Monday, December 14, 2009

Model Train set fills Hemet shop with fun

A gigantic model train layout, stretching as far as half a basketball court, delights kids when they step inside Dynamic Hobbies in downtown Hemet.

Perhaps the most surprised onlookers are owners of other hobby shops who visit Bob Parcell's store that is filled with all sorts of fun stuff -- rockets, helicopters and planes that fly under remote control and gas and electric-powered model race cars.

The most dominant feature is the big model train layout of mountains, tunnels, a train station, trestles and an intricately crafted 1950s-era village.

"People who have hobby shops think I'm nuts to take up this kind of space," Parcell said.

Hobbyists pay $75 per year to join a shop club and run their own trains on the tracks. The trains are equipped with sound features. Horns, squealing brakes and chug-chug-chugs fill the shop with railroad noises.

Model train enthusiast Woody Adams liked the layout so much that he drove to the shop three times a week from the Palm Springs area to run his trains. He retired from the Desert Water Agency in Palm Springs and moved to Hemet. The shop added a big plus to living in his new town.

Adams regularly volunteers to operate the trains for Parcell. He said watching the trains is a great activity for kids during the Christmas season. He will be at the controls on weekends during the holidays. The store, located at 811 E. Florida Ave., is open every day.

"I came in about two years ago and saw the layout. I was just amazed," said Adams, who joined the shop's model railroad club.

"It was the most awesome thing I've ever seen. I've been to a lot of train stores in the San Diego-Los Angeles area. Nobody has anything like this.

"I thought it was wonderful because I can come in to run my trains whenever I want."

Parcell used to operate a radio-controlled car race track in Riverside when he visited an outdoor Hemet track and decided to open a shop in town about 19 years ago. His store now helps operate the Hemet track.

When he moved into his present large shop four years ago, he figured he needed fun things to attract hobbyists. He began crafting the train layout.

Before he installed realistic-looking mountains shaped from Styrofoam, he began creating village buildings during evenings when Mel Parcell, his wife and partner in the store, watched cooking shows on television. He estimated each building took 60 to 100 hours to make. He spent more than two years building his train layout.

The response was enthusiastic. Model train hobbyists from throughout Southern California travel to the shop to see his layout.

He doesn't consider the train layout a waste of shop space at all. He said it is a good investment that draws customers. He said it is a key to surviving sour economic times.


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