Hobby Warehouse Picks Its Top Christmas Gifts For 2011

Nov. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- Buying the right gift for the hobbyist on your list can seem like a daunting task. Whether its radio controlled vehicles, model trains, rock tumbling equipment or scale modeling, there are a lot of options, accessories and extra parts to choose from. How do you know that you’re getting the right model? The HobbyWarehouse.com 2011 Christmas Gift Guide gives confused shoppers some pointers.

Radio Controlled Vehicles: R/C vehicles make a lot of Christmas lists each year, and the current crop are as fun, fast and durable as ever. For younger or first time modelers, electric remote control cars or trucks are the best choice, with 1/10th scale vehicles such as the Traxxas Stampede being ideal for outdoor use. For indoor driving, a micro-sized 1/24th or 1/36th scale vehicle such as the Losi Micro T is incredibly fun for kids of all ages and is only five inches long! Also, be sure to include some extra batteries as a stocking stuffer!

Model Trains: Model railroading is a lifelong hobby for some, and the best way to get someone started is with a complete train set. If the recipient has a decent amount of indoor space to work with, an HO scale train set is the most popular choice available, with companies such as Bachmann and Model Power making a large variety of trains. For smaller rooms, N scale trains take up less space but provide plenty of realism.

If you’re buying for someone who is already into model railroading, consider getting additional cars, figurines or landscape features from Woodland Scenics to add to their set. Just remember to find out in advance what scale their train set is so you can buy correctly sized accessories!

Plastic Models: Building a plastic scale model is an ideal way for a hobbyist to exercise their creativity. Tamiya, Revell, Academy and Gundam all produce highly detailed models of planes, trains, automobiles and figurines. The simplest snap-together models require no glue and are suitable for ages 8-up. Larger, more complex models of battleships and airplanes do require model cement and paint, but also make great family projects!

Rock Tumblers: Rock tumbling is a fantastic hobby for anyone interested in geology or even jewelry making. Quality rock tumblers can be purchased for under $70 and are designed to last for years. Important accessories to buy for rock tumbling include different grits, shot and polishing materials as well as a few pounds of Thumler’s Tumblers polishing rock to get them started.

To get more Christmas gift ideas for hobbyists, visit http://www.hobbywarehouse.com to shop their lines of remote control vehicles, rock tumblers, model trains and automobiles, model rocket shops and more.

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HobbyWarehouse.com is a premier online store of hobby kits and accessories, including remote control car and vehicles, model trains sets, rock tumblers and polishing kits, telescopes, slot car race tracks, rockets and more.