As I might be in the area later this year, are there any decent hobby shops in the Phoenix area?
I model in On30 so I'm not looking for primarily 3 rail or smaller scale exclusive shops.
What I'm primarily interested in is On30, good Publications, books, scenery stuff, or any unusual stuff you can't easily find in most conventional hobby shops.
Any recommendations?
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Unfortunately, I think you are going to have to look towards the internet more and more...
The only place that registered on my radar while passing through was https://burlingstonoftrains.godaddysites.com/about-us but they are more vintage oriented (which was fine with me!!!)
Unfortunately the Hobby Shop reality of the Phoenix Metro area is not a happy one. Burling's Ton of Trains is in Fountain Hills which is in the NE part of the valley. He has a little of everything, but mostly O scale. We have Hobby Lobbys but nothing special there.
However, you should plan on making a visit to the Scottsdale McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park while you are here. Trains in scales from 1:1 to Z. Stop by and visit the Paradise and Pacific group in the layout building. I was running briefly yesterday and there is always someone at that layout who would be more than happy to give you the tour. A lot to see and do at that park.
With Roy's closing a couple years ago, and now it looks like AZ Train Depot may be closed too (I know the owner has health issues and it was lights off when I went by at the beginning of the month.) there isn't really anything anymore. Like said there is Burling's Ton of Trains, but they are really older used O stuff, not for scale modelers. There is Hobby Depot in Tempe, but they are a kind of general hobby shop, so very little trains. Obies Trains in AJ is newer to the scene. Kind of like Roy's was, but smaller. There is also An Affair With Trains, but they are HO and N only. Outside of that we pretty much have nothing here in the Valley of the Sun. Everyone come here to play golf or go swimming.
Been doing a lot of internet searches but its hard to see what each really has.
Litchfield station seems to be just a DCC supply and install place. Don't have much need for a 3 rail centric store, though.
Won't be able to get to places outside the Phoenix area, so anywhere away from there for me will be wastwd bandwidth...
Yes, as far as On30 goes there is nothing here. There really isn't anything for 2R O either.
Okay, I can come clean now.
My wife and I were IN Phoenix at the time of my last post, just didnt want to broadcast to the world that I wasn't home.
I tried to hit a couple of these places, both were closed with no signs in place. The only place open was Litchfield and that was a DCC place, not much bigger than my layout room. Nobody was there when walked in, which was odd...
Total bust.
Coronado Scale Models in Phoenix specializes in narrow gauge. Not on internet.
Gene
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