The one here doesn't have the best selection for airplane stuff. They have a few of the popular ARF's but no kits. The covering selection is limited. They have a variety of hardware but normally only one of each item which means stuff is commonly sold out. It's funny, I often hear the employees dealing with someone asking for a kit. They usually tell the guy that "nobody builds kits, take alook at this RTF electric foam thing". If nobody builds kits then why are guys asking for them? Why is the hardware sold out so much? If nobody scratch builds then why does the balsa wood sell? Why are they often out of CA and epoxy? You can't tell me that nobody around here is interested in building.

I can't complain too much though; the service has always been great. I've bought a couple ARF's from them, an engine or two and ordered a kit. The guys behind the counter may not always be plane experts but they help out with whatever I ask for. It's tough to always buy from Hobbytown though because Tower's west coast distribution center is a 5 hour drive from me. If I place an order in the morning before work, it usually arrives on the UPS truck the next evening. That's hard to beat. I still want the Hobbytown to be there though when I need that piece of hardware or something at the last minute. I try to support them for just that reason.

I also have a good independent hobby shop 45 minutes to the south. I stop by sometimes if I'm in the area for work. There's another really good one about 1-1/2 hours north of me too. If I really want to go to a cool hobby shop though, I drive up to San Jose and go to Sheldon's; that place is hard to beat.