Hobby Bounties - Katong

Sorry for the lack of updates lately guys, but I'm back with another store:

Hobby Bounties - Katong Shopping Centre

Hobby Bounties is owned by Mr Peter Chiang. Mr Chiang actually started his business in the UK, but brought the business back with him when he returned to Singapore

Hobby Bounties specialises in rare and vinatge aircraft and sci-fi kits and stocks a wide range of airfix (undoubtedly the widest range in Singapore and the best place to buy airfix kits)

Stock is mainly 1/72 aicraft with some larger scales and some rarities including a great many kits by Frog. In addition to original Frog kits, My Chiang owns the name and extant Frog moulds and he continues to release kits under the Frog name. They also stock short run and garage kits from a range of producers

If you like smaller scale kits, especially aircraft and rarities, this is definitely the place for you

On the Sci-Fi side Hobby Bounties also has some great rarities, whilst in the store I spotted 'Aliens' kits by Halcyon including the 'Sulocco' kit and 'dropship' which are hard to find now, even on ebay, as well as a great number of movie and TV tie ins, both licensed and garage kit versions

The store also stocks a small number of 1/35 armour kits, including a couple I haveb't seen for a long while by companies like ICM

Definitely worth a visit, and compulsory if Airfix, Frog or 1/72 wingy things are your cup of tea!


How to Get There

Katong Shopping Centre is situated on the crossrods of Mountbatten Road, Haig Road and Amber Road.

From Downtown Singapore take the 196 bus from Shenton Way, Raffles Quay or Collyer Quay and alight outside the shopping centre.

Alternatively get the MRT East West line going East to Changi Airport/ Pasir Ris and alight at Paya Labar station. Get the bus to Amber road and alight on Mountbatten just before the Shopping Centre or Amber Road just after


To get to Hobby Bounties, find the escalators in the centre of the shopping centre and ride them up to the second floor. As you get off the escalator take the path on the right of an island of shops in the centre and Hobby Bounties is a couple of doors down

Hobby Bounties & Morgan Hobbycraft Centre
865 Mountbatten Road #02-91/92
Katong Shopping Centre
Singapore 437844

www.hobbybounties.com/

What is Nearby?

Not a lot! But if you do use the MRT, you can get on the Circle Line heading North and Miniature Hobby and Stargek are 2 stops on and one stop respectively

M Workshop

Hey guys

Another day another store, and one I have been wanting to get an opportunity to list since I first went there almost a month ago when I arrived in Singapore

M Workshop

For those that don't know: M Workshop was founded over 10 years ago now by Mr Bernard Cher: a man who loves his armour models and who believes in modelling as an art form

M Workshop is not just a store, but also has the M Academy, mentoring modellers to excel in building painting and finishing, and selling their finished work as well as well as carrying out commissioned work

Modellers can book classes and sessions to improve on specific areas of their modelling or tehcniques


As a store M Workshop stocks a very wide array of modelling stuff:
- AFV kits by Bronco, Miniart, AFV Club, Dragon, Tasca, Tamiya and many more]
- Aircraft kits by Tamiya, Hasegawa and others
- Gundam, mecha and a wide range of MaK kits
- Paints from Tamiya, gaia and finishing products by AK interactive and Mig
- AM from Hauler and Eduard
- Tools, mostly Tamiya's high quality modelling tools
- Fugures from New World Miniatures, Darius, Aline and a small selection of Hornet figures and head sets
- Ship and maritime kits
- Miniart buildings and diorama kits
- a lot more stuff I can't remember; the place really is packed!

If you go to the store on a Saturday, after three you can meet and observe some of M Workshops best modellers in action. I was lucky enough to watch the extremely talented Chef Lim working

And another modeller, who's name I sadly did not get, using ink very effectively to shade a PzIII

Some examples of the superb figure work on display

Sadly the light was not right for getting pictures that do them justice

All in all, M Workshop has to be one of the best places for a modeller to visit in Singapore. The quality and variety of stock is superb, the staff very very knowledgable and freindly and an awful lot of temptation under one roof

Very Highly Recommended

How to Get There:

The nearest MRT Station is Dhoby Ghaut Interchange, which is on the North South (Red), Circular (Yellow) and Northeast (Purple) Lines

Leave Dhoby Ghaut and turn right on Orchard Road. Cross the road and continue down Orchard Road until you see the School of the Arts (SOTA) which likes very unmistakebly like this:

Go to the corner of the road just past SOTA and you are on the corner of Prinsep Street. Cross to the other side of Prinsep Street

Proceed up Princep Street and you will see a fork with a large two storey yellow building in the centre. Stay on the side of the road you are on and keep going past it (taking teh right fork)

Very soon you will see this building: Sunshine Plaza:

Keep going along Prinsep Street as if passing the building. About halfway along the side is a small car drop off point, just inside that is a few stores including M Workshop

Note: the address says Bencoolen Street because the address for Sunshine Plaza is Bencoolen Street. The entrance to M Workshop is on Princep Street

Address

91 Bencoolen St

Sunshine Plaza #01-58

Singapore

189652

Web:
http://www.themworkshop.com/

Email
enquiry@themworkshop.com

Also in the Area

S.T.O.R.M Domain

Art Friend (Middle Street)

ArtFriend another useful, non modelling store

Hi Guys

Just a quick one today. Whilst wandering around the Prinsep Street area I found an art store that Bernard at M Workshop had previously mentioned in passing

The store tunred out to be Art Friend

Art stores, look tool stores, have a wealth of good stuff for modellers of course

A sample of stuff they stock that might interest modellers:
- Good quality paint brushes
- oil paints and thinners
- chalk pastels
- plastic paint palettes
- turpentine/ turpenoid
- air drying clay
- cutting mats
- cutting tools (including OLFA tools)
- various glues
- small amount of woodland scenics items
- popular brands such as Dailer & Rowney and Windsor & Newton

The store is very well stocked with very good quality materials with friendly and helpful staff

I went to the store on Middle Road but several stores exist in the chain:

From the company's own website (www.artfriend.com.sg)

Bras Basah Complex (8,000 sq. ft):
Blk 231 Bain Street, #03-33, 
Singapore 180231
Tel: +65 6336 8338
Fax: +65 6337 0743
Operating Hours:
Weekdays : 10.30am - 7.30pm
Weekends & Public Holidays: 10.30am - 6pm

Takashimaya Shopping Centre
391 Orchard Road,
#04-20M, Ngee Ann City,
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6733 8482
Fax: +65 6732 9180
Opens Daily from 10.30am to 9pm

Buona Vista MRT
100 North Buona Vista Rd,
#02-01, Buona Vista MRT,
Singapore 139345
Tel: +65 6777 0353
Fax: +65 6777 0378
Opens Daily from 10.30am to 9pm

Middle Road 268 Middle Road,
Singapore 188992
Tel: +65 6336 2332
Fax: +65 6336 8797
Operating Hours:
Monday - Friday: 9am - 6pm
Saturday: 9am - 4pm
Closed on Sunday & Public Holidays

Orchard Store - Orchard (UPDATED 5th June 2012)

Orchard Store, Kramat Road, Orchard - (UPDATED 5th June 2012)
OK, so sorry its been so long guys, but here is another store for our list; the venerable Orchard Store.

Orchard Store has been supplying modellers in Singapore since 1953, a pedigree longer than any model store I have visited before so far as I know!

The Orchard Store carries a range of kits and caters to a range of customers. Their stock includes:

- Aircraft Kits
- Armour Kits
- Gundam/ Mecha
- Cars and Motorcyle kits
- Remote Control

- Railway

- Paint, mostly Tamiya and Testors (the only place in Singapore I have seen Testors)

- Tools and putties

- Aftermarket including Elefant, Rubio and Accurate Armour

- Books on Modelling and Armour/ Aircraft

To be honest, a lot of the kits are older kits and brands include Tamiya, Italeri and so on. Although last time I visited I got a very good deal on the new Zvesda T-90.That being said, old is not always bad and there are a few gems on the shelf. I was sorely tempted by an Italeri CMP 15cwt that I have not seen in a store for a long time! The accurate armour kits were large kits if slightly older releases, but if modern British is your thing and you like the smell of resin in the morning (as all the best modellers do) then the prices are reasonable, get yourself along

If you are looking for all the latest releases, they do get them in too, but its not necessarily a one stop shop for new kit planes or AFVs, but its definitely worth a visit

Recommended

How to Get There:

Orchard Store has now moved to Orchard Plaza.

You can get a bus direct to Orchard Road from many parts of Singapore. Check www.gothere.sg for directions


To get there by MRT (the subway/ metro) alight at Dhoby Ghaut interchange and take exit C. Head up Orchard Road past the Istana (big park on your right with armed police and guards - its the PMs residence). Cross the central expressway and Buyong Road and carry on past the Concorde Hotel (if you have an extra 5 minutes try the first floor of the Hotel where this is a small mall and Central Hobbys Plus)


Cross the next road (Cavenagh Road) and enter Orchard Plaza.

Head to middle of the building and the lifts and take a lift to the 3rd floor

On exiting the lift turn right then left and go to the Orchard Road side of the building where you will see the Orchard Store

What Else is in the Area?

Handy Man Centre (Listed HERE)

Hobby Focus (Listed HERE)

Central Hobby Plus (Coming Soon)

100 Orchard Road

02-03 Concorde Hotel and Shopping Mall

238840

SINGAPORE

Miniature Hobby

Miniature Hobby

Miniature Hobby is a retailler of Military, Aviation, Maritime/ Naval and Sci-Fi scale models, accessories and other collectables

They stock a wide range of kits including:

- Dragon, Trumpeter, Hobbyboss, Tamiya, AFV Club, Bronco, Zvesda, Hasgawa, Revell, Miniart, ICM, Italeri and others
- AFV, Aircraft, ships, space models, Sci-fi and Gundam
- Aftermarket: notably Voyager, HobbyFan, Legend ( a lot of Legend stuff in fact) and others
- Paints including Tamiya and Mr Hobby
- Track sets and ammunition sets
- Tools
- Built models

The store is larger than many and is very well stocked indeed. So much so that if you take a bag like I did, you might have trouble squeezing between the shelves. There are a LOT of models here, which means an awful lot of temptation

This store is BIG!

The owner is freindly and very knowledgeable on the market and models he sells. It seems to be a very welcome theme in Singapore that store owners are generally modellers as it means you can always expect a good chat and some helpful pointers on which kit to look at to do a subject and so on. A good store gives you a lot more than the kit you walk out the door with

Prices in the store are very good indeed with discounts on many lines and special offers on paints and other items, again; dangerous to the wallet. I couldn't resist leaving with a Skybow/ AFV Club WC51 at a seriously good price


How to Get There

The nearest MRT Station is Tai Seng on the Circular Line. It is about a 20 minute journey from downtown Singapore

On leaving the MRT Station take exit A: Upper Payar Labar Road/ Irving Road

Turn right as you leave and you will see the sign for Irving Road

Proceed down Irving Road to the end and you will see Trivex on the other side of the road from the end of Irving Road. It deosn't have a sign as its an office building rather than the usual retail mall/ plaza. It looks like this:

Trivex Building Seen from the end of Irving Road

To the left of the main office tower is a Food Court under the car park you can see in the picture above. Go through the food court to the exit in the back corner and into the car park

Turn right to go under the tower block walking through the car park.

There is a turn on the left where you will see the stairs to the entrance:

Enter here and take the lift/ elevator to the 14th floor.

Miniature Hobby occupies Units 14 to 16

Opening Hours are 12noon to 8pm 7 days a week. Check before going if you intend to visit on a public holiday

Web: http://www.miniaturehobby.com/
email: sylee@miniaturehobby.com
Tel: 97613903

Miniature Hobby
8 Burn Road
#14-16, Trivex
Singapore 369977



Summary:

I was seriously impressed with the range and quality of kits and materials on sale at Miniature Hobby and I feel certain the store will be a regular place of visit for me during my two years here, especially with those great prices

Highly Recommended



What Else is In the Area?

Sadly there are no other stores currently in the area of Miniature Hobby's location.

HobbyPoint; Suntec City and Tiong Bahru

Another day another store! This time the very well stocked Hobby Point

I started out on my search for Hobby Point at Suntec City Mall (largely because I was looking for something else at another store) So I'll start there

Hobby Point - Suntec City Mall

3 Temasek Boulevard #03-32

Singapore 038983(Above Promenade MRT Stn)

Tel: (65) 6235 3268

This is actually a branch store with the main store at Tiong Bahru (see Below).

The Suntec City Mall stocks:

- Gundam and Mecha

- Toys and collectables (mostly aimed at adult collectors rather than children)

- Paints from Mr Hobby

- Aircraft

- Armour; almost entirely Italeri and Academy in this store

- a small selection of evergreen strip and rod

- moderate selection of tools

The staff were helpful and friendly and service was good. If you are in the area its certainly worth a look, especially as several lines are currently discounted

How to Get There

Take the Circle Line to Esplanade and exit following signs for Suntec City and Suntec Convention Centre

Exit into the mall and follow signs for Towers three and four.

Its quite a walk, its a very big mall, but eventually you will get to a large atrium, just past Carrefour supermarket. Take the escalator up to the 3rd floor

Come back on yourself so that you are walking away from the atrium and take the left side leading out of the atrium area. Hobby Point is just on your left

Also In the area:

Sadly there are not other stores of note that I have found in the area surrounding the mall, or the locality of the city around that

From the store manager I learned however that the main store at Tiong Bahru

Hobby Point - Tiong Bahru

This is the head branch for Hobby Point is is much larger and in particular much better stocked on armour and aircraft.

This Hobby Point stocks:
- Armour from Bronco, Tamiya, Dragon, ICM, Academy, Hobby Boss, AFV Club, Trumpeter , Italeri, Revell and no doubt a few more I've forgotten! In 1/35, 1/48 and 1/72
- Aircraft from a broad variety of manufacturers including Tamiya, Roden, Hasegawa, Italeri, Revell and a lot more
- Paints by Creos, Mr Hobby and Humbrol plus finishing products
- Evergreen stock styrene
- Sci fi such as star wars, plus mecha and gundam
- Cars and motorcyle kits
- naval, maritime kits

Staff were knowledgable and helpful

How to Get There:
Take the East West MRT Line (Green) to Tiong Bahru MRT and exit the station following signs for Tiong Bahru Plaza. Turn left off the escalators and you will see the entrance to Tiong Bahru Plaze behind them.

Enter the Plaza and after a few meters turn left to see the lifts (elevators). Take one to the 5th floor NOTE: you cannot get to the fifth floor on escalators due to the design of the plaza)

Turn left out of the lifts and follow the corridor a short distance. The store is on your right.

Other Stores in the Area:
Again, none I'm afraid

A very well stocked store for plastic kits and definitely one for your 'must visit' list.