King’s Hobby

Had a great experience at King’s. I needed some rails for a Lionel O-​gauge set and they got me fixed up perfectly. Thanks guys!

Good local hobby shop. Lots of model kits. DCC decoders and variety of train stuff. Also they have a slot car track and that stuff. Don’t know much about it. If they don’t have what you want they’ll look it up and order it for you. Staff is cool and I like that it’s not a chain and still in business.

I have to preface my review by saying that in some ways, I am a direct competitor to Kings Hobby Shop, as I own a slot car shop. That being said, I am still a huge fan of King’s for the things I don’t carry or don’t have in stock when I need it. They have a great inventory of plastic models, military models and art, trains, and yes, slot cars. The staff is great, as they have been there for years and all know the store and their customers well. I would give them 5 stars, but some of their prices on some of their items can be a bit on the high side. I’ve been going there since I was a kid, and I’m glad to say that with all the changes Austin has experienced in the last 40 years, King’s Hobby has remained true to its local roots and neighborly feel.

Great place!!! Great people!!! So helpful and answered every question I had. Very awesome store merchandise and people.

I’ve been going to hobby shops for many, many years. The hobby «industry» has changed a great deal with the advent of the internet, and the number of hobby shops has, sadly, dwindled. In this age of disappearing hobby shops, I’m so glad that King’s exists and that it’s just down the street.
They do a great job of stocking the new, cool sets. They have a great connection to the local community. And they do a wonderful job of making newbies (like me after having returned to the hobby after several decades away) feel comfortable and welcomed. No question feels like a dumb one.

FIVE star local hobby shop for models and trains and slot car racing for slot car racing members. we traded our old unbuilt complete in the box models for ones of interest.

Good place for all your hobby needs. I had a hair up my ass to build a model for some reason so I went here. They got me setup with all my stuff, nothing I didn’t need. 5 years later the model is still unfinished but I remmber the experience. The have pretty much anything you need and will help you figure out what you need, what you need to do, and how you need to do it. The staff was super helpful.

When I lived in the area (2001 – 2003) I went here many many times. I recently went back and it appeared that their stock had declined. Also, the prices were nothing to write home about… full retail or higher. A bit of a disappointment.

For hobby shop needs, King’s reigns supreme.
Being the son of an avid plastic model builder, I grew up learning things many other kids didn’t – like how to clean an airbrush and how to assemble something using modeller’s glue without getting glue fingerprints everywhere.
Some of my earliest, and fondest memories, are of travelling to King’s Hobby Shop on a Saturday afternoon with my Dad to look at the new kits and/​or stock up on supplies. But I’m not the only one who’s been coming here for close to three decades now.
As far as hobby shops go, King’s is known as one of the best – not just in Texas, but throughout the United States.
There are two big reasons for this – the first being selection. King’s has an extensive selection of plastic, build-​it-​yourself models across various genres, modelling supplies (paint, sandpaper, airbrushes, etc.) and reference materials. It doesn’t stop there, though, because they also have a large area dedicated to model railroading and carry slot cars too.
Besides the inventory, the second thing that really makes this place special are the people. The words «employee turnover» and «King’s Hobby Shop» will be never be shared in the same sentence simply because everyone who works here has been here for, what seems like, a decade or more. The result is a staff that’s highly knowledgeable on the product, can offer useful suggestions, and is always in the know on the latest and greatest in the hobby world.
If you’re looking for a hobby shop that’s local to Austin, with friendly and knowledgeable staff, there really is no better place than this.