Sprue Brother acquiring Great Models Webstore and Douglas Models Distributors

[mharviala]

SprueBrothers has been my fave for a couple of years now, with the same issues that Lee had with GreatModels.

That said, my current 'second choice' is ScaleHobbyist.  Their shipping isn't quite on par with SprueBrothers, but the prices on some items better than SprueBrothers.

- Mika

[Anthony Leger]

Pretty cool news in my book. I hope they can marry the best from each so we all benefit further.

Tony

[Ryan K]

Yea, I don't get a lot of bad for the hobby comments. Prior to the news everybody loved SB and most posted issues about GM. Now a bunch are saying it's a bad thing. I think GM's better website comes from trying to be a review site of sorts before to help sell kits. Never seen SB try that.

Never had any issues with both when I ordered but SB is so much faster.

[Lee_K]

Sprue Brothers has been my go-to hobby shop for several years.  Aside from a clunky website, their shipping service is second to none.

I used GreatModels as my secondary source for stuff that Sprue didn't carry, like Floquil and Polly Scale paints.  I do prefer the GreatModels website design and execution.  But I've had numerous mess-ups from GreatModels in regards to billing errors, double charging for shipping, and sending stuff along that they shouldn't have.  I always got the feeling that the team running GM is a bunch of amateurs.

I think on balance, despite some postings on the various modeling fora regarding the downside of less competition, this will be good for us modelers who rely on mail order for 100% of their supplies.

Lee K

[Ryan K]

If you have not seen this on the internet yesterday.

http://store.spruebrothers.com/articles/GMWPressRelease.htm

Liberty, MO March 12, 2012 - Sprue Brothers Models, LLC makes news again by acquiring Great Models Webstore and Douglas Models Distributors. Just last year Sprue Brothers expanded to a larger facility in Liberty, MO, to accommodate their continued growth.

Sprue Brothers was founded in 2004 to provide modelers with a quick and reliable source for quality model kits, related accessories and supplies.

Great Models was established by Loic Anthian in 1997 to serve the scale modeling community. His vision to bring models, accessories and books to hobbyists with one easy online computer search and point of purchase sale was a great success. In 2004, Great Models acquired Douglas Models Distributing (founded 1934).

Great Models/Douglas employs a workforce of 12 employees, and after 14 years in Sandy, Utah, Loic Anthian has decided to sell his operations to pursue other interests. He feels that his customers will continue to receive the level of service they have come to expect, by transferring their patronage over to Sprue Brothers Models.

The assets and inventory of Great Models and Douglas will be transferred to Sprue Brothers' Liberty, Missouri facility.

For more information, contact Sprue Brothers Models LLC's owner Gordon Kwan.