Oh happy days!

[Tim A.]

While in the Squadron booth at the Chattanooga IPMS show I was talking with one of their representatives who told me Squadron just moved from Texas to Ringgold, Georgia. That's like less than 10 miles from my house. I was a bit stunned when he said that. I said your kidding!?...Squadron has their real live brick & Mortar shop right here, in nowhere N, Georgia!! He said yes sir, come see us.
You bet I will!

 

[phantom II]

Be aware, it is not the original business. I have been there before. I think they just bought out the trade mark.
Cheer, Christian

 

[moon puppy]

Didn't Freetime Hobby buy Squadron or they bought Freetime.

It's clear on the other side of GA from where I'm close to. Right below Chattanooga. Guess that's why they had such a good booth at the Atlanta show this year.

 

[Tim A.]

Be aware, it is not the original business. I have been there before. I think they just bought out the trade mark.
Cheer, Christian

If I can just drive up the road a couple of miles to purchase a can of Tamiya primer, in this area, rather than having to order online they could be shady-er than Al Capone and I'd still mind my own business.

 

[Tim A.]

Didn't Freetime Hobby buy Squadron or they bought Freetime.

It's clear on the other side of GA from where I'm close to. Right below Chattanooga. Guess that's why they had such a good booth at the Atlanta show this year.

I believe Free Time bought Squadron. I'm just catching up on all of this, didn't even know Squadron filed for bankruptcy a few yrs ago. It's just mind blowing, for me, #1 they're this close and #2 they know exactly where our little town of Cohutta is...haha.
I'm going there Monday to check it out.

 

[Jeeves]

They're class acts...met them at the AMPS Nationals where they brought what looked like the whole warehouse to sell. They had 30 to 40 of the new Tamiya French H39. Very nice guys...they got interviewed on one of the recent Modeling Insanity podcasts if you want to hear more...

 

[Tim A.]

Didn't Freetime Hobby buy Squadron or they bought Freetime.

It's clear on the other side of GA from where I'm close to. Right below Chattanooga. Guess that's why they had such a good booth at the Atlanta show this year.

I believe Free Time bought Squadron. I'm just catching up on all of this, didn't even know Squadron filed for bankruptcy a few yrs ago. It's just mind blowing, for me, #1 they're this close and #2 they know exactly where our little town of Cohutta is...haha.
I'm going there Monday to check it out

They're class acts...met them at the AMPS Nationals where they brought what looked like the whole warehouse to sell. They had 30 to 40 of the new Tamiya French H39. Very nice guys...they got interviewed on one of the recent Modeling Insanity podcasts if you want to hear more...

They had an impressive display at the Chattanooga show as well.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

I believe that Squadron which was in TX did go chapter 11 a number of years ago. The current Squadron used to be Freetime and they were located more toward the upper central part of Georgia. They moved to their current location a short while back to get the better tax situation that TN has. (go TN!!) Glad they are located close to you now Tim!
Don't forget to post the photo of us from the ModelCon yesterday. Was really glad to meet up with you and your wife. Enjoyed visiting and wish I lived closer, but MA works quite well.. Maybe we can get Chris (Rhino) to set up another Zoom meeting sometime soon.

With that I will start off with photos from the contest.

Squadron had the nice 1/32 Ju88 at their booth

Something for Rhino

There were several 1/16th scale builds in attendance. Love the detail on them.

More to come

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Some more 1/16th builds

A little bit more.

 

[Tim A.]

I believe that Squadron which was in TX did go chapter 11 a number of years ago. The current Squadron used to be Freetime and they were located more toward the upper central part of Georgia. They moved to their current location a short while back to get the better tax situation that TN has. (go TN!!) Glad they are located close to you now Tim!
Don't forget to post the photo of us from the ModelCon yesterday. Was really glad to meet up with you and your wife. Enjoyed visiting and wish I lived closer, but MA works quite well.. Maybe we can get Chris (Rhino) to set up another Zoom meeting sometime soon.

With that I will start off with photos from the contest.

Squadron had the nice 1/32 Ju88 at their booth
View attachment 182036

View attachment 182037

View attachment 182038

Something for Rhino
View attachment 182039

There were several 1/16th scale builds in attendance. Love the detail on them.

View attachment 182040

View attachment 182041

View attachment 182042

View attachment 182043

View attachment 182044

View attachment 182045

View attachment 182046

View attachment 182047

More to come

I posted our meet up in another Modelers Lounge thread
Great meeting you Paul! and congrats on the gold and silvers!

 

[Heavens Eagle]

OK will finish up there.

 

[Rhino]

It's a fun story.
In 2010 Brandon Lowe (Free Time Hobbies) bought Pacific Front Hobbies from Bill Gruner in Colorado. Bill was a one-man band with amazing inventory and speedy service that catered to model ship builders. Freetime Hobbies was in Blue Ridge, GA in a road-side store front, the first time I was there, just down the street from a really good burger joint! His plentiful inventory reflected model kits for every model genre' and the shelves went to the ceiling. I was allowed to prowl about the warehouse to find model treasures not listed on the Free Time website. I made quite a stack! Brandon's dad, Russ was involved as well.

Not so very much later, the Lowe family got into making graphics and decals for moto-cross racing and Free Time Hobbies and Hobby Swap were bought by Thompson Clark and Mike Gripp from North Carolina. Hobby Swap was cool, because it offered a venue to sell one's model kits on their website as well. I peddled a lot of plastic on Hobby Swap.

Here, before I bungle along with another inexorable narrative;

About Us

squadron.com

Brandon's quote from the 2022 Nationals was "The Plastic model business is like the old Hotel California. You can check out anytime you like, but you can NEVER leave."

 

[phantom II]

I have to say , that so far doing business together has been very good .

 

[Sharkmouth]

You're going to need a bigger boat!