RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used to be!  
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RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used ... - 8/28/2006 2:19:50 PM   
Jim Thomerson



Posts: 2889
Joined: 10/9/2002
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Check out Brodak and Sig for dope. Also see the thread on silk and dope in the techniques forum.

(in reply to Mopzilla)
       Post #: 51

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used... - 8/28/2006 9:26:20 PM   
CCRC1



Posts: 1109
Joined: 8/28/2002
From: Waldorf, MD, USA
Status: offline 		Yea, Aerogloss is gone. I bought up a bunch before it was discontinued, so I have a small inventory. I have also had good luck with Sig Dope as Jim recommended. I have not personally tried the Brodak product, but I have been told by several modelers that it works very well.

(in reply to Jim Thomerson)
       Post #: 52

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used... - 8/28/2006 11:30:57 PM   
rainedave



Posts: 5578
Joined: 7/21/2005
From: Greensboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		I just bought my first batch of Brodak a month or so ago. I had always used Sig in the past. I am able to discern a pretty substantial difference between the two. The Brodak flows much more evenly and the clear butyrate has a remarkable high gloss. It also shrinks quite a bit! So, be careful. When I spoke to John Brodak on the phone he told me that Randolph supplies his dope. Everybody uses dope a bit differently and has different results, but I'm totally pleased with the Brodak stuff and plan to stick with it. And stick covering with it.

< Message edited by rainedav -- 8/28/2006 11:31:56 PM >

(in reply to CCRC1)
       Post #: 53

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used to... - 9/3/2006 2:32:34 AM   
Bud Faulkner



Posts: 897
Joined: 9/24/2002
From: Mt Airy, MD, USA
Status: offline 		CCRC1......what happened to Dougs hobby in Waldorf? Been many years since i've been down there but was impressed with the stock at the time. Next best thing to what we had when I was a kid in the 40's and 50's and the hobby shops had wood floors,models hanging from every spot on the ceiling, real balsa wood you could handpick and spruce (not basswood)....you remember spruce don't you? Engines, radios, etc,etc,etc.

Bud

_____________________________

"The propeller is the fan that keeps the pilot cool, turn it off and watch him sweat"

(in reply to CCRC1)
       Post #: 54

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used... - 9/3/2006 5:18:18 AM   
CCRC1



Posts: 1109
Joined: 8/28/2002
From: Waldorf, MD, USA
Status: offline 		The store in Waldorf is gone for good. The smaller shop in Hollywood (St. Marys County) is still operating but has just a fraction of the inventory the original store once had. Thats the store I was refering to when I started this thread. It was one of my favorite places on earth, when it closed I felt like I suffered a death in the family.

< Message edited by CCRC1 -- 9/3/2006 5:22:14 AM >

(in reply to Bud Faulkner)
       Post #: 55

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used... - 9/3/2006 2:51:28 PM   
Bud Faulkner



Posts: 897
Joined: 9/24/2002
From: Mt Airy, MD, USA
Status: offline 		Sorry to hear that. I heard there was one in Leonardtown but never found the time to make the trip. My family is from St Marys and I spent a lot of my childhood in Leonardtown on the family tobacco farm.

_____________________________

"The propeller is the fan that keeps the pilot cool, turn it off and watch him sweat"

(in reply to CCRC1)
       Post #: 56

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used... - 11/15/2006 3:55:23 PM   
duaneh1


 

Posts: 110
Joined: 12/12/2005
From: hutto, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Well, I'm glad there is a wide selection of arf's, park flyers and micro helis. I built a Goldberg Eagle 63 kit and Superchipmunk back in the late 80's when I was single, my 1 bedroom apt had strong odors of balsa and glue. Got out of the hobby until recently. Wanted to get back in but don't have room in my garage to build and store large planes and my wife will not allow me to build in the house. I now have a PZ stryker, FW 190, Blade CP, CX and Trex SE. I'm now able to enjoy the hobby without storage worries or large amount of room required for building kits.

(in reply to Bud Faulkner)
       Post #: 57

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used to... - 12/15/2006 7:11:09 AM   
iglowhead


 

Posts: 112
Joined: 6/10/2004
From: Waxahachie, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I am lucky enough to live near Dallas where there are still a couple of decent hobby shops and even a couple of balsa warehouses. My favorite has to be MAL (Model Airplane Lab.). It is the oldest hobby shop in Dallas and has been at the same location for over 50 years. The owner is up in years and not there much but his son is keeping things running. They specialize in cutting balsa for freeflight models and also have their own line of free flight and control line kits but production is way down on the kits. It is very small in front but huge in the back if you are lucky enough to be taken there you would love it.

I get my real fix for inspiration by going to swapmeets. There you find a room full of great stuff, lots of bargains, and everybody there is into modeling except for maybe a few bored wives. I have been as far a Perry Georgia for a swapmeet. 26 hours round trip & the best 2 day swap meet I have ever been to. If you need inspiration just go to Perry for the next meet. It should keep you going for another year.

Anyway, hang in there CCRC1. Don't let the hobby get away from you because of the business end of it. You just need to find a new source of inspiration!

(in reply to CCRC1)
       Post #: 58

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used to... - 12/15/2006 5:49:46 PM   
mliberti


 

Posts: 15
Joined: 11/25/2006
From: Wilmington, DE, USA
Status: offline 		There is an old time style hobby shop in Lansdale PA, I don't think it has changed since 1950. Penn Valley Hobby shop I think. Near Philly. Lots of old kits, rubber band ones too and they sell 3 grades of tissue paper! Imagine.

I am building a proctor antic and a sopwith puppeteer. I am old fashioned but love to build. I should teach someone what I am doing before I die!

(in reply to CCRC1)
       Post #: 59

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used to... - 12/22/2006 10:08:35 PM   
docferguson


 

Posts: 3
Joined: 7/11/2006
From: Onalaska, WI, USA
Status: offline 		Being blessed in the mid west. Wisconsin and Minnesota is still alive with good hobby shops that actually supply many different kits.
Further they are supplied with good balsa, coverings. I found Dacron in a fabric shop suitable for covering. My mentor is 80 years old, I am a young 63. My son is in to much of a hurry and will fall to the ARF's I am hoping that my grandchildren will catch on. I have made up two power points presentations on stick building and also converted them to microsoft word. I cover the very basics of reading a plan, copying parts, gluing, clothes pins for clamps and all the tricks to gampi tissue. I don't plan on publishing any of this but I want to make it available to anyone who wants to learn how to build from a kit to scratch. The hobby is not dead its just modernized for the fast pace in todays life. My best times have been when I shut off the T.V. and retreat to my workshop downstairs. My wife is a round engine nut and vintage airplanes. Me buy a kit!!!!! A few times. Its usually my wife that will find herself in my favorite hobby shop where the owner is young and knows everyone. He will point out a kit that I will probably want to build and fly.
Christmas is nearly here and already there is a gift certificate to my favorite hobby shop. Scratch builders will always be around and some day as a scratch builder someone will seek you out for advice. Be kind the teach anyone who has an interest.
Doc Ferguson

(in reply to mliberti)
       Post #: 60

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used to... - 12/23/2006 12:29:11 AM   
larrysl


 

Posts: 73
Joined: 9/20/2005
From: Greenwood, WI, USA
Status: offline 		Popes Hobby Shop in Wausau, Wi is as good as I have ever seen. Anything one would need for building is there. Warren Pope the owner is very knowledgable and helpfull. He has beautiful models that he built hanging all over. We don't normally shop in Wausau but I look for excuses to go there. Larry

(in reply to docferguson)
       Post #: 61

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used to... - 12/28/2006 7:52:54 AM   
iglowhead


 

Posts: 112
Joined: 6/10/2004
From: Waxahachie, TX, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: larrysl

Popes Hobby Shop in Wausau, Wi is as good as I have ever seen. Anything one would need for building is there. Warren Pope the owner is very knowledgable and helpfull. He has beautiful models that he built hanging all over. We don't normally shop in Wausau but I look for excuses to go there. Larry




I WANNA GO!

(in reply to larrysl)
       Post #: 62

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used t... - 2/8/2007 6:03:26 AM   
Wblakeney


 

Posts: 301
Joined: 5/24/2005
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Jim, I live in Houston now but went Texas Tech, 1965 to 1969. I didn't fly RC until I got to North Dakota in 1971. Wasn't Riley Wooten's shop on 34th street. A man I knew in the dorm took me out one day to see RC planes. The field was a just cow pasture complete with cows. I made one trip to the Riley's shop and met him.

_____________________________

If it aint right, fix it. If you can't fix it, don't fly it.

(in reply to Jim Thomerson)
       Post #: 63

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used t... - 2/8/2007 4:59:51 PM   
quepasa


 

Posts: 211
Joined: 2/2/2007
From: Golden Valley, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		I know I'm late but this thread makes me feel better.
I started r/c flying in 1977, & quit in 1987. Just getting back into it again. I too am a builder and have no use for the arfs/rtfs.
Went into a well known chain hobby shop and after walking around couldn't find any kits at all! I asked the old guy behind the counter where the kits were & he told me, no one builds anymore! I walked out and won't go back unless it's for some do-dad I forgot to order from a real hobbyshop.

_____________________________

"If ya think that was somethin, hold my beer and watch this!"

(in reply to Wblakeney)
       Post #: 64

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used t... - 2/9/2007 4:37:39 AM   
Wblakeney


 

Posts: 301
Joined: 5/24/2005
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline 		He is carrying what he can sell. There are probably people getting into the hobby who wouldn't have if they had to build. There are still kits around. A lot of kits are on Ebay and considering inflation many are selling are for what they would have back in 1977.

_____________________________

If it aint right, fix it. If you can't fix it, don't fly it.

(in reply to quepasa)
       Post #: 65

RE: A trip to the hobby shop just isn't what it used t... - 2/9/2007 9:39:36 PM