Moving to Germany, need plastic modeling information

Moving to Wiesbaden, Germany and I'm taking my plastic modeling hobby with me. Therefore, will like to get some information from our German plastic modelers in here. I'll have a car with me and will be traveling the country while I'm there. So... first, what are names of hobby shops I can go to and get kits, paints, tools, etc? Secondly, what are the main plastic model Conventions, Competitions and/or Toy Fairs I should not miss? Finally, any recommendations to a fellow plastic modeler? Thanks for reading my post. Have a great day.

Welcome to Germany then! :-)

You sort of missed the "spring season" of model exhibitions/shows but this is the one you want to go to later this year if you're into cars and bikes:

http://www.modellautoausstellung.de/

You'll find some AF-members there as well.
Depending on how long you'll be around there will be other shows of course.
Shopping wise I can't recommend anything in or around Wiesbaden because that's not my area, but there should be something. We do online shopping as well and quite often it's cheaper to buy stuff directly from Japan or off ebay :-)

This is a shop near Stuttgart that is more biased towards vehicles: http://nimpex.de/

Then there's of course http://www.scaleproduction.de/

Planes and armour are big in most other places and exhibitions.

If you're interested i can find the links for some of the better known places.
So much for now. Others can surely add to this.

Welcome :)
Normally every toy store/department of a Shopping Center has Mainstream stuff like Revell kits, paints, etc.
Everything else I order online. Tamiya, Fujimi, Hasegawa, spray paints, Zero paints...
I haven't found any of that stuff in any real store yet.

Welcome :)
Normally every toy store/department of a Shopping Center has Mainstream stuff like Revell kits, paints, etc.
Everything else I order online. Tamiya, Fujimi, Hasegawa, spray paints, Zero paints...
I haven't found any of that stuff in any real store yet.

If you don't mind me asking, what are the names of chain toy stores in Germany? Honestly, I have no clue.

Do you use ebay to order online?

Thanks for the info.

Welcome to Germany then! :-)

You sort of missed the "spring season" of model exhibitions/shows but this is the one you want to go to later this year if you're into cars and bikes:

http://www.modellautoausstellung.de/

You'll find some AF-members there as well.
Depending on how long you'll be around there will be other shows of course.
Shopping wise I can't recommend anything in or around Wiesbaden because that's not my area, but there should be something. We do online shopping as well and quite often it's cheaper to buy stuff directly from Japan or off ebay :-)

This is a shop near Stuttgart that is more biased towards vehicles: http://nimpex.de/

Then there's of course http://www.scaleproduction.de/

Planes and armour are big in most other places and exhibitions.

If you're interested i can find the links for some of the better known places.
So much for now. Others can surely add to this.


Hey my friend! We have posted back and forth in the past. Yes, I'll be there for 3 to 5 years. I assume you are located in Stuttgard. Cool. Will love to go to some of the exhibitions/shows, of course and depending on the level of expertise, I may join some. I have competed in the USA locally and Regionally (not Nationally) and won some 1st to 3rd prices. So I'm looking forward to see out it goes in there. Any other information, please sent it my way. Also, my e-mail addy is zz_zonic AT yahoo DOT com. Feel free to e-mail me.

The same goes to anyone in here that is in Germany, please e-mail me at any time!

Being in Wiesbaden, Germany, for 7 months now and still can't find a hobby shop that carries a good assortment of plastic models and other products for the plastic modeler. I have been to Mobellbau Profi (an RC store) in Darmstadt but is has a low stock of only Revell kits (if they have 25 kits is too many). At least I can get Tamiya paints there and that has helped when I need paints in a hurry and can't wait to get it on-line. Otherwise, I have to get my stuff from Hiroboy (UK) or Spot Model (Spain).

Stuttgart, as suggested in this post, is too far for me just to get something in a hurry.

Any other store (not on-line) suggestions in my area (will say within an hr from WI) by any fellow German modeler in here?

Hey Zonic,

I am from Kirchheimbolanden half way to Kaiserslautern.
I can recommend you:
Bastlerquelle Stiefvater (https://www.google.de/maps/place/Bastlerquelle+Stiefvater/@50.0778283,8.234899,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x47bdbddfeb163caf:0xb7fdc 1e605799fe) in the middle of Wiesbaden. They have diverse kits and paints of different brands.
Also there is the store "US Car Models (https://www.google.de/maps/place/Taschnerstra%C3%9Fe+3,+60388+Frankfurt+am+Main/@50.1471106,8.7512678,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x47bd0fb418aeefb1:0xa217c 65fd89eae1f)" in Frankfurt.

Conventions: http://inspiration-modellbau.de/ in Mainz
Competitions: I don't know any competition. I think this is different to the competitions that you know from USA
Have you been at the http://www.modellautoausstellung.de/ in Frankfurt last year?

Also check out the Wettringer Modellbauforum (http://www.wettringer-modellbauforum.de/forum/index.php). You can find a lot of information there if you speak german.

PM me if you want.

go to "scalemates.com" that has alot of info on there of where abouts for shops ,shows ,clubs etc. for Germany well basically the whole world....enjoy!

Hi Zonic, the next big event for civil models (car, truck, bike) is the show "On the Road" in Jabbeke /Belgium. http://www.ontheroad-brugge.be/

And it is highly recommended. Over 400m desk at two days will be covered with thousands of built models and kits. Many of us will have a small flea market at their desk. Following a link to pics from the show in 2015... https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1799605330264557.100006680220896&type=3

Many dealers are there inside the showrooms. Some of them are normally only availlable through internet. There you can see them in person. Like http://www.thescalemodeller.com/ But the biggest and for some of us the best of them, with the widest range of kits and additional equipment, is Domino.... And they´ll present their stuff in a mobile model shop outside not far away from the show.
http://www.domino.be/main.php?lang=en

Jabbeke is round about 470 km away from Wiesbaden at the coast line of Belgium. Journey time is app. 4 1/2 h. Due to the restrict speed limits in the Netherlands and Belgium your car will drive housewifely.... ;-)

We´ll be there with 8 guys and one woman for the complete weekend. Two of us will come extra by plane from Milano... :-)

So if you want to know the modelling guys from Europe, you should drive to Jabbeke. At this weekend is Jabbeke the centre of modelling in Europe. All streets lead to this town in March. Hopefully also Juha Airio and Tapani Rauramo from Finland will be there again with their AIRTRAX resin kits.

Hey Zonic,

I am from Kirchheimbolanden half way to Kaiserslautern.
I can recommend you:
Bastlerquelle Stiefvater (https://www.google.de/maps/place/Bastlerquelle+Stiefvater/@50.0778283,8.234899,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x47bdbddfeb163caf:0xb7fdc 1e605799fe) in the middle of Wiesbaden. They have diverse kits and paints of different brands.
Also there is the store "US Car Models (https://www.google.de/maps/place/Taschnerstra%C3%9Fe+3,+60388+Frankfurt+am+Main/@50.1471106,8.7512678,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x47bd0fb418aeefb1:0xa217c 65fd89eae1f)" in Frankfurt.

Conventions: http://inspiration-modellbau.de/ in Mainz
Competitions: I don't know any competition. I think this is different to the competitions that you know from USA
Have you been at the http://www.modellautoausstellung.de/ in Frankfurt last year?

Also check out the Wettringer Modellbauforum (http://www.wettringer-modellbauforum.de/forum/index.php). You can find a lot of information there if you speak german.

PM me if you want.

Wow! Excellent information. Most of those conventions already happened (nov and Jan) but is good information to attend later in the year.

So far I only go to an RC store in Darmstadt, Madelbau Profi, to get tamiya and revell paints. But will try your suggestions of course specially the place in Wiesbaden.

No, I don't speak German but there is always google translator!! LOL

Thanks my friend!

Hi Zonic, the next big event for civil models (car, truck, bike) is the show "On the Road" in Jabbeke /Belgium. http://www.ontheroad-brugge.be/

And it is highly recommended. Over 400m desk at two days will be covered with thousands of built models and kits. Many of us will have a small flea market at their desk. Following a link to pics from the show in 2015... https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1799605330264557.100006680220896&type=3

Many dealers are there inside the showrooms. Some of them are normally only availlable through internet. There you can see them in person. Like http://www.thescalemodeller.com/ But the biggest and for some of us the best of them, with the widest range of kits and additional equipment, is Domino.... And they´ll present their stuff in a mobile model shop outside not far away from the show.
http://www.domino.be/main.php?lang=en

Jabbeke is round about 470 km away from Wiesbaden at the coast line of Belgium. Journey time is app. 4 1/2 h. Due to the restrict speed limits in the Netherlands and Belgium your car will drive housewifely.... ;-)

We´ll be there with 8 guys and one woman for the complete weekend. Two of us will come extra by plane from Milano... :-)

So if you want to know the modelling guys from Europe, you should drive to Jabbeke. At this weekend is Jabbeke the centre of modelling in Europe. All streets lead to this town in March. Hopefully also Juha Airio and Tapani Rauramo from Finland will be there again with their AIRTRAX resin kits.

Excellent information! March 12 and 13... not bad. The 4 1/2 hrs drive in a car is ok... I hate driving but for a big event like this one, I may consider the sacrifice... LOL I'm going to read on-line more about the event, assume is open to the public in general, correct?

Already visited Brussels via Bastogne and the drive was not too bad. Will strongly consider going.

Thanks!!!!

You should come to Jabbeke in march. It's my 7th year now that i'm going and it's always getting better and better. I will be there again for the whole weekend. It's a great event. A must see for any civil modeler.

You should come to Jabbeke in march. It's my 7th year now that i'm going and it's always getting better and better. I will be there again for the whole weekend. It's a great event. A must see for any civil modeler.

Planning on attending!!! :biggrin:

Guys, I can't thank all of you enough with the information everyone has provided!!! See you at the shows. Danke shurn