Crawler Friendly Hobby Shop in Cedar Park?
 

Hey y'all,

My buddy called me up yesterday to tell me something interesting. He stopped into a hobby shop in Cedar Park to pick up a few things. This place mainly caters to the airplane crowd, but he evidently has interest in crawlers. He supposedly said that he was planning on leasing the adjoining space to build an indoor crawling facility! Sounds awfully interesting if you ask me. "thumbsup"

Does anyone know anything more about this? It would be great to have a local source for crawler stuff! And I'd be more than happy to help them build a course if they want any assistance.

The shop owner also mentioned that he has a regular customer from Leander who supposedly built a nice, private crawling area on his property. Is that anyone on the forum?

Yeah, the hobby shop is called Hobby Express, the owner said he used to carry some traxxas trucks and what not but the planes where outselling the trucks so they are only stocking plans and helis now. I did find out that he had purchased the store next door too and was planning on knocking the wall down and making his shop twice as big. I brought up to him that there are quite a few people around here that are into crawling and he may want to look into stocking crawlers and parts. He said if was really thinking about having a scape dedicated to trucks and crawlers and having some parts in stock.

I for one would love to support local businesses and would rather not order online, even if the prices were a couple dollars more, I still wouldn't have to wait on shipping. I'll have to keep a eye on his store and keep poking my head in there to show him that the area has a lot of crawler interst

okay guys, I talked to the shop owner again and he said he's putting orders in for parts, trucks, and accessories for his stock by the end of feb. and he'll start having stuff on the shelves beginning of march. He asked me to make a list of parts and items that us crawlers would like to see in stock, so I need your help in putting a list together.

If your listing axial parts, for instance, please list the part number with it, heck maybe even cost too. Doing this would make it very easy for the owner to put his inventory together, and list his price somewhat competitive.

I'd like to see a

1. Assortment of Scale accessories (tow ropes, bunggy cords, small coolers, shovel, hi-lift) like the ones from hobby gear. $12.95+

2. Hardware assortment kits like from RC screwz $26.99

3. Misc. spacer kits, like from team fast eddy $25.99

4. maybe some axial parts like gears, axle shafts, cvd's, driveshafts, aluminum knuckles, C hubs,

5. Actual crawler/scaler kits, some RTR trailreadys too.

6. A decent assortment of tires, like rok lox, flat irons, swampers tsl, boggers, MT claws, ???

7. assortment of 1.9 wheels and beadlock rings

8. assortment of bodies

9. maybe some metal stock for link making?


I just kinda threw this together, so if you think I left stuff out then post up, also if you think I listed something with no market then let me know that too.

I know we can all order this stuff online for the same price or cheaper than local stores have them for but I for sure would rather give my $$ to a local business than someone up north! Maybe if we can establish a good connection with a local hobby shop then we can get more people in the hobby, then more crawler/scaler items would be on the shelf, then more people, and so on and so on.

Please let me know your input.

Thanks

I'd suggest he stick to more common stuff that Hobby town seems to not care about so much:

Honcho kits

Traxxas LONG half shafts (for replacement drive shafts)
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...3&I=LXJH85&P=K

Axial CVDs
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXVDE7&P=7

Castle BECs
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXSWL3&P=ML

Castle Sidewinders (new SV2 - ESC only):
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXUTA0&P=ML

Best bang for the buck servos I have found:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXNRN6&P=ML

Good rod ends;
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXHGB7&P=7

GOOD Crawler motors (no junk)
http://www.teambr00d.com/catalog/index.php


I wouldn't worry too much about tires, wheels and scale accessories. Too much variety online.

I think stocking Axial aluminum bits to replace the stock plastic driveline components would be a good start:
http://www.axialracing.com/ftp/ax10o...xle_parts.html

Axial makes some good parts, but I think Vanquish currently has the best high steer arms (normal and zero Ackerman styles):
http://www.vanquishproducts.com/vp-h...-10-da710.html
http://www.vanquishproducts.com/vp-h...ackermann.html

Softer SCX10 springs should sell well:
http://www.axialracing.com/ftp/ax10o...0_springs.html

SCX10 owners may want the optional gear sets:
http://www.axialracing.com/ftp/ax10o..._gear_set.html

I agree with Patrick that the variety of wheels/tires would be difficult to stock, but there's a few like the Pro-Line TSLs and RC4WD Rok Lox that would likely sell easily. Speaking of, it'd be great if he could sell RC4WD parts since we currently have to mail order their stuff now.

Of course, it'd be great to stock a few of the various SCX10 kits and electronics. I would certainly do my part to support them if they can cater to crawlers. :)

i love the idea and i would drive to ceder park to pick up scale parts other than ordering it. i agree with every part listed above.

Hey I just email the owner of Hobby Express and gave him a list of stuff we use the most. I also told him that it looks like the crawling/scale stuff is getting bigger and bigger around here so he may do well at selling items. I brought up that if he does do well he may want to do some sponsoring at some of the events we do and mentioned about being a listed vendor in the TXRCRCA forum once it gets fully up and going again.

Patrick - I have no clue when it come to computers and such so I may have told him wrong about becoming a vendor? No idea how to go about that and if I stepped over you by bringing it up I'm sorry.

At least the Proline 2.2 TSLs Swampers and 2.2 white dot Rovers.

Hells yea on the Rok Lox 1.9 & 2.2 "thumbsup".

Vanquish parts are a definite plus, especially the SLWs.
http://www.vanquishproducts.com/22-comp-whee22.html
Ive been waiting around 2-3 weeks to get some more. :shock: Damn the XR parts for slowing VP down!!! :x

Maybe a built XR10 and/or SCX10 on display.