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Post by g3750 on May 20, 2023 17:26:31 GMT
Full disclosure: I used to work at this store. But I, and more than a few others, consider Hobby Express in Cranberry Township, PA to be one of the best stores in Pennsylvania and maybe in the tri-state area (OH, WV, PA).
Hobby Express carries: - N, HO, S, O and G gauge trains - locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars, sets (many, many brands). Trains are also serviced here.
- Track (Atlas, Bachmann, GarGraves, Lionel (Fastrak & tubular), MTH)
- DCC, DCS, Legacy as well as power supplies and transformers
- Scenery supplies - Woodland Scenics
- R/C boats, cars, planes - sales & service
- Plastic models - ships, planes, cars, military vehicles. A full variety of glue and paint is available as well as air brush supplies.
- Tools and wire
- Plastruct, Evergreen, K&S metals, balsa and basswood
- Model Rockets - big variety and lots of motors
- Diecast vehicles - from 1:64 to 1/18
- Slot cars
- Gundam, War Hammer, figures
- Books - modeling, trains, military
- Pinewood Derby supplies and accessories
- Toys and stuffed animals for smaller children
- Puzzles - thousands of puzzles!
The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. These photos are a bit out of date. The store expanded about 9 months ago.
They are open 10-7 Monday-Saturday and 11-5 on Sunday.
Very much worth a visit.
George
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Post by thebigcrabcake on May 21, 2023 13:00:46 GMT
... Hobby Express in Cranberry Township, PA to be one of the best stores in Pennsylvania and maybe in the tri-state area (OH, WV, PA)...
If I have my geometry correct, this is located just north of Pittsburg. I visited this store a few years ago and thought it was a perfect LHS. It's a classic type of hobby shop with more than a little of everything you need. Big Thumbs up for Hobby Express! Emile
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Post by g3750 on May 22, 2023 15:00:13 GMT
... Hobby Express in Cranberry Township, PA to be one of the best stores in Pennsylvania and maybe in the tri-state area (OH, WV, PA)...
If I have my geometry correct, this is located just north of Pittsburg. I visited this store a few years ago and thought it was a perfect LHS. It's a classic type of hobby shop with more than a little of everything you need. Big Thumbs up for Hobby Express! Emile "geometry"?
I think you meant geography. LOL
And yes, Cranberry Township is in Butler County, just about 15 miles north of Pittsburgh. Last I knew there are probably over 140,000 SKUs (Store Keeping Units or items) in the place.
In terms of sheer size (floor space), the biggest shop I ever saw was the old JusTrains in Newark, DE. That was in the ex-grocery supermarket (when Kirk was alive). The best stocked store (for 3-rail only) was Barry's in Elizabethtown, PA (now long gone).
George
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Post by atsda on May 22, 2023 16:28:25 GMT
George, Thanks for the info about Hobby Express. It sounds like a hobbyist's dream; LHSs like they used to be. In the absence of such stores, hobbyists need to get more creative by visiting a combination of other stores - fabric/ sewing/ craft shops, hardware stores, thrift/ dollar stores, even big box home improvement stores. In this case, it takes a good deal more time. It's probably hard to get paint colors right etc. by shopping online.
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Post by jackson1966 on May 23, 2023 17:28:15 GMT
Fortunately I have one about a 10-15 minute drive from me (Milepost Hobbies in Perth, NY). Matt, the owner, is very knowledgeable and helpful; while he is mainly HO, he has an excellent inventory of paints and other supplies, is willing to order what's available, and has a great ever-changing inventory of used and pre-owned O.
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Post by atsda on May 26, 2023 2:08:41 GMT
When I was growing up, there were great hobby shops in New York City and especially in Brooklyn. The ultimate train store was Madison Hardware. I went there only a few times, and had my Lionel 736 Berkshire tuned up. At the time, I did not recognize the value of the place. I do remember the man in the small shop room with the apron. Alfred
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