Best website mail order model sites US based?

wingstrutdotcom · 22 January 2006, 07:16 PM

mail order model websites in the US? Please give your suggestions for the best sites and service. I am not really looking for WW1 subjects.

ChrisSavaglio · 22 January 2006, 08:03 PM

I've had great service with both squadron.com and greatmodels.com

Chris

RAGIII · 22 January 2006, 09:29 PM

I have had good experiences with Squadron and Roll Models. Although Roll Models take a little longer to ship at times their pricing is usually excellent. JMHO,
RAGIII

Ross_Moorhouse · 23 January 2006, 02:02 AM

I know I am in Australia but I have used Rolls and they have outstanding customer service. Some I ordered from them arrived damaged. They replaced the whole thing, not just the part, for free. Big thumbs up from me....

23 January 2006, 05:59 AM

My two favorite U.S. internet/mail order companies are Squadron.com and Hobbylinc.com. Actually, Hobbylinc often beats Squadron on price, but their selection is a little more limited. Both offer great customer service and fast shipping.

Brian da Basher

John Masters · 23 January 2006, 07:01 AM

I haven't tried Hobbylinc, but Roll Models has been a great asset for my hobbies. They seem to have a large stock and pretty quick service. Squadron ships fastest, IMO, but I have patience...

John

wingstrutdotcom · 23 January 2006, 09:41 AM

I like Squadron.com too and have used them a number of times. However, I have become frustrated with their search function on their site.

John Masters · 23 January 2006, 11:24 AM

I agree, Wingstrut. Unless you actually know what you want, i.e. manufacturer, etc...It's like hacking through a jungle only to find your kit "Temporarily out of stock. Try back often!"

John

GregorySharp · 23 January 2006, 02:38 PM

I've had very good service from greatmodels.com

mgtaylor · 23 January 2006, 09:14 PM

Dito I have to agree with Greg.

I keep a running list of sites from Fine Scale Modeller . But the two I use the most are Squadron and GreatModels Webstore. All webstores are fairly good about filling orders and delivering thats not an issue. I have however found the greastest (largest) selection and the LATEST kits available at those two sites. Both List by manufactuer which is good when your trying to find a particular kit or when building a collection. There are others like www.meteorprod.com/

It deserves mentionoing however the two basic philsophies which differentiate Squadron and Greatmodels. Aside from Price which for the most part Greatmodels beats hands down and runs more sales.

Squadron ( www. squadron.com/Search.asp ) you (while sometimes frustrating list out of stcok) can depend on ONLY to List what they actually have and will ship that day almost. SO if you want it and want it NOW then check Squadron.

GreatModels ( www.greatmodels.com/ )on the other hand will list EVERYTHING under the sun weather it is in stock or not and sell it to you. THey then Order it for themsleves. THey then keep a running tally of all your "specially ordered " items and as they come in they will stock pile them untill your order is at least %80 filled and then ship it to you no matter How Long that may take? MOnths Sometimes?

But I find Both good for "pre-Ordering" Manufactuers kits that are due out but haven't been released yet. That can really work out well especially when a kit is HOT and the first shippment recievd is sold out. I use Squadron for my BattleAxe and Hi-tech purchases although they are very steep. Greatmodels dosent carry BA. Otherwise as I rarely am in any hurry these days I wait on GReatModels to fill everything in the meantime Iam always adding more to the original order.

Sometimes they don't seem to ever get their re-stock in which case it pays to look overseas with Hannets in UK for instance I need some MosKIt metal Exhuast Manifolds that greatmodels was taking over a year to fill. I finally tracked them down as being in stock with Hannets www.hannants.co.uk/ and ordered them there.

Mike www.misterkitusa.com