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Favourite "One Stop" Suppliers in the USA, UK (or anywhere)


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On 05/03/2020 at 09:08, PaulRhB said:

Tootally trains is now adding a large range of US stuff. Steve has been competitive on price importing the Bachmann NG range and his Kato prices are a fraction cheaper than Traintrax on some items. Good service on a selection of the NG stuff I’ve bought. 
https://www.tootallyamericantrains.co.uk

 

 

On the website linked to, part of it says:-

"By using a virtual warehouse of one of the leading wholesalers in the USA you are able to peruse and purchase from over 4000 items from leading Manufacturers of O Gauge ,O Scale , S Gauge  , ....."

The only O Gauge actually on the site is just that - 3-rail O Gauge. How does one access the 2-rail O Scale that they say they can supply? 

 

Edit - just a general question to anybody, not PaulRhB in particular!

I can't see an email address to send enquiries to, either.

Edited by F-UnitMad
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1 hour ago, F-UnitMad said:

On the website linked to, part of it says:-

"By using a virtual warehouse of one of the leading wholesalers in the USA you are able to peruse and purchase from over 4000 items from leading Manufacturers of O Gauge ,O Scale , S Gauge  , ....."

The only O Gauge actually on the site is just that - 3-rail O Gauge. How does one access the 2-rail O Scale that they say they can supply? 

 

Edit - just a general question to anybody, not PaulRhB in particular!

I can't see an email address to send enquiries to, either.

 

https://www.tootallyamericantrains.co.uk/contactus.html

 

(found via the "More" menu selection across the top of their website).

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On 10/03/2020 at 16:25, GEOEng03 said:

Thanks again.  The map on the home page shows a Popeyes.  On the hitlist of American fast food to try... :rolleyes:

 

Think I have done a Popeyes once but it clearly didn't make an impression. The McDonalds adjacent to Zitnik is a useful toilet stop but if I was eating I would be calling for a soup and sandwich combo and a lovely lemonade at Panera Bread company a few blocks to the east, then an "Mud pie mojo" icecream from Cold Stones Creamery adjacent !!    In fsct you might want to drop the wife off at Dress barn or Marshalls while you pop to Zitnik. I speak with experience !!

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I have visited Who's Hobby in Rapid City SD a couple of time, always had good service and a friendly chat. Went into Caboose, Lakewood, CO, on my trip last year and picked up a few things for the layout, but in general, the shelves were pretty bare. Modelling D&RGW narrow gauge somewhat limits who I can buy from for rolling stock, but for figures and a few other items, I have used Express Hobby on their eBay shop as they only charge $3 international postage, cheaper than many UK sellers. Small items are bought individually to avoid the dreaded VAT and handling charge.

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  • 4 weeks later...

I ordered a Fox Valley GP from Trainworld last Thursday evening (UK time) it’s just been delivered at my door, (paid the customs yesterday) 5 days very quick service I didn’t think they were processing orders until after lockdown and also a good shipping rate of $40 for a HO loco I have paid as much as $75 all in all a nice surprise in lockdown 

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4 hours ago, Lovemymodelling said:

I ordered a Fox Valley GP from Trainworld last Thursday evening (UK time) it’s just been delivered at my door, (paid the customs yesterday) 5 days very quick service I didn’t think they were processing orders until after lockdown and also a good shipping rate of $40 for a HO loco I have paid as much as $75 all in all a nice surprise in lockdown 

I used train world in the states. I was always impressed by the service. 
richard 

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Yes very pleased only problem was when opening the loco one of the sunshades is missing not sure if they are factory fitted or not some photos show them on some off not going to complain as got a $160 loco for $89 just need to find a brass replacement one and airbrush it orange 

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On 28/03/2020 at 07:21, JZ said:

I have visited Who's Hobby in Rapid City SD a couple of time, always had good service and a friendly chat. Went into Caboose, Lakewood, CO, on my trip last year and picked up a few things for the layout, but in general, the shelves were pretty bare. Modelling D&RGW narrow gauge somewhat limits who I can buy from for rolling stock, but for figures and a few other items, I have used Express Hobby on their eBay shop as they only charge $3 international postage, cheaper than many UK sellers. Small items are bought individually to avoid the dreaded VAT and handling charge.

 

 

Do you have a link to their ebay store please, i have never worked out how to search for sellers on ebay, only items

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1 hour ago, NickBrad said:

 

 

Do you have a link to their ebay store please, i have never worked out how to search for sellers on ebay, only items

Don't think either have ebay shops, but their websites are https://www.mycaboose.com/ and http://www.whoshobby.com/

 

Caboose is a solely model railroad shop, whereas Who's Hobby house do pretty much everything, but do have a sizeable railroad section.

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i was actually referring to Express Hobby, although I didn't make that clear. The link for who's hobby will be helpful regardless as i've not visited their site before, Caboose's website is etched into my brain as I'm a long time fan of the "What's Neat" show, ironically they don't sell caboose industries throws, (which although I know they're separate companies, I think of the throw switches as a staple of US modelling).

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8 hours ago, NickBrad said:

i was actually referring to Express Hobby, although I didn't make that clear. The link for who's hobby will be helpful regardless as i've not visited their site before, Caboose's website is etched into my brain as I'm a long time fan of the "What's Neat" show, ironically they don't sell caboose industries throws, (which although I know they're separate companies, I think of the throw switches as a staple of US modelling).

Sorry, here is their shop link http://www.ebaystores.co.uk/expresshobby

 

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  • 5 months later...
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4 minutes ago, davknigh said:

There is no equivalent to Superquick or Metcalfe but there are Scalescenes type kits available.

https://www.3dk.ca/free-kit

https://krafttrains.com/Paper_Struchers_for_Trains/HO/index.htm

https://www.modelbuildings.org/

all from a quick search for HO scale card structures.

 

HTH

 

David

Many thanks for that information. I had found a number of the scalescenes type kits but had failed to find anything like Metcalfe, hence my enquiry. Just proves my search failed due to looking for something that does not exist! 

 

As a follow on from my first question, are there any cheap plastic kits that are worth using?

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On 07/10/2020 at 10:17, mikjd said:

Don't forget Clever Models: www.clevermodels.net

 

You have to download and print yourself, but they have a wide variety of designs in all scales.


I note on the Clevermodels website FAQ’s that they make sure the pages will print on either standard American size paper or A4, which is helpful.  Does anyone know if this applies to the other suppliers of downloadable card kits mentioned earlier (I couldn’t find an answer on the one I checked just now).  Thanks, Keith.

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One caveat, though only of interest to UK modellers, but on the general topic.  I came across this on another modelling related site and quote directly

 

"The HMRC webpage below in a link from a non-modelling website.  If my interpretation is correct, it is saying that foreign businesses selling goods below the value of £135.00 to individual UK customers (or online marketplaces such as Amazon, where the sale is made through the online marketplace) will become responsible for levying VAT on the purchase and, presumably, paying it to HMRC.  As part of this, the business concerned will have to register with HMRC.  The new rules take effect from January 2021.

I can see that online marketplaces will have/create such an arrangement with HMRC and it might well be that bigger model supply businesses will do so as well.  It seems inevitable that such purchases will become rather more expensive.  However, I also wonder if small modelling traders will just decide it isn’t worth the hassle of selling direct to the UK market any more.
"

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-vat-treatment-of-overseas-goods-sold-to-customers-from-1-january-2021/changes-to-vat-treatment-of-overseas-goods-sold-to-customers-from-1-january-2021?fbclid=IwAR0H0pVOhx0XOjwy8hYk7eLWxX8BCsf1wiyZrOC78tokVTy9Ol17QbE7BGE

 

At present you pay the VAT on arrival in the UK and pay the Post Office for the privilege of paying the VAT and any Duty, the new rules represent a shift in where the VAT is levied.

 

In a related story, William Shatner (aka James T Kirk) has an online merchandise shop, he is considering not selling to the UK in future, because of the extra red-tape and resulting overheads.

Obviously, I have no idea how the sales volumes compare, but I fear many 'hobby stores' will come to the same conclusion.

I assume that the same requirements would apply to any traders venturing to the UK for shows?

 

jch

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Re UK tax changes. Maybe things like Shipito will be the way to go. Then the US supplier will then ship to a US domestic address and it's forwarded on to the UK. Because it's not coming from a supplier, the old import system will be used, i.e. the Post Office collects duty.

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On 06/10/2020 at 16:42, Chris116 said:

Can anyone tell me if there is an equivalent of Superquick or Metcalf doing American style buildings in card or are all American building kits in plastic?

 

Not a kit, but the free Hindsight 20/20 virtual RPM meet this Saturday has a 30 minute session on building with paper/card

 

Blog post by the presenter:

http://hedley-junction.blogspot.com/2020/10/modelling-with-paper-getting.html

 

His presentation is scheduled currently for 3:45 to 4:15 EDT.

 

And for anyone interested the registration page:

http://speedwitchmedia.com/product/hindsight-20-20-4-0-registration/

 

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Just a note, used Lombard Hobbies (https://lombardhobby.com) this past week for a purchase.  Noting that the billing address was UK (despite a US delivery address) and working out that the package would likely end up overseas, they checked each item and found one vehicle damaged - I got a phone call to say they couldn't send that item because of the damage, but did I want it refunding or replacing with something else.  Everything else had been checked and was fine.  Perhaps not the quickest at dispatch (2-3 days) but id take a competent check and slowly dispatch anytime!

 

Also purchased something from https://modeltrainmarket.com and they were good.

 

Rich

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