General Hobby Resources
Hobbylinc Hobbies
Deep discounts and good service on tens of thousands of hobby products. Great source for scratch model supplies (sheet styrene and metal), as well Tamiya and OWI robot kits and parts. Other product lines include model rockets, model trains, kit models, airbrush, paints, hand tools, slotcars, science, power and hand tools, and books.
Model Trains
Model Train Software: Print Your Own Scenic Details
Full line of software products helps create realistic custom scenic details for your modeling needs. Includes a window treatment designer, an advertising collection, sign creator and more.
National Model Railroad Association
The National Model Railroad Association is the largest organization devoted to the development, promotion, and enjoyment of the hobby of model railroading.
Woodland Scenics.
Manufacturer of model railroad scenery. Provides a complete line of products to build a model railroad layout starting with the base and ending with finished landscape. Site features how-to demos and other information.
Wm. K. Walthers, Inc.
Manufacturer and distributor of model railroad equipment. Site has information on over 200,000 different train items from over three hundred manufacturers Supplies hobby shops and has direct retail sales. Also has information on getting started and choosing trains, technical resources and more.
Model Ships
Washington Ship Model Society
The oldest continuously active ship model club in the United States composed of active ship model enthusiasts from the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area. Publishes The Lynx, a monthly newsletter. Maintains a library of plans donated by past members. The library includes copies of original builders' plans as well as plans from kits built by members. These plans are available for use by all members.
General Models / Scratch Building
Scale Modelers Handbook
Presents a broad view of scale modeling. Help for beginners getting started and many resources for more advanced hobbyist to learn more and enjoy model building. There are articles on nuts and bolts basics like deciding on a scale, setting up a workbench, and choosing the right tools. There are also more philosophical articles on coming up with inspiration and getting to "wow." Of course lots of resources on many areas including radio controlled cars, planes or boats, sea going vessels, model railroads, dioramas and stationary models.
Hobby Shed
Introduction and resource site for scale model building. Guides section from the basics to the advanced. Discusses types of model kits, kit preparation and model assembly advice, explaining tools, glues, paints and painting techniques. Also a forum and glossary, and gallery showcasing model kits and scratch built pieces include aircraft, automobiles, fantasy figures, horror monsters, military vehicles and dioramas, science-fiction and ships.
Misc.
CLASSIC RADIO GALLERY
Specializes in schematic diagrams for vintage tube radios. Also carries
circuit diagrams and service data for old TV's, CB's, Hi-Fi's and early Transistor and Auto radios.
Smooth-On Mold Making and Casting Materials
Technical information, tools and supplies for all manner of mold making and casting. With a number of systems based on castable epoxy resins, silicone rubber and similar materials, for everything from candlemaking to prototyping to special effects.
Polymer Clay Central
A melting pot of information, ideas and resources about Polymer Clay (Fimo, Sculpey, Premo etc.) Features lessons, projects, articles, pictorials, swap pictures, book reviews and more.
Pages of the Heart
Scrapbooking community for all Scrapbook and Rubber Stamp crafters. Gallery, forums, articles and tutorials, product reviews, crop chats, and free digital scrapbook graphics.
Shapeways
On demand 3D printing. Upload your own designs created in common 3D CAD formats and Shapeways will render your object in your choice of metals, glass or plastics. You can also sell your designs or browse and buy designs made by others.
Vintage Projects and Building Plans
A fascinating assortment of vintage plans for a variety of DIY projects. Plans are out of copyright reprints from 50 plus years ago. In addition to being a fun romp down memory lane, the site is a great repository of "lost knowledge." How to make your own guitar, equip a chemistry lab, make DIY go karts, and build your own astronomical observatory are just a few of the many classic projects documented here.