Commercial Sites
These links are companies that I recommend. Companies with stars have
provided really outstanding service.
Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA)
If you are thinking about getting into any kind of model flying, then you
should consider becoming a member of the AMA. Most clubs require you to be a
member for the liability insurance that comes with AMA membership. The AMA
does much more for us than provide insurance. They are our strongest
advocate and lobby. The AMA also sponsors competitions, various youth
programs and a host of other activities.
Aces of Iron
Manufacturers of excellent pilot busts. These are the best I've seen.
Each bust is hollow molded resin and is lightweight but highly detailed. I
am extremely pleased with the one I painted for the
SR Eindecker E1.
Aerospace Composites
I
have had good dealings with this company. The person I spoke to was very
patient with me when I was bombarding him with questions about their various
products which include just about any type of composite material, resin or
related tools you would ever use in a model.
Balsa USA
I buy the vast majority of my wood from this company. My order has
always arrived quickly and I have always been satisfied with the selection of
wood I received. I usually order several hundred dollars worth of wood at
a time.
Bristol Valley Hardwoods
A good source for thin hardwoods. If you have a
table saw (small or
large) then you can save a lot of money purchasing quality hardwoods and sawing
your own blocks and mounts rather than purchasing small pre-cut pieces through
the hobby industry at a much, much higher price.
Hardwoods are excellent for making many of our own tools as well. You
can't go wrong having a plank of 1/4" maple on hand, for example. You'll
find lots of uses for it.
Dave Platt Models
One of the true Scale Masters. I think he has done more to advance the art
of scale modeling than any single person. There are a handful of modelers
in the world with his skill, but he has always been a high profile modeler and,
more importantly, had a desire to pass his knowledge along.
Dykema Rubber Band Company
You
might not have a lot of thoughts about rubber bands. However, they are
extremely useful and versatile tools. Personally, I got tired of being
aggravated by never having the right size and also by the low-quality variety
offered in local stores.
Dykema sells sample packs of rubber bands of very high quality. Each pack
contains a dozen different sizes. Each size is individually boxed so you
actually know what size you're using. When you need more you'll know what
to order.
I ordered every sample pack they carry for about twenty-five bucks. It was
money very well spent. I recommend you check them out.
FliegerLand
A very nice hobby shop located in Leimen-St. Ilgen, Germany owned by Reiner Pfister.
While I was stationed in Germany I spent a lot of my off-duty hours browsing
through the shop and doing my best to communicate with Reiner.
I don't
speak German and he doesn't speak English but that didn't stop us. Usually
a lot of gesturing and picture drawing was involved but we also managed to
figure out what the other was talking about. In any case, his shop was
nicely stocked and has some interesting items. Definitely worth stopping
in if you're ever in the area.
HeliProz R-C Helicopters
I
purchased my
Raptor
helicopter from Heliproz. They took the time to exchange several
e-mails with me and customized my order so that I could get the most for my
money. Their service was fast and I found them to be a good company to do
business with.
Hobby Express (Formerly Hobby Lobby International)
More good service and they import items from Germany.
Klass Kote
As far as I'm concerned there are only two types of paint for flying model
aircraft — Dope and Epoxy. Klass Kote paints are
excellent epoxies, fully fuel proof and extremely durable. They are
compatible with the original K & B SuperPoxy and HobbyPoxy brand paints.
I have reviewed these paints and have nothing but good
things to say about them. Also see
the Test
Results by Dave Platt.
I visited the Klass Kote site recently and found they now have an Adobe Acrobat (pdf) file having
color formulas.
Micro Fasteners
The
best place I have found to purchase all the small nuts and bolts required for
use on radio-controlled models. I build a lot, so I save money buying in
bulk. If you are a beginner, then you are probably better off just buying
what you need from the local hobby shop. If you decide to stay in the
hobby, buying from Micro Fasteners will save you money over time so you can buy
that new engine or set of servos.
One more word about this company. I placed an order on a Friday night,
paid for regular mail, and it was in my mailbox the following Monday. I
live in Florida and the order was shipped from New Jersey. Best service
and prices I have ever had. I just can not say enough good things about
this company.
Among other things, it shows that good prices and good service are
simultaneously possible. Makes me wonder why other companies choose not to
have one or both of these things.
Micro-Mark
Sells many hard-to-find tools including many from the medical industry.
The prices are not the lowest, but they have pretty much everything you will
ever need for any type of model building. They do not carry many R/C
specific items, however.
Mike's Workshop
For
many years I have been trying to find a source of good quality
scroll saw
blades. The ones available in places like Home Depot and Sears honestly
are not that great. They tend to be too coarse for fine model work and
tear out the back of the work too much.
Mike carries the best quality blades I have ever used. He will even send
you a couple samples for free. The prices are very reasonable - a gross
(144) of blades from $20 - $30 depending on the blade.
Model Expo
They
carry many plastic kits at good prices. But the best thing about them is
their wooden ship models and accessories. You have to see some of these
kits. Really beautiful. If you have the skill and the patience, you
can get a kit of a sailing ship from yesteryear and spend the rest of yours
rigging all 10,000 lines. Woo Hoo!
Proctor Enterprises
Some of the most beautiful model kits you will find anywhere in the world.
Every one of their kits is a work of art. They are for craftsman only.
If you do not like to build, but enjoy seeing the modeler's art, then take a
look at this site. If you do enjoy building, then it just does not get any
better than this.
Ron's R-C Helicopters
I
ordered my heli radio and replacement parts for my Raptor from Ron's (formerly Rick's). I
exchanged several e-mails in regard to various upgrades and he always seemed
more concerned with making sure that I had the right equipment rather than
trying to sell me things I do not need.
SIG Manufacturing
An all-American model manufacturer. They produce many types of models,
from stick and tissue to control-line and R/C. All their kits are well
thought out with great instructions. I have built several SIG kits and
every one has been a good flying and durable model.
One thing you will notice about Sig kits that can not be said of some of the
other major manufacturers, is that their kits are developed. You can
always count on Sig to get their kits right before they release them. As a
result, if you build the kit per the plan and follow the instructions, you will
not have mysterious problems with your model.
Tap Plastics
Carries various composite materials and related items as well as polishes,
tools, etc.
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