Full Version: Craft shops & MRR
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Just curious if any members here use craft stores for their MRR projects. Here in Toronto, we have Michael's and DeSerre's. While these stores are often frequented by people involved in other hobbies — scrapbooking, painting, etc. — I’ve found them very useful for my MRR projects. They even sell scenery items such as ground scatter, trees, etc., and various glues. 

Most recently, I’ve been working on a small switching layout (approx. 1’ wide by 6.5’ long) and have added a fiddle yard to it, which is part of the 6.5’ length. I found these two stores to be great in supplying small pieces of foam and card to extend this layout, not to mention cutting surfaces and tools that I could use.

I’m partly curious b/c I recently saw a satirical website that was making fun of how these stores are geared to women, while the men who go there are bored. Sure, I have no interest in parts of their items, but it’s a goldmine of useful items in other areas.

I prefer DeSerre’s here in Toronto. Good selection and prices seem to be better. Are there others in Canada I should consider?
Don't forget the acrylic craft paints. They won't have railroad colors, but they are a great source of colors for other things on the layout besides the trains.
Looked all over for balsa wood close by, Michael's had it in sheets and packages with assorted size pieces.
I use Michels, AC Moore and Home Depot
(08-10-2019, 05:00 PM)Russ Bellinis Wrote: [ -> ]Don't forget the acrylic craft paints.  They won't have railroad colors, but they are a great source of colors for other things on the layout besides the trains.

Yes, good point.
(08-10-2019, 05:13 PM)ezdays Wrote: [ -> ]Looked all over for balsa wood close by, Michael's had it in sheets and packages with assorted size pieces.

Yes ... An LHS near me has balsa wood but, yes, so does Michaels.
(08-10-2019, 09:47 PM)RobertInOntario Wrote: [ -> ]
(08-10-2019, 05:13 PM)ezdays Wrote: [ -> ]Looked all over for balsa wood close by, Michael's had it in sheets and packages with assorted size pieces.

Yes ... An LHS near me has balsa wood but, yes, so does Michaels.

Yup, but Michael's is two miles away while the closest hobby shop is around 12, so it's a no-brainer. Besides, sometimes Michael's has 20 or 25% off coupons in the paper, as does Hobby Lobby.
don't forget things like paper punches , that's what u used to create the gingerbread.
[attachment=32120]
(08-11-2019, 10:00 PM)jim currie Wrote: [ -> ]don't forget things like paper punches , that's what u used to create the gingerbread.

Looks good.
I bought my first G scale train set at Hobby Lobby. found it on a clearance rack for about $90.

Tom
(08-10-2019, 05:00 PM)Russ Bellinis Wrote: [ -> ]Don't forget the acrylic craft paints.  They won't have railroad colors, but they are a great source of colors for other things on the layout besides the trains.

I'm not a fan of Michaels at all, mainly due to the high prices, but also the paucity of useful stuff for modelling.  I can buy acrylic paints at the dollar store (about five minutes away) for - surprise - a dollar.  I don't use it for the trains, but it's useful for scenery purposes.

The nearest hobby shop for me is about an hour's drive (was about five minutes a year ago, before the local store closed) but I have only the occasional need for hobby supplies.   I try to keep a good stock of most needed items on-hand.

Wayne
Like Wayne, I'm not a big fan of Michael's, not a lot there and you pay the price if you don't have one of their coupons. Here are the choices I'm faced with:
  • Walmart: Acrylic paint (50 cents for 2 oz) and other craft items, Drive distance, two miles
  • Michael's: Craft stuff, only if I can't find it somewhere else close by, in the same shopping center as Walmart
  • Hobby Lobby: again, mainly crafts, most times I've left empty-handed. Drive distance, nine miles
  • Hobby Bench: mostly crafts, planes and R/C. Some trains, not sure what since their web site hasn't been updated in years. Drive distance, about 14 miles.
Most other train shops nearby have closed, the closest now is around 35 miles away and I've not been there in a very long time. Same goes for Hobby Lobby and Hobby Bench. And yes, I've bought online recently and have for a long time.
When I drop by Hobby Lobby I look over several items to see if there is a load there or some industrial detail.  Another place I hit is miniature wargaming stores. I have found trees, painted stone walls, brick walls, hedge rows, scrub trees etc for a reasonable price
Like Doctor Wayne I've found some real bargains at the local "Dollarama Store" including acrylic paint and recently some scale vehicles

[attachment=32131]
(08-14-2019, 09:53 AM)cn nutbar Wrote: [ -> ]Like Doctor Wayne I've found some real bargains at the local "Dollarama Store" including acrylic paint and recently some scale vehicles

Yes, that's a good idea too! I'll search our local dollar stores too.