What on-line retailers do you order from?

General Discussion
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I know there are other threads for this topic, though they are close to 10 years old, I thought I’d make a new one as the industry has changed, Covid came and went and the on-line presence has grown more reliable.

The following links are to the on-line stores I use for many things from models, tools, PE, AM parts, diorama parts, display bases you name it…

These are in no particular order and I have no affiliation to any of them except for contributing to their bottom line. :money_mouth_face:

https://www.hannants.co.uk/

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https://hdamodelworx.com/

https://spruebrothers.com/

In reading some of your posts, I see some are using suppliers in France, Belgium and other Countries. Would love to see them as there might be that little something I’m looking for (like a PE part from flightpath which is no longer available)

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Scalehobbyist
Spruebrothers
Squadron
Quickwheel store
Spraygunner
Andys Hobby

I also have a lot of success on ebay,both from individual sellers and ebay stores
Dragon Hobby
Omni models
Horizon models
Just need to watch shipping costs and ratings

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I build mostly classic and antique auto models. For those not in production, and for parts to complete or retrofit old models, I purchased most on ebay. Other online retailers I’ve purchased from are:
Kalmbach (shop.trains.com)
Hobbylinc (Hobbylinc.com)
Megahobby (megahobby.com)

That said, I first check two local hobby shops here in the Twin Cities for in production/new items.

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I’ve ordered from a few companies up here in Canada.
hobbysense.ca
bna modelworld
ebay
plazajapan

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Thanks for starting this. As a returning newbie, I see someone mention a new-to-me store/manufacturer almost daily in the forums. It will be nice to have one thread to go to for info.

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If I order anything online, it’s usually from Amazon, Squadron.com website, and/or Sprue Bros. Models website.
I don’t order much, if anything, online because there’s 3 hobby stores that I go to. One that is 3 miles from me, and then another different one that I have my monthly model club meetings at, and a 3rd different hobby store that me and a friend sometimes visit after our club meeting.

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In the US, I use Andy’s HHQ for many model kits.
Michigan Toy Soldier has all the cool paints and supplies, especially for diorama builders - use Night Shift’s code to get a discount (myfriends2025)
I also have purchased from Sprue Brothers.

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I really order from Spruebrothers, Andy’s Hobby Headquarters and eBay.

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Scale Riders is my first stop for kits and tools. He is a one man show and only does car kits though.

Model Roundup is probably my next stop for kits. Again they mainly do car kits.

Then I make a lot of purchase at Iceman Collections. He is a 3D parts supplier. Again, for cars. (notice my theme)

For most of my supplies I buy local. But if my local shops don’t have the supplies I need I buy them on Amazon. For this I am talking about bulk styrene, adhesives, xacto blades and what not.

For paint I use Tamiya X and XF series acrylics, and I am starting to use Vallejo paints. I buy these all local.

For exterior paints I usually go to Splash Paints. Splash is also a 1 man show. I have met the owner, great guy. Please check out his website. He started with automotive colors, but he has branched out into military colors, gundam colors, and other custom colors. PLUS he can mix up any color you want if you give him a paint code. And his paints are all ready to airbrush.

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I don’t buy much online, because I have local sources to find things, especially supplies.

As far as kits go, I buy a lot of older kits second-hand, and those I source through eBay.

When I have had occasion to buy something from online vendors, I’ve used:

  • HobbyLink Japan
  • Squadron, which now includes Freetime Hobbies
  • MegaHobby
  • Eagle Editions (EagleCal decals) (https://www.eagle-editions.com/)
  • MicroMark for some tools
  • McMaster-Carr for fine steel tubing (https://www.mcmaster.com/)
  • CMK/Czech Master Kits, especially for 1/72 and 148 figures
  • Dorawings (direct and through their eBay store)

I would also buy from Sprue Brothers, without any reservations. Their reputation is sterling.

Also, a warning-beware of an online retailer called Internet Hobbies. He is based here in Pennsylvania, and sells under that name and under a number of other names. Do a search of the forum, and of the web, to learn more. He used irregular practices, and finally, our attorney general received enough complaints that his office pursued charges. Don’t be foolish enough to deal with him.

Hope that helps!

Best regards,
Brad

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I keep forgetting about HobbyLink Japan. They have great prices.

Squadron has great supplies.

Micro Mark is expensive. I use them to figure out what I want to buy. Then I buy it somewhere else for less. HAHA

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I usually use either:
Squadron
HobbyNut Models
Sprue Brothers

After that I’ve been known to order from Ebay.

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Cosign on Scale Riders. https://scaleriders.com
Honest, reliable, and clear business model. Keeps his website current so if it’s in stock then Add to cart. If out of stock then it says Sold out.

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Yeah, I do that, too. I used to get the Williams-Sonoma catalog, and had the same situations with that one. I browsed it, then found the items through other sources, even at flea markets.

Sometimes you can find bargains, though I wouldn’t buy any paint through MicroMark, for example. Or model kits.

I bought their tap and die set, when I was looking for one. The Waldron set wasn’t immediately available, and the retail price was much higher. But the trade-off was that MicroMark’s set isn’t marked with calibrations. The die isn’t marked or labeled to say what size each hole is. Now, in the catalog, it was mentioned that each punch was .5mm larger than the previous, or something similar. But it was a little user-unfriendly.

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Online vendors? Hmmmmm.

  • I have to second Scalehobbyist. I like their site.
  • Just ordered from SprueBrothers for the first time.
  • Ordered paints and an airbrush from Spraygunner.
  • I’ve ordered from USA Airbrush Supply several times, too.
  • Not sure it counts, but I ordered a paint chart from Mission Models on a whim.
  • I ordered a kit and some paint from Model Paint Solutions, good experience there and got some good airbrushing advice, too.
  • I placed a single order with UMM-USA once, very good experience.
  • I’ve gone directly to Eduard once when I couldn’t find a particular something anywhere else.
  • For the same reason, I once ordered a book directly from MigJimenez.
  • I have placed multiple orders with The Broken Token for workbench stuff. I like their stacking drawers, although I wish I could make some tiny tweaks to the “system” to add things I want!
  • I’ve also ordered from GC Mini for workbench stuff. I got the idea to build my own spray booth from them, although they probably didn’t intend for that! (The option they sell didn’t exactly work for my setup, otherwise seems a decent unit.)
  • Got a crazy cheap Badger 105 Patriot Arrow from the Bezos megamall once, but mostly I just use 3 Camels to track prices and will consider picking up something if it drops below my, “meh…I’ll give you (x)” price target, which is usually 50-60% off. I don’t use them much. Oh, except for used books - sometimes they are a good source of used reference books.

I have no complaints about any of the above, although as I said, I just ordered from Sprue Bros for the first time and while I haven’t received it yet, they seem excellent. I’ve ordered from private sellers directly and through eBay and Etsy. Aside from all that (ha ha!), I try to deal locally.

I’ve only really had one bad experience that I would caution people about: I placed an order with Uschi van der Rosten to try a specialty product once. I eventually cancelled that order and do not recommend them. Story for another time.

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Sprue Brothers
Squadron

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I found a new online seller last night with great pricing.

Plastic Model Republic.

I haven’t placed an order with them yet since I just found them, but they have a HUGE selection, low prices, and it says free shipping all over their website.

I will probably place an order next week to give them a shot.

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For me, it’s Squadron, Hobbylinc, Sprue Brothers and Super-Hobby (in Poland.)

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For me, it’s the following:

Hobbylink Japan - But they have disappointed me MANY times over the last few years when I pre-ordered items months in advance, and it goes straight to “backordered” as soon as it is released. And then no restock for months, if at all. I mean the good stuff I want, not the junk that is in stock. Plus, shipping from Japan has gotten very expensive. Bandai stuff is getting so hard to buy from them that I have resorted to paying a little more from US sources, like USAGS.

USA Gundam Store (USAGS) - So when HLJ fails to deliver the Bandai kits that I want, I go here.

Premium Bandai USA (aka Pee Bandai) - Bandai seems to have switched their product focus towards items that are only available from their website. I think it’s a dirty money grab scheme, since they are cutting out the retailer. But if I want something they have, I either buy it from them or get scalped by third party sellers. I could write volumes about Bandai’s current evil business practices but will refrain since this thread is about where you can get stuff. And I do admit to buying most of my Gundam kits from them nowadays.

Sprue Bothers - They are pretty good about having stuff in stock, so I am increasingly relying on them for my “normal” i.e. scale kits and accessories.

Hannants - I go here for those hard-to-find European kits and accessories. Plus, with the British Pound being weak against the US Dollar, Airfix kits are a little cheaper than in the US.

Hobby Terra - A Ukrainian outfit that amazingly is still doing business despite what is going on over there. I get most of my Ukrainian kits from them, like Amodel, Modelsvit, etc. But since the war started, the flow of new stocks has slowed considerably.

Ebay - When I’m desperate for that one hard-to-find product that I simply must have.

I also have dealt directly with manufacturers like 26 Decals, Aerocraft Models, Draw Decals, and OKB Grigigorov.

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