rustywelder Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Do any of you know what happened to GPA hobbies? I tried to stop in on my way back home from the shore this afternoon, to find out that it is now a flooring showroom. Did they fold or just move elsewhere? Cheers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
2qwik4u Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 They closed late last year. -Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rustywelder Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share Posted February 9, 2015 Bummer. We're running out of hobby shops around here, just hobby works and star left. And I have to wonder how much longer star will be around in that oddball location of theirs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
2qwik4u Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Hobby Hangar out in Chantilly has a decent selection. Certainly better than nothing at all. You'd think that living in the DC area there would be at least one decent hobby shop closer than an hour away. -Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Dave, did you mean Piper Hobby in Chantilly? I've never heard of Hobby Hangar? But if there is another hobby shop around I'd like to go visit it. Too bad about GPA. They didn't have much, but they had stuff those mouth-breathers that run Hobbyworks would never dare stock. The staff were always really nice too. Also what/where is Star Hobby? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
2qwik4u Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 RKic, Hobby Hangar is just a little further out than Piper Hobby, on the opposite side of the road. They are primarily an RC shop, but they have a decent kit and paint selection. Nothing in the way of AM though. Prices are decent, unlike Piper. I've been there once, won't go back. -Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 I'll have to look for it next time I feel like fighting the stupid traffic on 66 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
82Whitey51 Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Yup...I pulled up to GPA a couple of weeks ago on my way back from my daughter's cheer competition...I thought I pulled into the wrong parking lot at first. :(/> Like most hobby shops in the vast vicinity, it was a paint and supplies stop. If I buy a kit, these days its on the interwebs or at shows/contests. I've never been to Hobby Hangar, I'll have to take a look next time I'm up that way...usually make a Hobby Works/Piper paint and supply run every few months. Dave, I hear ya loud and clear on the kit prices in Piper! Hobby Works ain't any cheaper. I understand you gotta pay the bills and keep the lights on but that's what kills LHSs. I've only ever bought one kit in Piper, a Hasagawa F/A-18A on the discount table in back for about half the normal price. Is "Star" the shop near the Annapolis Bay Bridge? I thought I saw a sign while cruising along this past weekend (again, on a cheer leading competition trip... :woo:/> ). How is that place? Any "old kit" aisles or aftermarket decals or resin? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rustywelder Posted February 10, 2015 Author Share Posted February 10, 2015 (edited) RKic, Star is the place Whitey is thinking of, its in one of those strange pull offs on 50 east just before the bridge. Its primarily a model RR place, with an ok selection of kits. Nothing to make a special trip for. Edited February 10, 2015 by rustywelder Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eraucubsfan Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 I stopped in Star a few weeks ago. Not impressed. Some kits, but like a lot of places prices seem high. I did pickup a 1/48 Revell B-25J for 35.00, kinda pricey but the GF suggested I get it. The store is full of clutter and smells like a dirty gym locker room. And I agree its a PITA to get too, better have your GPS handy. Its not to far from the malls in Annapolis, so if the SO is there shopping, it might be a good oasis to get away too though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Star Hobby has really reduced it's model kit selection since the early 2000'nds. Back then they have two full lanes of kits, now everything is crammed into one. I stop by there whenever I am over that way, always disappointed in the kit selection. Prices are a little on the high side, but you may find a gem in there (I found a 1/32 P-40E about two years ago, those are hard to find on shelves these days). Paints/glues are all avail at this shop (even the old Floquil RR colors). Piper...man I live in DC and haven't been there in years, prices are off the charts from what I remember. And then there WAS Doug's..... Ahhhhhhh Doug's. Cheers Collin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Hegedus Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 (edited) And then there WAS Doug's..... Ahhhhhhh Doug's. Cheers Collin Operative word there being, "was". :( Edited February 10, 2015 by Joe Hegedus Quote Link to post Share on other sites
82Whitey51 Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Ahhhhhhh Doug's... (that place would be in walking distance to me now if it were still there :() Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 (edited) I never did a direct comparison, but I don't remember Piper being priced any worse than Hobbyworks. The HW that I live by (in Rockville) has some over-the-top prices on some kits. $50+ for a Revell reboxing of the Hasegawa Harrier in 1/72 always makes my head spin. And the Italeri stuff is overpriced (this due to Italeri and Stevens), but for the most part the price is within the typical range. On the plus side, they finally have a fully stocked rack of Vallejo paints (Hobbyworks), so I can pop in after work and buy paint if I need to. For that alone, they'll keep me as a customer. Now if only they would dump the Italeri garbage that takes up 30% of their shelf, and stock some kits that people may actually want to buy.... Edited February 10, 2015 by RKic Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mhoupt Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I have just moved to the area. HobbyWorks appears to be about the only game in town for those of us on the northern fringes in Baltimore / BelAir. I have tried to make contact with the Baltimore IPMS with no success. I have heard they meet in this place and then another. It appears that I will use HW for paints, glues and such. Kits will be generally online purchases. As it was stated a little earlier, you would think an area with such diversity and populations as the Baltimore / Washington area would have at least one decent shop. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Mark, isn't there a shop up by Essex? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lenny Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Doug's was awesome back in the '80's. I miss that place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
beingthehero Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 The HW that I live by (in Rockville) The one in that strip near Mama Lucia's and Microcenter? That's the one I go to! Damn, we might have passed each other and never knew about it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 The one in that strip near Mama Lucia's and Microcenter? That's the one I go to! Damn, we might have passed each other and never knew about it. That is the one. I hope you're not the guy I accidentally launched one of their screaming slingshot monkeys at. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I never did a direct comparison, but I don't remember Piper being priced any worse than Hobbyworks. The HW that I live by (in Rockville) has some over-the-top prices on some kits. $50+ for a Revell reboxing of the Hasegawa Harrier in 1/72 always makes my head spin. And the Italeri stuff is overpriced (this due to Italeri and Stevens), but for the most part the price is within the typical range. On the plus side, they finally have a fully stocked rack of Vallejo paints (Hobbyworks), so I can pop in after work and buy paint if I need to. For that alone, they'll keep me as a customer. Now if only they would dump the Italeri garbage that takes up 30% of their shelf, and stock some kits that people may actually want to buy.... I was at the Rockville HW a few months back as I passed by the area. Nice folks, decent kit selection and good paint/glue selection. The kit prices took my breath away (very high). I could live with the prices of the paint/glue/accessories-tools they had on hand. Collin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mhoupt Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Mark, isn't there a shop up by Essex? If there is, I am not aware of it. I am new to the are though. Please do share your intel. M Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-ONE27 Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 (edited) There used to be Overlea hobbies here in Parkville, but the owner closed shop about 2 years ago. There is a hobby town in Parkville shopping center off Joppa road, prices are a bit high and just one aisle of kits in the back, every once and a while a gem is found on the shelf, got a Hasegawa F/A-18A/C for $40 bucks before. Their paint and supply section is pretty decent too- where I get most of my paint when finishing a kit but as Whitey alluded to, I mostly purchase online these days. Middle river hobbies off Carroll island rd in bowleys quarters used to stock a few kits but they have since fell off-hardly worth the trip, supplies also limited, mostly catering to the RC community Ughhhhh. Edited February 14, 2015 by B-ONE27 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-ONE27 Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 If there is, I am not aware of it. I am new to the are though. Please do share your intel. M Are you referring to the old wise avenue hobbyshop in Dundalk? I think they folded also. Mostly trains in there the one time I did stop in there a few years ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-ONE27 Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 I have just moved to the area. HobbyWorks appears to be about the only game in town for those of us on the northern fringes in Baltimore / BelAir. I have tried to make contact with the Baltimore IPMS with no success. I have heard they meet in this place and then another. It appears that I will use HW for paints, glues and such. Kits will be generally online purchases. As it was stated a little earlier, you would think an area with such diversity and populations as the Baltimore / Washington area would have at least one decent shop. Mark Mark from my understanding they meet at the national guard armory on York road in Towson just off the exit for York road on 695- if memory serves me it's the 2nd Thursday of every month. Your right about nothing in our area here in northern Baltimore-about the only trade close is hobby town in Parkville center...there is a hobby lobby in Columbia, haven't been yet so I can't speak of it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Viasistina Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 The LHS world is almost over in the DMV area, and it all started when Squadron Signal pulled the plug on Roy Dyer and the Sqaudron Shop years ago. Piper remains solid for paints and supplies. Their kit prices are high, probably to pay the rent, and therein lies the problem. We don't buy the kits, they go under. Personally I buy ordinary supplies at Hobby Works and make a run to Piper every six months or so for more serous stuff. Kits? Sprue Brothers, Ebay or Hannants. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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