hehe.....I just recieved my first order from Tower Hobbies a few days ago. Web shopping was very easy, prices were rather competitive compared to other shops in my area, and the stock listings were accurate. Shipping actually took less time than expected, but I would make note of two things:
1. Tower seems to maintain two warehouses...one in Illinois, the other in Nevada. Now, this isn't at all a bad thing, but sometimes an order might have to be shipped from multiple places..but they do NOT charge extra shipping for it. There's a funny little thing about it...
2. Certain items, such as paints and spray cans, which are flame hazards, they are not able to ship via any air method. Being in Hawaii, I'm not exactly sure what they would do, but this might affect your order. Nothing Tower can do, as it is US law which prevents it.
It's funny....I used to do a lot of modelling...mostly Japanese sci-fi type models, but when I moved over a year ago, I just stopped...never had the time, nor the space. Found this place looking for info on Nissan Skylines....and then I popped here....three days later I dropped 160 bucks to Tower on kits (Tamiya 1/24 R32 GT-R and R34-GTR...no surprise there), and a crapload of supplies...primer, paints, cement, etc.
EVERYTHING shipped from Illinois EXCEPT for a small jar of Titanium Silver paint. Came in a box that could have fit at least 50 jars....
Well...in general I blame all of you here for 150 bucks out of my pocket. Guess it's only fair to blame you for the joy of returning to modelling...but I digress..
If you plan on ordering a lot from Tower, shoot them an email and ask how they might handle the shipping flammables to hawaii.....but I'd give them a definite thumbs up....now where is that R/C catalog....I need another money sucking hobby......