A Model Railroader's Guide to Amazon.com - 6 things to buy and 3 things you shouldn't

[@carlsmedberg9408]

Ha, I live near Orlando and love Skycraft! Heads up, they recently moved! And previously I lived in Illinois and also shopped at American Science and Surplus! Small world. Thanks for sharing. I’m now a subscriber!

[@customconsist905]

Thank you for the great videos. I have nearly watched all of them over the past couple weeks. Love your work...

[@MRBenchwork]

Glad you like them!

[@gtown150]

The comment about cork roadbed is completely accurate!

[@tomryan943]

I have purchased paints, brushes, and weathering supplies from Amazon, and they have other supplies, such as mini brushes, make-up wedges and other things that are cheaper than going to the drug store. Your tip on cork roadbed was helpful too. Thanks for the info!

[@georgebennett2243]

GEORGE HERE, EXCELLENT.....JUST HAPPENED ON YOUR SITE.....USED YOUR AMAZON LINK TO PURCHASE NEEDED ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES...GREAT RESOURCE AND APPROACH..YES SUBSCRIBED....THANKS

[@derekalexander4030]

Thanks for the ideas and your thoughts.

[@woodalexander]

I got a Hakko soldering iron, and it's amazing. If you do more than just occasional soldering, it's worth the extra $70 or so over the Weller. I got it from an elctronics supply house. I do use Amazon for some things, like wire and wiring supplies.

[@RichardOpaluch-pj3rv]

I buy LED chips in bulk on Amazon, fiber optics and wire to make my own LED’s for my locomotives!! Best way to go!!

[@MRBenchwork]

Amazon is a fantastic resource but it’s not the only one. Sometimes I just use Amazon to figure out what search terms I should be using then I google that to find alternative sources. Obviously it depends on what it is but recently I was looking for linear actuators and had better results and options after I googled it. AliExpress is also a decent source if you know how to weed through the garbage.

[@KingTrump2024]

If your near Toronto, Sayal has a great supply of electronics tools

[@robertsiebenrock3997]

I agree with you 100%. You definitely know what your talking about.

[@fraser572]

Good video. Great observation on book prices. I saw one the other day which was over a thousand dollars! I also purchased a cheap soldering iron on Amazon. I found them great for small electronics such as most Arduino boards and shields, and components such as 5V relays, servos, etc. Beware that some of them ship directly from China and can take weeks to reach you, but when you throw in the free shipping from Prime they are often cheaper than eBay.

[@jamesblaine6690]

Thank you for the good advise

[@Quince828]

One source I’ve found very useful is a local electronics store that caters to alarm installers. A lot of the wire, dpdt mini switches and connectors I need are stocked there. As for Amazon I did find a plastic building kit that I had been searching for they had in the warehouse and competitively priced. Also stuff like mini brushes, carbon pencils, pics etc I’ve found.

[@MRBenchwork]

Any advice on how to find alarm installer stores? Is there a google search term you found is helpful?

[@Quince828]

@@MRBenchwork I didn’t need to google. A local electronics store that has been in business for at least forty years and has everything one needs. They sell switches, wiring, soldering supplies etc but with the decline in diy electronics they have pivoted to serving the alarm and cabling industry.

[@patrickbolmeyer9515]

I'm making an Amazon list from your recommendations for electronic stuff. Thanks for doing the research for me!

[@MRBenchwork]

Glad to help!

[@GfwTrains]

Interesting video. Thanks for all the info. There was a lot there I did not know. Thumbs up.

[@seancassady2762]

Thanks for the tips and I'll check out your store.

[@CBGreenawalt]

THanks for the useful information!

[@MRBenchwork]

Happy to help

[@Mason-DixonRR]

Great vid! Found some reasonable priced Walther's rolling stock on Amazon.

[@billyray94]

I just bought an excellent soldering system off Amazon. Very fair price and fast delivery.

[@MRBenchwork]

Enjoy it

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

Thank you for the tips. I will check out you’re Amazon store as well.

[@MRBenchwork]

Please do!

[@scottsmith7051]

Awesome video!

[@MRBenchwork]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@vancegrozier6019]

Great summary. Thanks very much for putting this together!

[@MRBenchwork]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MemoriesRR]

Liked and subscribed. No thumb’s up emoji.

[@MRBenchwork]

Yeah sorry about the no emoji's. It does however virtually eliminate the scam posts however so I think it's a reasonable trade off.

[@OlivierGabin]

Agreed on trains and track : Amazon is the worst place to buy them, whatever you are modelling. I'm modelling European trains in HO/OO and N and I can tell you that, whatever you are buying, the prices are off the charts. Sometimes, for European stuff, you have model shops who have an Amazon marketplace entry, like Gaugemaster for the UK OO or Modelbahn Union for German/continental HO, it's only interesting if you need a 4x payment facility, you have better deals directly with the retailer's website, and only for the most expensive rolling stock. Sometimes, you can get an OO or HO wagon at an interesting price, but check carefully the postage cost ! Apply only for European HO or British OO on rare occasions, I had never find something relevant in American HO or (what I model) N. I had bought once some Japanese N track, Tomix more precisely, but only because the item I wanted was sold out everywhere else. Everything else for my track, I buy it outside of Amazon.

[@jeffreyrule8143]

Thank u.

[@sammisworkshops3762]

Great info, Thanks!

[@MRBenchwork]

I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@dkaustin98]

I have used Amazon for a variety of tools in my model railroading. Even my soldier station and another soldering tool. A digital one for moving about the layout while track laying and another digital station for my workbench. I have thought about the soldier pot and it is a cool idea, but I do not know if I would have enough wiring to justify it. In the DC days I could see it. I do enjoy your layout builds.

[@MRBenchwork]

The Soldering pot really is quite something. I initially bought it on a whim but it's proven to be an extremely useful tool to have. BTW, I'm not sure your comment about DCC being less wire heavy than DC layouts is really quite true as they both have a lot of wire, it's just run differently.

[@r.j.a.9627]

Spot on council.

[@MRBenchwork]

Thanks! I'm going to make a part two of this video sometime this year. If you have anything you think I should include please let me know!

[@davevan8864]

I'd add plaster cloth to the things I get off Amazon. MUCH cheaper than hobby type even if, as you say, you have to buy more at a time. Thx

[@MRBenchwork]

I'll have to look into that. I don't personally use it so I didn't think to look.

[@Coreyt1976]

Thanks for the info

[@MRBenchwork]

You bet

[@MRBenchwork]

Congrats! You are my 3,000 subscriber winner! Please send me an email so you can choose your prize. (go to my channel and click about to find it)

[@Coreyt1976]

@@MRBenchwork email sent

[@MRBenchwork]

My favorite tools, and supply resources can be found here: www.amazon.com/shop/mrbenchwork Tips: www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PD42RT89SNEHG

[@tikkykopmostert5972]

Now I got good information

[@robertheroux2402]

Interesting channel

[@klaus9909]

If they would ship to New Zealand...

[@MRBenchwork]

There’s no amazon in New Zealand?

[@klaus9909]

@@MRBenchwork There is a bare minimum of items that would ship to NZ, but most won’t. "This item does not ship to your destination" is a pretty common one. Especially that since COVID shipping cost have been rocketing.