Dr.H
08-15-2005, 04:25 PM
In this thread I plan to list online stores located in Japan and the United States that sell models that have been licensed for production. Most of these stores also sell modeling tools and supplies needed to build your kits. The stores here will ship internationally but if you ever find a store that will not ship outside of Japan, most import services listed in the Using Yahoo Japan Auctions thread will buy and ship the goods for you.
There are two main types of shipping services available when shipping goods from Japan the first is called EMS "Express Mail Service". EMS is fast with shipments usually only taking a few days to a week to arrive to you. It also has tracking numbers and is safer but it costs alot, sometimes more than your order because shipping costs go by weight and Country of destination. I personally always use and trust EMS.
The second service is SAL small packages "Surface Air Lift" this service has no tracking numbers and tends to take longer than EMS but is usually alot cheaper.
First lets list stores located in Japan:
Hobby Link Japan: http://www.hlj.com/
Rainbow Ten: http://www.rainbowten.co.jp/english/index.html
Hobby Search: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/
Now lets cover some U.S. based stores:
PlaJapan: http://www.plajapan.com/
Tower Hobbies: http://www.towerhobbies.com/
Squadron: www.squadron.com (http://www.squadron.com/) *
Micro-Mark: http://www.micromark.com/
Micro-Surface finishing products: http://www.micro-surface.com/default.cfm?page_id=1
Cobra Colors: http://www.cobracolors.com/ (The best automotive grade paints prethinned for modeling )
Widget Supply: http://www.widgetsupply.com/ (http://www.widgetsupply.com/)
Art Supply Warehouse: http://www.aswexpress.com/
Pearl Paint: http://www.pearlpaint.com/
The Complete Sculptor: http://www.sculpt.com/
Hobbywave: http://www.hobbywave.com/ (A decent source for GSI lacquer and air supplies in the United States and Canada)
Michtoy: http://www.michtoy.com (they don't have a webstore but you can call and ask. They have various GSI supplies as well as many, many other things)
Europe Based store:
The Small Shop EU: http://www.smallshopeu.com/ ( Great photo etch and diorama supplies)
Smaller U.S. based store: http://www.thesmallshop.com/
Everything Airbrush: http://www.everythingairbrush.com/
For Airbrush supplies:
Dixie Art: http://www.dixieart.com/Dixie_Art_Supplies_Airbrush_Main_Page.html
Airhead: http://www.airheadairbrush.com/
Airbrush Depot: http://www.airbrush-depot.com/scripts/depot.exe?pgm=brushgate.bbx
Coast Airbrush: http://www.coastairbrush.com/ *
Bear Air: http://www.bearair.com/ *
I always use Dixie Art for their great prices and free shipping.
I will add to these lists as more stores become available.
Alot of hobbyists use tools and supplies found at local hobby/craft stores or hardware supply stores, while these may not have a Japanese hobby company brand name on them most suit their purposes perfectly fine. Everyone is more than welcome to list stores that they find useful for obtaining their hobby tools and supplies.
* Retailer suggested by member
There are two main types of shipping services available when shipping goods from Japan the first is called EMS "Express Mail Service". EMS is fast with shipments usually only taking a few days to a week to arrive to you. It also has tracking numbers and is safer but it costs alot, sometimes more than your order because shipping costs go by weight and Country of destination. I personally always use and trust EMS.
The second service is SAL small packages "Surface Air Lift" this service has no tracking numbers and tends to take longer than EMS but is usually alot cheaper.
First lets list stores located in Japan:
Hobby Link Japan: http://www.hlj.com/
Rainbow Ten: http://www.rainbowten.co.jp/english/index.html
Hobby Search: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/
Now lets cover some U.S. based stores:
PlaJapan: http://www.plajapan.com/
Tower Hobbies: http://www.towerhobbies.com/
Squadron: www.squadron.com (http://www.squadron.com/) *
Micro-Mark: http://www.micromark.com/
Micro-Surface finishing products: http://www.micro-surface.com/default.cfm?page_id=1
Cobra Colors: http://www.cobracolors.com/ (The best automotive grade paints prethinned for modeling )
Widget Supply: http://www.widgetsupply.com/ (http://www.widgetsupply.com/)
Art Supply Warehouse: http://www.aswexpress.com/
Pearl Paint: http://www.pearlpaint.com/
The Complete Sculptor: http://www.sculpt.com/
Hobbywave: http://www.hobbywave.com/ (A decent source for GSI lacquer and air supplies in the United States and Canada)
Michtoy: http://www.michtoy.com (they don't have a webstore but you can call and ask. They have various GSI supplies as well as many, many other things)
Europe Based store:
The Small Shop EU: http://www.smallshopeu.com/ ( Great photo etch and diorama supplies)
Smaller U.S. based store: http://www.thesmallshop.com/
Everything Airbrush: http://www.everythingairbrush.com/
For Airbrush supplies:
Dixie Art: http://www.dixieart.com/Dixie_Art_Supplies_Airbrush_Main_Page.html
Airhead: http://www.airheadairbrush.com/
Airbrush Depot: http://www.airbrush-depot.com/scripts/depot.exe?pgm=brushgate.bbx
Coast Airbrush: http://www.coastairbrush.com/ *
Bear Air: http://www.bearair.com/ *
I always use Dixie Art for their great prices and free shipping.
I will add to these lists as more stores become available.
Alot of hobbyists use tools and supplies found at local hobby/craft stores or hardware supply stores, while these may not have a Japanese hobby company brand name on them most suit their purposes perfectly fine. Everyone is more than welcome to list stores that they find useful for obtaining their hobby tools and supplies.
* Retailer suggested by member