About Us

We are hobbyists let loose on the world with a shop and an internet-store. We are interested in slot cars and model trains in any scale. We mostly like the real things too!

But principally we stock the brands of 1:32 and 1:24 scale slot cars that Toy Stores don’t stock and model trains in N and 009 scale made by Bachmann Europe, Graham Farish, Dapol, Peco and Kato. We don’t carry a huge range of stock but we can ‘get it in’ if you need it. And we aim to look after the serious hobbyist and local clubs and their members.

If we don’t stock an item we are happy to track it down for you or refer you to another store that has it.

We don’t see ourselves as being in competition with other suppliers. We are in business to support our favourite hobbies. But yes, we will price match as best we can.

All up the store can draw many decades of experience in the slot car and model train hobbies and if we can’t answer your questions or fix or tune up your favourite model car or train, we are bound to know someone local who can.

Slot car manufacturers represented include: BRM, TTS, Revoslot, NSR, SCX, Fly, Scaleauto, Policar, Slot-IT, Sideways, Thunderslot and makers of after-market parts such as MJK tyres.

We intend stocking a small range of Scalextric and Carrera cars they make great ready-to-run models too, especially those popular with local clubs and collectors. But our focus for now is on ready-to-race cars. We also aim to carry a wide range of collectables – items that have ceased production or, in some cases, never made it to Australia.

In addition to cars and rolling stock, we sell track, sets and accessories and provide a slot car repair and tuning service for those keen to keep their fleet up to speed or race ready. This site only lists a tiny fraction of the slot car parts we hold or can quickly access.

Our Store

The store is located at 3/66 Primmer Court in Kambah Village, a shopping centre in Canberra’s south. We share premises with the excellent folk at “Looking For Gamers” who stock an attractively priced range of board games and accessories for all ages and host board game tournaments, conventions and similar events.  We are open six days a week and there are slot car nights on our race tracks. These are re-configured at regular intervals to keep things fresh.

We also provide services to collectors and a virtual swap meet where local slot car club members can (without charge) each list cars for exchange or re-sale to other enthusiasts.

We also sponsor slot car clubs in Canberra and nearby towns and regions.

As time goes by we may expand into other ranges – so if there’s something you are interested in, there’s no harm at all in giving us a nudge in the right direction.

As shop proprietor and day dreamer in-chief, I’m elated to have the support of a talented and diverse range of local ACT and Southern NSW hobbyists; all  keen to help others experience the sense of wonder and satisfaction that these two marvelous and multi-faceted hobbies have brought them over the years.”

Pricing and GST

All prices include GST

Discounts and Loyalty Program

Everyone loves a bargain, almost as much as every shop loves returning customers.

So here’s the deal – we need to make enough to pay the rent and all the rest but we do want to help the hobbies we love to grow and thrive. We want to be part of developing a community of interest in our favourite past-times. That’s the sort of thing that you don’t quite get from just being on “the net” or being a ‘click and collect’ customer.

Our loyalty scheme rewards customers for not just how much they buy but whether they are active in the local model train and slot car communities.

If you buy lots of stuff from Watching the Wheels on line or at Looking For Gamers ask for and expect a discount on your slot cars and model train supplies. Larger orders – over $200 – attract a 10 per discount. In addition, if you are a Slot Car or Model train club member, the discount on cars and locos is 5%. Discounts are non cumulative. 

But if you are a member of a local ACT (or nearby region) slot car club and attend race nights at WTW, or even if you just pre-order your items, expect a bit more off.  Plus there’ll be the occasional donation to your slot car club or train group.

If aren’t a member of an existing club, either join one or set up your own. Then let us know and we’ll do the rest.”

Swap Meets – in store and on-line

One thing the internet is good at is selling stuff, including old stuff and unwanted stuff. Slot car and model train technology has made enormous strides over recent years. There are shorter production runs too. And that means that things go off the shelves and out of fashion much faster than they once did. Cars and trains are now more durable and more collectable than ever. New stock in many hobbies often represents only the tip of the iceberg or what people own or what they want.

People often find there are things in their collection that they can’t use but are still valued by many. In the case of slots it may be a few unopened gems that your club isn’t racing anymore. In the case of trains, it may be a superseded model or one that you never quite got that DDC chip into.

Sometimes too we each never quite got our hands on that car or loco that we wanted before it went out of production. Sometimes a model wasn’t released in Australia or never made its way to a place near us.

Pre-Internet, swap meets used to be a big part of bringing wouldbe buyers and sellers of hobby items together. And the Internet has tapped into that idea, often in a big way. Major train retailers in the UK also have enormous second-hand departments.

Swap meets and toy fairs are still big in the UK too. But there distances between population centres are smaller and the sheer number of people into trains and slot cars is far greater than in Australia.

One way of filling the gaps and finding the money to do it is to sell off the ‘mistakes’ and the “marvels” to someone who can’t do without them or (wince) simply needs them for spares.

Yes, Facebook is useful for that. But not everyone is a Face book fan. Sorry, Mark Z.

What we are offering to Canberra and nearby region slot car club members are regular in store swap meets and a free listing service via on our on-line site. In the case of the latter we’ll be the host but it won’t be part of our business. We’ll be the brokers who don’t get any brokerage.

For on-line listings,  the seller simply arranges for us to list the car or train with a photo, description and nominated minimum price and their preferred contact details (e.g. phone or email address).

For now though there are three restrictions:

1. the car must be new and mint boxed (this is to minimise disputes over quality/price etc);
2. the car must be at least two years old and preferably no longer in production in that livery;
3. no member may have more than three cars listed at any one time.

For in store slot car swap nights, same deal only the WTW will also offer ‘new stock for old’ deals. This service will enable racers to get rid of cars that never quite made it out of the box and onto the track and trade them in on ones that your friends and fellow racers are currently racing. We sell off your old Shelf Kings and Queens or add them to our own collection.

Call or email if you have any questions or require any more detail”