Hi Matt

Thanks for that I had not heard of Ironhorse cool name for a business though.

Regards

Fordboy

I'm going to be visiting Auckland next week, and it's been a few years since I've been there, where abouts are the shops worth visiting these days?

The best range i find it in Hobby City along Quay Street but they do tend to be more expensive.

ACE Hobby in NewMarket is another good one that is reasonably priced. There is also Hobby direct in Grey Lynn which has a small range and also heavily priced.

My recommendation is to check out ACE hobby first and then Hobby City.

I gotta agree with Sean Ace hobby is a very good shop, good range and nice prices.

Phil, you can find Ace hobby at 65 Birkenhead Ave, Birkenhead in Auckland.

Hi ACAV

If you visit Ace please give us your opinion/feedback.

Regards

Fordboy

Does the range of kits in Ace Hobby match Hobby City? Hobby City has quite a few so if it matches its range, i might actually make the trip up North.

Egads!
A request...

Okay, here goes - last time I was over in Birkenhead, I dropped into Ace Hobbies for the very first time ever.
I was impressed - disregarding the obvious need to pander to those who think modelling is all about petrol powered things that go 'WahwahwahWAH!' very loud, there is a fine stock of kits and accessories.

Their kit stock probably ain't as good as, er, Hobby City and I didn't have my accountant's hat on to compare prices, but what did impress me was the treasure locked away in the glass cabinets - they have a righteous selection of aftermarket stuff.

I can remember pressing my muzzle up against the case that held all the armour stuff, like a Dickensian orphan at the window of a pie shop...
Ooh, the goodies, ooh, the temptation, ooh, the trouble I'd be in...

Seriously, Ace Hobbies is probably one of the better shops for the more 'serious' (and well off) modeller.

All I need to do is convince the Other Half that the Legend Productions M48A3 stowage and detail set is a more necessary lifestyle enhancement than the boxed DVD set of the third season of Highlander...

Ace also has a most impressive display of assembled, painted and detailed kits.

If you're in the area, check it out.
And 'in the area' means 'the North Island'...

acav out

where's my beer?

hey

Here in good old chch were got acorn models and iron horse hobbies which i think are both down manchester st.I go to acorn models for my models and they have never disapointed m.they have a wide range of kits, RC planes cars and boats,diecast and railroad materials.if you no any were in NZ were i can get resination kits can you pleaze email there email address to me at [email protected]

cheers

Can you pass the message onto them to ...."MOVE BACK TO AUCKLAND!"

Hi Squad

Thanks for the feedback ACAV a successful recon mission I believe.

I concur with your report.

I went to Ace just yesterday and like you I love those locked cabinets and all they hold.

Hobby City has more stock but by crikey its squashed in. I find Ace a little more spacious.

Jazza Ace Hobbies its worth a visit and a full recon.

Over and out squad at ease

Regards

Fordboy

Hi Jazza

What did you think of Ace after your visit?

Regards

Fordboy

I actually just went there today and im totally convinced thats THE shop to go to for getting models. They have a more than decent range and cheapest compared to the rest of the shops around Auckland.

I just bought the M2A2 by Tamiya for $49.95.

I absolutely love the fact that they sell the entire Osprey range for modelling tips!! Seeing as im getting more serious about this hobby, i recently purchased my books from amazon thinking they were hard to find only to bump into them in Ace Hobby.

Their Dragon, Trumpeter and Italeri range rocks as well!

Im converted and will probably only ever get my models from there from now on.

Hi Jazza

Great stuff I am pleased it was worth your while.

I am fortunate i just live 5 km's down the road from Ace.

My goal is to get good enough to get a model in the display cases. LOL

Regards

Fordboy

Do customers actually bring their models back to have them displayed in that showcase? I just thought it was the staff members themselves that do it....no?

to add to those in chch, there is a new store, The Trainman, on stanmore road. It's in the same building as the Movie Man video store. Despite the name, they seem to have a reasonable range of the basic stuff, but for anything detailed i'd stick with Acorn. I haven't had a chance to properly check it out yet, i'll do so soon and get back

My brother and I occaisionally go on model crawls, and we have in fact given up on hobby city as they are too expensive, our favourites are /were ace with the now gone acorn coming a definate second.
We have found occaisional things cheaper at newmarket [whatsis name] but on average ace is ace!

Hi Jeremy

In response to your questions:

Do customers actually bring their models back to have them displayed in that showcase?

Yes they do Steve Evans, Lance Whitford etc amongst others have in the past or currently display models at Ace.

I just thought it was the staff members themselves that do it....no?

In essence the answer is no.

Regards

Sean