Best Hobby Trains & Accessories
Official "All aboard the Polar Express" and other sound clips from the movie.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We'll start at the front of the train: The mighty Berkshire engine is almost exactly the same, with some exceptions: There are no longer separate hand rails adorning the sides of the tank. The third difference, and this is big, is the previous model used a very simple metal bracket to "couple" the tender, which I never liked. This model uses a new over/under coupler (quick connect drawbar) that's heavy plastic with copper diodes inside. The diodes are responsible for sending sound commands from the engine to the tender and also syncing the chuffing noises with the speed of the locomotive. The old engine was hit or miss - most of the time the train had to warm up by going at least half speed around the track for a few minutes before there was any smoke. This is Lionel's "RailSounds" module, as opposed to the less feature rich "TrainSounds" or "SteamSounds". There are silhouettes in the windows that adhere to the book and movie - children lining one car, forgotten toys in one, and the last has one lonely child near the back. I feel like this piece could easily break, so I used a line of super glue to keep the deck permanently attached. I've even seen video of multiple LionChief trains running on the same track with a single power supply. (Tip: If you plan to put this around the Christmas tree, I recommend ordering additional track. You can't simply pick up a replacement and set the frequency to match the engine. The control knob moves to neutral, forward, and reverse and there are three buttons for the bell, whistle, and announcements/chatter. If chuffing is turned on, you'll hear slow chuffs and steam noises and some chatter after a little while in neutral. The lack of transformer makes it ideal for remote control around a Christmas tree. Also in the set you will receive 4 plastic movie figurines (Conductor, Engineer, Fireman, and the main character), smoke fluid, and a commemorative jingle bell as depicted in the movie (I guess it makes a nice ornament). One Final Note: Lionel is releasing a LionChief Plus series in 2014 that will have upgraded features such as a toggle for use with a traditional transformer and automatic decoupling. As of now, they have not announced if they plan to release a Polar Express model with LionChief Plus. But, that requires opening the transformer to full throttle and using the remote to control the movement of the engine. My advice to anyone who wants the option of remote or transformer would be to wait for the LionChief Plus line to be release."
"Judging from the negative feedbacks they probably don’t know this is an issue or they would address it rather than have a bunch of train set returned. Another issue is the track snaps together but will loosen from the weight of the train when used over carpeting. Overall I like the train and would have given it 5 stars if I didn’t have to go through all this aggravation to fix the issues."
"Very well made, a lot of detail and very smooth on the track (we did order extra) the Bluetooth Remote (which my husband, who's old school and still likes using a Transformer thought he was going to hate!)."
"Love this train for our Christmas village display."
"We had to return the locomotive and then a train car as being defective."
"The whole train looks realistic and it is so easy and smooth in its operation. The train whistle is hard to hear as well as the Tom Hanks quotes when the train is moving pretty fast."
"It’s not model railroader grade but for the average guy like me it’s perfect."
Dimensions: Length: 10" each. Two terminal sections under each piece of straight track for transformer and/or accessory power connections no Lockons required.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We bought my train crazy 5 year old his first o gauge “big boy” train for Christmas this year (Pennsylvania Flyer Lion chief) and I ordered this set of track to go along with it."
"We had our train under the Christmas tree and continued to find cracked segments of track which made the train stall."
"Easy to connect and works great."
"as described and works well as long as you wipe down/clean the rails before using,"
"Arrived quickly and in perfect condition."
"These are sturdy tracks and work well with my Lionel Santa Fe train set."
"Had to get some extra track for our train set, these work wonderfully."
"good product made my Polar Express alonger and grandkids love it."
Powered by a EMD GP40 diesel locomotive with operating headlight.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Some cheaper sets have such light-weight cars that keeping them on the track becomes difficult. A serious model railroader may not be satisfied with the weight of the cars or quality of wheels and axels, but they are just fine for this starter set, and most people will be satisfied. The engine and cars are fitted with EZ-couplers that work very well. Please note that you must couple the cars on the two pieces of straight-track provided in the kit. If you are new to HO-scale trains, you MUST USE THE RERAILER to get each of the cars - including the engine - on the track. You do this by placing the engine or car on top of the rerailer section, and then moving the engine or car back and forth completely over the rerailer section, which ALIGNS THE WHEELS FOR YOU. If you cannot easily see that the track sections are connected correctly, just run your fingers back and forth over the connected sections (turn power off prior to doing this). The back of the box displays several track layouts that are NOT POSSIBLE, unless you buy extra pieces of track. The road, rail, and other signs are easily snapped off their plastic piping, but also require some filing of excess flash before they can stand up straight. You might be able to use plastic model enamel paint to give the signs a more realistic color, as they are all black lettering on yellow signs, poles, and pedestals. The little extras - telephone poles, signs, people, and signal bridge - are a very nice touch and can provide the basis for a great starter-layout. I would give the set two thumbs up, but my wife broke one of my thumbs for using her nail file to trim the flash off the signal bridge kit. Pros -. Good-looking black and orange engine. Engine has headlights that grow brighter with increased speed. Engine has taillights that grow brighter with increased speed. Lots of brown, telephone poles with slim pedestals that allow easy tacking/nailing down to board (no wires for poles). Lots of pink, HO-scale people figurines. Lots of yellow, HO-scale road, rail, and other signs. Power pack and wiring seem to be of high quality. Speed controller feels substantial and of high quality and works very well. A detailed HO Scale Signal Bridge Kit (can be purchased separately for about $13.00). Cons -. Rerailer track section causes train to rise up slightly (section is bowed upward a little) which can cause decoupling of the engine from the cars (does not happen often). Engine makes no sound (whistle or horn). Engine makes no simulated exhaust or steam. Box car has no slighting doors, but is nice-looking. EZ-track bed looks a little fake, and may not please every eye. All signs have yellow poles and sign-boards with black print (e.g. stop signs are yellow and black, not red and white). People figures are all pink - arms, hands, faces, legs, clothing (uncertain if they can be painted with enamel paints used for plastic models). People figures cannot easily be broken off their plastic piping, you must use nippers (i.e. wire cutters)."
"We put it into the oval shape in the living room and were able to transport it upstairs to my son's room without it breaking."
"The train and track seem to be good quality."
"bought for 5 yr old and it is way too hard to get train on the tracks & keep the cars attached."
"What a great starter set!"
"Delivered ontime and Bachman is still a great startup train company for the first time railroader!"
"I had a super great Christmas morning and afternoon with my Grandson setting up his new train."
"Just what I wanted and expected."
Best Hobby Train Accessories
Dimensions: Length: 10" each. Two terminal sections under each piece of straight track for transformer and/or accessory power connections no Lockons required.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We bought my train crazy 5 year old his first o gauge “big boy” train for Christmas this year (Pennsylvania Flyer Lion chief) and I ordered this set of track to go along with it."
"We had our train under the Christmas tree and continued to find cracked segments of track which made the train stall."
"Easy to connect and works great."
"as described and works well as long as you wipe down/clean the rails before using,"
"Arrived quickly and in perfect condition."
"These are sturdy tracks and work well with my Lionel Santa Fe train set."
"Had to get some extra track for our train set, these work wonderfully."
"good product made my Polar Express alonger and grandkids love it."
Best Hobby Train Power & Control Supplies
5 in 1 charger,specially designed for DJI Mavic Pro/Platinum RC Quadcopter,Can charge 3 batteries at one time,dual USB port can output 5V/2A power for Mavic Pro remote control and smartphone charging; intelligent temperature control, when temperature rise up, fan will speed up automatically, when charge controller only, fan will stop since current is low. Intelligent charge control, 3 separate power rails, one for each battery.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that I would have loved for it to have a on/off power switch so I would not have to unplug it once I'm finished charging my equipment. It also included the contact covers for three batteries and the Mavic, which seemed like a good idea, but in practice drove me nuts trying to keep them in place, plus I really don't see them as being necessary."
"It charges the batteries simultaneously unlike the dji block charger. Minor detail as this is so much faster then charging batteries one at a time."
"I came across this charging hub for my Mavic and have been using it since."
"It fast-charges everything but it does not over charge any of the batteries (including the Galaxy Note 7 phone). The company is solid too."
"Excellent charger that chargers everything at one time rather than in series like the DJI chargers."
"Works great was able to charge three batteries and my remote all at the same time."
"Beware many of this model are NOT EQUIPPED with a ground wire on the power cord socket. It now shows an error code of over voltage on the led display and one of the cells consistently shows .5-.8 volts less."
"When I received the item, I immediately took the side off to add the ground. That ground would have disintegrated when 14 amps touched it."
Best Hobby Train Cars
Our classic toys are not only tested by the small fry - we’ve ensured each toy meets or exceeds ASTM F963 Toy Safety Standards, because the safety of our toys is as important to us as it is to you. Quality is also of the utmost importance - we like to think our toys won’t just entertain one child, but will be passed down to siblings or friends as they grow, which is why every toy we sell comes with a 5 Year Cubbie Lee Toy Company Warranty. 30 piece train set, including track, bridge, three part train, cars, policeman and scenery.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The only complaint is the bridge/tunnel, just barely does it fit the trains from the set under it but def not the brio trains he also got for xmas don't fit!"
"The toy was delivered in a timely manner and enjoyed be my grandchildren."
"The tracks all fit together, tho not the highest quality on the market, it is perfect for a young child that may not yet treat their toys with care."
"Nice small train set, pretty durable for being made mostly of wood."
"Purchased for a very smart two year old."
"Nice train set but the track connections are not very tight leaving gaps when the battery powered trains ride on it causing the trains to veer off the track."
"Great first train set."
"Great product, was a big hit with grandson he plays with it everyday."
Best Hobby Train Sets
announcement of the Polar Express conductor, you'll also get a brand new "Tickets Please" announcement that's only available in the LionChief remote control version of the train set. All tracks must be connected properly in order for the engine to have power, the engine must also be on the tracks properly to complete the circuit.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We'll start at the front of the train: The mighty Berkshire engine is almost exactly the same, with some exceptions: There are no longer separate hand rails adorning the sides of the tank. The third difference, and this is big, is the previous model used a very simple metal bracket to "couple" the tender, which I never liked. This model uses a new over/under coupler (quick connect drawbar) that's heavy plastic with copper diodes inside. The diodes are responsible for sending sound commands from the engine to the tender and also syncing the chuffing noises with the speed of the locomotive. The old engine was hit or miss - most of the time the train had to warm up by going at least half speed around the track for a few minutes before there was any smoke. This is Lionel's "RailSounds" module, as opposed to the less feature rich "TrainSounds" or "SteamSounds". There are silhouettes in the windows that adhere to the book and movie - children lining one car, forgotten toys in one, and the last has one lonely child near the back. I feel like this piece could easily break, so I used a line of super glue to keep the deck permanently attached. I've even seen video of multiple LionChief trains running on the same track with a single power supply. (Tip: If you plan to put this around the Christmas tree, I recommend ordering additional track. You can't simply pick up a replacement and set the frequency to match the engine. The control knob moves to neutral, forward, and reverse and there are three buttons for the bell, whistle, and announcements/chatter. If chuffing is turned on, you'll hear slow chuffs and steam noises and some chatter after a little while in neutral. The lack of transformer makes it ideal for remote control around a Christmas tree. Also in the set you will receive 4 plastic movie figurines (Conductor, Engineer, Fireman, and the main character), smoke fluid, and a commemorative jingle bell as depicted in the movie (I guess it makes a nice ornament). One Final Note: Lionel is releasing a LionChief Plus series in 2014 that will have upgraded features such as a toggle for use with a traditional transformer and automatic decoupling. As of now, they have not announced if they plan to release a Polar Express model with LionChief Plus. But, that requires opening the transformer to full throttle and using the remote to control the movement of the engine. My advice to anyone who wants the option of remote or transformer would be to wait for the LionChief Plus line to be release."
"Judging from the negative feedbacks they probably don’t know this is an issue or they would address it rather than have a bunch of train set returned. Another issue is the track snaps together but will loosen from the weight of the train when used over carpeting. Overall I like the train and would have given it 5 stars if I didn’t have to go through all this aggravation to fix the issues."
"Love this train for our Christmas village display."
"The whole train looks realistic and it is so easy and smooth in its operation. The train whistle is hard to hear as well as the Tom Hanks quotes when the train is moving pretty fast."
"It’s not model railroader grade but for the average guy like me it’s perfect."
"As it just so happens our family rode on the Polar Express last week and I'd been eyeing this train for my kids for months. My son, who has Asperger Syndrome, lay on the floor playing with the train and watching it go around."
Best Slot Cars, Race Tracks & Accessories
Skullduggery is proud to offer their Max Traxxx lines of quality race car tracks and model car kits that. combine discovery and fun and provide kids with many hours of exciting enjoyment. ! Remote controlled Tracer Racer Cars can be driven at variable speeds with a top to-scale speed of 500 miles per hour; cars recharge by being plugged into the control - only one set of 4 AA batteries for each charger are required (batteries not included).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is a great old school toy, with the added twist of glow in the dark."
"Easy to put together and to take apart so since it is rather large, it can be semi taken apart and put away."
"product purchased for grandkids they loved it."
"Just got off the phone with Peter, I informed him that my blue car wasn’t working properly and a couple of the tracks were messed up."
"What my son and I figured out is you have to use skill and control the throttle at different points of the track (such as the turns - just like real racing) in order to stay on track."
"My son loves this track."
"I'm not sure who loves this more -- the parents or the kiddos."
"Glow in the dark track, so the LED lights underneath leave a streak of green as the cars go around."
Best Hobby Display Cases & Stands
Large Capacity, Meets Your needs. 『LARGE CAPACITY』: Size: (7.7 x 4.8 x 3.1 inches)This case well fits for Nintendo New 3DS XL - Super NES Edition, Nintendo New 2DS XL, Nintendo NEW 3DS XL, NEW 3DS LL, 3DS XL, 3DS LL, NEW 3DS or 3DS ,GPD WIN 5.5 Inch Gamepad Tablet.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I own another Smatree case and found it to be very thoughtfully designed with high quality materials so when I saw that they made a case for the New 3DS XL, I didn't hesitate to order it. The case I was using for my New 3DS XL was a little snug with the shell case I used on my device and only had enough room for the New 3DS XL and maybe a cable. The case offers enough room for the New 3DS XL to sit comfortably with Tomee XL Crystal case attached. The fit is a bit tight but it did fit with the Tomee Crystal case and might offer a little more protection in the case."
"The corner pockets to hold the games can be a bit difficult to place and remove the games but the flap is sturdy and soft which will provide protection to the games. He was very excited and immediately put the games in, and the 3DS in the removable pouch then back into the bigger case."
"My son really likes this case because it holds everything for his 3DS XL in one place."
"I have separate cases to hold all of the games, so I rarely use this for games (unless I'm taking a few with me to play), but my power cord/accessories fit it perfect."
"The outer shell would, it's pretty sturdy, but without the inner pocket he ds will just bounce around inside and I'm pretty sure that's not ideal."
"It fits my new Nintendo 3DS XL perfectly and allows me to bring as much as 8 games on the go."
Best Hobby Building Tools & Hardware
About the Startup. THE ONLY CHILD-SAFE 3D PEN: Designed with no hot parts completely safe for kids aged 8+.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"- one big ON button, and auto flow of filament, so you don't have to keep pressing the forward button to squeeze out plastic continuously as you work (slower flowrate, but they don't mind). -The silicon green circular molds provided in this Mega set are really easy to use, have a lot of useful shapes, and the finished products pop right out. -a negative to the melted Eco plastic not sticking on paper, is that it does not stick on paper!-- thus you can't use the paper to "anchor" a melted blob as easily, and the entire piece may lift up with the pen (but not a major problem). -several examples of projects in the book use colors not provided in this Mega set, which my daughter found annoying. The pics below are projects my kids did from the book provided in this Mega set, except for the little green guy with antennae sitting next to the Eiffel Tower, which was previously made with PLA plastic and the Hatchbox pen."
"Awwwwe, I had bought this for my 10 year old nephew... and MY kids (ages 16, 23, and 24) were playing with it more!"
"This is a Christmas gift for my grandson he hasn't used it yet to get and accurate rating."
"My grandson has used and made several different items with this pen set."
"Excellent delivery."
"This is awesome it works super good."
"We bought this for my son for Christmas."
Best Hobby Coin Collecting Products
Each map is made with collectors in mind with extra thick board and recessed coin slots to protect your quarters and prevent scratching. Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When our oldest grandson was born in 2008, it was the final year of a decade long run of special state quarters, 5 released per year (with an 11th year featuring U.S. We have all but three or four of the quarters he'll need to fill this Collector's Map up; you'll note this is recommended for age 12+, and if you're giving it to someone who's only now going to be beginning a collection, that age might be wise... patience isn't one of the strongest attributes of the grandson we're giving this too (or most five year olds, for that matter!"
"I would recommend this map, but just realize it will take some time to get the circles out of the map."
"This is the best kids gift I've purchased in a long time - love it!"
"My husband hemmed and hawed for months about not having a place to put the MANY state quarters he had collected."
"Exactly what we were looking for to hold my child's quarter collection."
"Oh what fun our young Grandson, and Grandfather had playing with the States, and collecting Quarters."
"Our son loves this, and it is a wonderful way to teach children about the history of each state and even of some U.S. territories."
"Excellent learning tool for map of US, Fun for child entering grade 4 and for his parents and grandparents."
Best Hobby Remote & App Controlled Vehicles & Parts
One Key Return Home. : With the press of a button (return to home) in Headless Mode, the drone would be able to fly back to the direction of the transmitter. 120° FOV HD Wifi CAMERA: Equipped with the newest 720P 120° Wide-angle HD Wifi Camera, which allows you to take high-res pictures & video during flight.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"or have a life... :). Sure, I chose this drone because of the features and low price to some extent but most of all; the great things said about their support! Be ready on the speed switch in case you need that extra burst of power! I contacted Holy Stone and replacement was handled straight away without leaving me with a feeling that I did anything wrong and they were doing me a favor. They directed me to a video on you tube and after that, I authored a motor replacement guide in PDF format. Recorded inside with normal ceilings and I still managed NOT to hit my wife's good glass decorations or wake the cat. Without that it would be a motor-burnt pile of black plastic and propellers, suitable for making a really weird looking planter with cool lighting..."
"While attempting to fly it out doors on a very calm day my daughter synced the drone to the remote and calibrated the gyro. she depressed the take off button and the drone shot straight into the air at full throttle with no remote control input. This is where customer service stepped in... After a couple of emails and proof of purchase they replaced the drone."
"Only flaw with mine is the RIGHT REAR motor seems to spin up slower than the others on startup which is not a real deal breaker, but I have to be prepared to correct the trajectory on takeoff. This motor may just be a little weaker than the others because the trim characteristics are maxed out to compensate for drift in that direction."
"Never having flown a drone I had questions, and got superlative customer support from Holy Stone. Alas, my skills being limited after a few flights I got flustered and pushed the throttle to a point where I was able to watch my Predator sail away forever. I find it much easier to control than the HS170, is much more stable in flight, it has a decent camera, remote has a more intuitive layout. Inexpensive drones can have issues (as you can see in reviews on any of them) so key is responsive folks on the other end."
Best Hobby Stamp Collecting Products
Flag stamp. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the Flag Act, stating that the U.S. flag should consist of 13 alternating red and white stripes and 13 white stars in a blue field. Flag USPS Forever Stamps - 2016 or 2017 Release.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Love the US flag on these stamps but most of all I love getting them in the mail."
"I like the forever stamps."
"The stamps are great and they got here on time!"
"Whats not to love...gotta have 'em!"
"A stamp is a stamp is a stamp."
"Best way ever to buy stamps!"
"Great quality stamps!"
"Going to order some more."
Best Models & Model Kits
Holy Stone HS100 Navigator is an intelligent RC quadcopter, equipped with an advanced GPS system, engineered to locate the drone. Equipped with the new "follow me" feature, this drone will stay above you automatically, keeping the camera centered on you at all times and capturing your every move. -. Altitude hold, Headless Mode, One-Key Take-off / Landing and Emergency Stop: These features are perfect for beginners to fly the drone and reducing the learning curve. Drone MODEL No.:HS100. Weight (Including Battery) :700 g / 24.7 oz (FAA is required). Flight time: 12-15 minutes. Wi-Fi Distance: 150M (Outdoor and Unobstructed). Satellite Systems: GPS / Glonass. Dimensions: 500*500*175mm. Built in Return-to-Home (RTH) function for safer fly, the drone will automatically return to home precisely when its battery is low or the signal is weak when flying out of range, never worrying about losing the drone. Flying time up to 15 minutes / Longer control distance: Capacity of 2500mAh high performance battery and reaching up to 500m control distance giving you a more extensive flight experience.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My instructions to her were to “Take-off, fly straight out over the field, move it around some, bring it back, land it.” This is just her second time flying the drone."
"Once I removed the beginner mode, I was able to start exploring the capabilities of the drone. The camera is solid and the ability to change the angle in flight was one of the key reasons that I selected this drone. Because the camera is not mounted on a gimble, the video can be a little shaky at times - but that is one of the reasons why this drone is more affordable than some from DJI."
"I’m not a techy guy (at all), but I was able to put it together, connect it to my cel phone electronically, and fly it, all in the same day."
"After a few issues on my first attempt, I was very successful flying my Holy Stone HS-100 drone today. The instruction manual is a little confusing on the exact steps to calibrate the compass and GPS, but now that I was successful, I can replicate the steps."
"These features work great and both drones have turned out to be a great opportunity for my son and I to bond and spend time together."
"Would recommend getting extra batteries right from the start, but the 15 minute battery life provides an enjoyable flight."
"The screws for the fixed rings are tiny and were slightly challenging for me to get started (but hey, my vision is not what it once was)."
"I haven't had a chance to stretch it out yet due to the fact that a lake claimed my previous Drone, so I'm leery about the return home feature."
Best Model Rockets & Kits
Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow is 100% KID powered! All-foam Jr. Glow Stomp Rockets are great for younger kids. Includes 4 all-foam glow-in-the-dark Stomp Rockets and a Stomp Launcher. Jr. Glow Stomp Rockets glow-in-the-dark, so they stand out against a dark sky!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is a little difficult to slide the stand together because of a plastic part that sticks out, but it can be done and gets easier, somewhat, each time you do it."
"The newly turned two year has enough stomp power to shoot the rocket off after a couple of tries."
"All you do is attach one of the rockets on the end of a tube, and stomp on the air pillow provided in the toy assembly."
"And, adults have fun watching the children have so much fun & once in awhile jump in to see if they can stomp a rocket too - LOL. The older one's stomped on the rocket while the youngest loved watching the rockets launch into the sky. Overall rating is lots of fun for children (and adults - smile) of all ages, but if smaller children are around adult supervision is needed so they don't get the rocket in their mouths."
"Rockets also seem fairly durable, holding up to the kids jamming them on the air tube, bending them completely in half, and stepping on them."
"This was fun to play with as a family (neices would stomp with help from mom or dad, mom or dad and other neice would "catch")."
Best Pinewood Derby Supplies
The PRO Driller ™ Tool from Pinewood Pro guides your drill bit to make perfectly straight axle holes or 2.5 degree angled holes in a Pinewood Derby block. The axle slots in a pinewood derby block are not always square and straight. Instructions included and illustrated usage can be found at http://www.pinewoodpro.com/PRO-Axle-Hole-Driller.htm. The PRO Driller Tool has US patent #9,095,912 from Pinewood Pro. Drill 2.5 degree angled axle holes to cant your axles to reduce friction – less friction, faster speed!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"made it easy and didn't get the wheels on crooked this year - first time my child did really good at the pinewood derby."
"However the credit card was then covered in graphite...might want to use a grocery store club card or something instead."
"All in all it works ok."
"It lets you drill perfectly straight holes and also makes inserting and removing the axles much easier (no hammer required)."
"After drilling we confirmed that it was still lined up correctly before drilling the other side."
"This worked for the first 2 cars and then the drill it broke."
"Great for precision alignment."
"Great tool made it easy to line up the axles just make sure to have extra bits on hand as the one provided broke (My fault)!"