R/C Section
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 940
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From: burlington, iowa
yeah the tower hobbies ?great planes manf combination did us in pretty much. See tower hobbies is owned by great planes mfg. which in turn makes alot of stuff and sells everything else. What they did was start selling thru tower at lower prices then we could even buy it from them for inventory. Sometimes we would buy inventory thru tower hobbies to save money. but in the end profits fell and customers started buying from tower when they started offering free shipping. we could not compete. we had the only indoor rc raceway in the state. and a huge ho train layout that had been built by the local train club and the only grandstand slot car track in southeast iowa. Now you have to drive 1 hour east or two hours west or 1 1/2 hours north to find a hobby shop.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,587
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From: Virginia Beach
Originally Posted by chris12
yah the clock it 12. they removed it on me.. o well .
That stinks FordLover. . .but its just the opposite here. Debbies R/C, Hungates and HobbyTown USA have double in size in the last couple years. Most of there inventory consists of consumables and accessories though, its kind of weird.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 940
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From: burlington, iowa
i think there is a hobbytown usa in davenport somewhere, i know i have been in one somewhere in this state. They never usually close, its a franchise business that is backed by a huge corporation but locally owned, kinda like caseys and kwik shop and 7-11. I like the mom and pop stores better and i buy most of my stuff thru them except the big giant items like plane kits and radios. besides it is the small stuff like props and small parts that keeps them open, they make hardly anything on the big ticket items. I know we would sell a rc-10 car kit for about 3 dollars over cost, but we had a 35% markup on tires and paint and little parts either for fixing or hop ups, i know when we built the oval for rc racing profits went up from all the people racing.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,002
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From: peggs, oklahoma
i went out to the track (jan 1st). i lost one main screw (clutchbell screw) and 4 replaceable ones, but the main one put me out for the day. My dad went and talk to one of the main racers. And now where are going to be picking up a 1/8 scale buggy...so this should be interesting.
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,587
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From: Virginia Beach
That makes sense ForsdLover. And I never new HT USA was a franchise. Never heard anything about them outside of this area 
Went out yesterday to a local school baseball field to tune the truck a bit and get some high speed runs in. Flipped it 3-4 times and hit a fence, but nothing more than scratches. Starting to get the hang of high speed turns down. Just stinks around for as fast as the area, even a small baseball feild runs out of room quick
For those that run these trucks, do low speeds harm them at all with the occasional high spped clean out?
Went out yesterday to a local school baseball field to tune the truck a bit and get some high speed runs in. Flipped it 3-4 times and hit a fence, but nothing more than scratches. Starting to get the hang of high speed turns down. Just stinks around for as fast as the area, even a small baseball feild runs out of room quick
For those that run these trucks, do low speeds harm them at all with the occasional high spped clean out?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,002
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From: peggs, oklahoma
Originally Posted by Franken-Truck
That makes sense ForsdLover. And I never new HT USA was a franchise. Never heard anything about them outside of this area
Went out yesterday to a local school baseball field to tune the truck a bit and get some high speed runs in. Flipped it 3-4 times and hit a fence, but nothing more than scratches. Starting to get the hang of high speed turns down. Just stinks around for as fast as the area, even a small baseball feild runs out of room quick For those that run these trucks, do low speeds harm them at all with the occasional high spped clean out?
Went out yesterday to a local school baseball field to tune the truck a bit and get some high speed runs in. Flipped it 3-4 times and hit a fence, but nothing more than scratches. Starting to get the hang of high speed turns down. Just stinks around for as fast as the area, even a small baseball feild runs out of room quick
For those that run these trucks, do low speeds harm them at all with the occasional high spped clean out?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,574
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From: Seattle
Originally Posted by fordloverf2501970
yeah the tower hobbies ?great planes manf combination did us in pretty much.
We have had six or so Mom & Pop hobby shops close their doors in the last five years in our area also.....I'm sure for the same reasons.
Hobbytown USA appears to be a survivor, but I'm sure being a franchise has a lot to do with it. They are great if you're into R/C cars, but fall MISERABLY short for the R/C aircraft enthusiasts.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,002
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From: peggs, oklahoma
wings and things here in tulsa, fell because they wouldnt follow the trend of RTR (ready to run(,rip,etc)) and only carried kits.
That and every racing season (land vehicles) theyd change the vehicle requirments every year so youd haft to buy new cars from them (only good store at the time) everyyear...
That and every racing season (land vehicles) theyd change the vehicle requirments every year so youd haft to buy new cars from them (only good store at the time) everyyear...
Senior User
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 149
Likes: 2
From: SW Illinois... near St. L
I have a few too... I also have a website that I'm running for my local club...
www.rc-outlaw.com. They are a LOT of fun! I'll get pictures of my "jet" car and try to get them posted.
www.rc-outlaw.com. They are a LOT of fun! I'll get pictures of my "jet" car and try to get them posted.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Savage, Minnesota
Sweet planes and trucks! I have no nitros, but I have a 97 Stampede as I said before (above) and I have a mini (hobby zone mini mauler) and a Team Associated RC10T (stadium truck). Okay, I got more pics hold your ponies.
It started off as a rolling chassis with only the shocks, tranny, diff and servo saver. Got a Futaba transmitter, reciever, servo and a Venom 3000 6 cell battery, also a Trinity Chameleon 2 pro.
Here it is with the guts. The battery didn't fit so we sliced off the plastic protectors. All that means is no water, but that shouldn't be an issue.