrepid. There are some great AC on display, and I believe they recently added a Concorde. And there’s also a submarine on display, the Growler, with a Regulus cruise missile. The museum’s on the west side in the 40’s (can’t remember the exact street, but believe me it’s hard to miss). Also, if you’re traveling with someone, check the information rack at your hotel, I’ve been seeing a lot of two for one coupons for the Intrepid lately.
Al
Thanks for all the replies!! Informative and amusing too!! I love the comments about DC. I obviously missed the hookers but I was so busy looking out for West Wing characters I didn’t have eyes for much else when I was on the street. Who knows what else I missed!!
Hello Hugo Pring, Welcome to the forum.
corner of 14th and P streets I think… don’t go there at night [;)]
[#welcome] Hugo!! there’s a couple of shops in the NYC area. unfortunately, they’re spaced out over a distance. i recommend Jan’s. can’t remember the address, but its up towardsspanish harlem. there’re also a couple of shops right around each other. check the yellow book when you get into New York. and expect to get a cab, and probably mail your purchases back home. believe me, its easier than dragging them back home, and its safer.[;)]
as for DC, cant help you there. sorry!