Al's Hobbies

Al's Hobbies, radio-controlled modelling in Milton Keynes

Al's Hobbies is a model shop based in Milton Keynes (United Kingdom) that presents itself as a specialist in products for hobbyists. Its catalogue is organised around radio-controlled vehicles, static and railway modelling, and a wide range of spares and accessories from recognised brands in the sector.

Radio-controlled vehicles

The radio-controlled range covers cars, planes, boats, helicopters and construction and farming vehicles. In cars, categories are distinguished by power source (electric, nitro and petrol), by scale (from mini and micro up to 1/7, 1/8, 1/10 and 1/12) and by type of use, with models for beginners, rock crawlers, trucks and trailers, bikes and scale tanks. Kits for assembly are also sold.

In model aircraft, the range covers electric planes, trainer, sport, 3D aerobatic, warbirds, gliders, micro models and planes with glow or petrol engines, as well as a specific turbojet section with its engines, control systems, accessories and spares. The boat range includes speed boats, sail boats, scale models and live steam model boat engines.

The shop also offers radio-controlled helicopters classified by level (beginner, intermediate and advanced) and a drone section.

Components and electronics

The catalogue includes radio transmitters and receivers, servos, telemetry, flight simulators, gyros and trainer leads. In propulsion, electric motors, glow/nitro engines, petrol engines and turbine engines are listed, along with ESCs, motor-ESC combos, propellers, spinners, pipes and silencers, and glow plugs. The batteries and chargers section includes LiPo batteries from 1S to 7S, NiMH packs, chargers, power supplies, checkers and alarms, and connectors.

Static and railway modelling

In plastic modelling, kits of aircraft, tanks and military vehicles, trucks, cars, motorbikes, ships, figures, space and sci-fi models, including the Gundam line, are sold, as well as paints, adhesives, tools and scenery materials. Model railways cover G, 1/G-45, O, OO/HO, N and TT gauges, with locomotives, rolling stock, track, buildings, electronics, figures, animals, vehicles, gift sets, publications and tools, as well as a scenery section with trees, foliage, tunnels, bridges, ballast and water effects.

The shop also offers die-cast models, slot cars (including sets and spares), brick build models, games consoles and games, mechanical models and collectibles.

Materials, tools and accessories

Construction materials are listed such as balsa wood in sheets, strips and blocks, hardwoods, birch and plywood, as well as metal, carbon fibre and plastic sections in tube, rod, sheet and bar. The tools section includes airbrushes, brushes, cutting tools, saws, soldering and rotary tools. There is also a range of hardware and fastenings with cable ties, clips, velcro, nuts, screws and washers.

Specific accessories for radio-controlled cars and trucks include hop-up parts, bodyshells and wings, bearings, oils and greases, pinions, pit gear, wheels and tyres, and rock crawling and drift accessories. For planes, transport bags, clevises, control horns, detailed parts, field equipment, floats and skids, FPV equipment, fuel systems, hinges, latches, LED lights, linkages, pilot figures, retract systems, stands, weights, wheels and landing gear, and wing fittings are offered.

Brands and spares

The spares catalogue is organised by manufacturer. In planes, among others, Ares, Arrows RC Hobby, Axion, Black Horse, Dynam RC, E-Flite, Eazy RC, Flite Test, FMS, FOX RC, Hangar-9, Hobbyzone, HSD, JP, Kootai, Kyosho, Max Thrust, MultiPlex, PILOT-RC, Precision Aerobatics, ROC Hobby, Seagull, Sonik RC, TOP RC, Volantex, VQ Models and XFLY are listed, as well as a spares section for vintage and discontinued models. In cars and trucks, Absima, Anderson Racing, Ansmann, ARRMA, Axial, Carisma, Carson, Cen Racing, DHK, E-Zee, Eazy RC, ECX, Element RC, FG Modelsport, FTX, GMADE, HaiBoxing, Helion, HengLong, HoBao, Hobby Engine, HPI Racing, HuiNa, Kyosho, Losi, Louise RC, Nanda, Oval Racing, PD Racing, RC4WD, ROC Hobby & FMS, Schumacher Racing, Sparko, Tamiya, Team Associated, Team Corally, Thunder Tiger, TLR, Traxxas, TTRC Sport, UDi, Vanquish Products, Veko, Vetta Racing, WL Toys, XRAY, Yikong and Yokomo are included. In helicopters and quadcopters, spares from Blade and E-Flite, Kootai and vintage models are listed.

Among the shop's featured brands are Spektrum, with transmitters, receivers, servos, chargers, SMART batteries, Avian and Firma ESCs and motors, telemetry, gyros and accessories; Arrma, with off-road, on-road and drift cars and their spares; E-Flite, with aerobatic planes, micro, gliders, EDF jets, warbirds and scale models; and FMS, with F3A aerobatic planes, gliders, EDF jets, trainers and warbirds.

Offers and new arrivals

The site maintains sections for new releases, just arrived, bargains and clearance, with specific areas for SMART batteries, plastic kits, race spares, ECX spares, model railways, Powerbox, Woodland Scenics, die-cast models, micro planes and drones. It also has a section for pre-owned items and bargains, which includes trains, die-cast models and slot cars.