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Customers have reported increasing rates of “porch pirate” package thefts. Extend™ Shipping Protection replaces any lost, damaged, or stolen packages, and we recommend adding this protection to your order. FDH is unable to recover lost, damaged, or stolen packages that are not covered by Extend™ Shipping Protection.

I understand that lost, damaged, or stolen packages will not be replaced unless I purchase Extend™ Shipping Protection.

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Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763520DCC C44-9W Kansas City Southern4401

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763520DCC C44-9W Kansas City Southern4401

$20.40 $204

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763520DCC C44-9W Kansas City Southern4401

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763516S C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 667 with SND

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763516S C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 667 with SND

$35.50 $355

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763516S C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 667 with SND

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763518S C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 796 with SND

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763518S C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 796 with SND

$35.50 $355

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763518S C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 796 with SND

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763520S C44-9W Kansas City Southern4401 with SND

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763520S C44-9W Kansas City Southern4401 with SND

$35.50 $355

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763520S C44-9W Kansas City Southern4401 with SND

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763516 C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 667

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763516 C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 667

$12.40 $124

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763516 C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 667

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763519DCC C44-9W Kansas City Southern4400

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763519DCC C44-9W Kansas City Southern4400

$20.40 $204

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763519DCC C44-9W Kansas City Southern4400

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763517 C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 700

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763517 C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 700

$12.40 $124

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763517 C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 700

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763517S C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 700 with SND

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763517S C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 700 with SND

$35.50 $355

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763517S C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 700 with SND

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763519S C44-9W Kansas City Southern4400 with SND

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763519S C44-9W Kansas City Southern4400 with SND

$35.50 $355

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763519S C44-9W Kansas City Southern4400 with SND

Kato N 1763515DCC C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 615

Kato Kato N 1763515DCC C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 615

$204

Earn $10.20 store credit

Browse reviews for Kato N 1763515DCC C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 615

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763517DCC C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 700

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763517DCC C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 700

$20.40 $204

Earn $1.02 store credit

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763517DCC C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 700

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763518DCC C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 796

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763518DCC C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 796

$20.40 $204

Earn $1.02 store credit

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763518DCC C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 796

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763515 C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 615

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763515 C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 615

$12.40 $124

Earn $0.62 store credit

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763515 C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 615

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763519 C44-9W Kansas City Southern4400

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763519 C44-9W Kansas City Southern4400

$12.40 $124

Earn $0.62 store credit

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763519 C44-9W Kansas City Southern4400

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763518 C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 796

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763518 C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 796

$12.40 $124

Earn $0.62 store credit

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763518 C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 796

Kato N 1763516DCC C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 667

Kato Kato N 1763516DCC C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 667

$204

Earn $10.20 store credit

Browse reviews for Kato N 1763516DCC C44-9W Burlington Northern Santa Fe 667

Preorder item

PREORDER Kato N 1763520 C44-9W Kansas City Southern4401

Kato PREORDER Kato N 1763520 C44-9W Kansas City Southern4401

$12.40 $124

Earn $0.62 store credit

Browse reviews for PREORDER Kato N 1763520 C44-9W Kansas City Southern4401

Kato N 1766412 EMD SD70MAC with Nose Headlight, Alaska Railroad #4328 100 Years (Standard DC)

Kato Kato N 1766412 EMD SD70MAC with Nose Headlight, Alaska Railroad #4328 100 Years (Standard DC)

$102.99 $145

Earn $5.14 store credit

Browse reviews for Kato N 1766412 EMD SD70MAC with Nose Headlight, Alaska Railroad #4328 100 Years (Standard DC)

Kato N 176-4825 EMD SD40-2 Early Production, Milwaukee Road #130 (Standard DC)

Kato Kato N 176-4825 EMD SD40-2 Early Production, Milwaukee Road #130 (Standard DC)

$88.78 $125

Earn $4.43 store credit

Browse reviews for Kato N 176-4825 EMD SD40-2 Early Production, Milwaukee Road #130 (Standard DC)

Kato N 176-4827 EMD SD40-2 Early Production, Norfolk Southern #6116 (Standard DC)

Kato Kato N 176-4827 EMD SD40-2 Early Production, Norfolk Southern #6116 (Standard DC)

$88.78 $125

Earn $4.43 store credit

Browse reviews for Kato N 176-4827 EMD SD40-2 Early Production, Norfolk Southern #6116 (Standard DC)

Kato N 4556 SAHA 481 Early Coach

Kato Kato N 4556 SAHA 481 Early Coach

$24.99 $25

Earn $1.24 store credit

Browse reviews for Kato N 4556 SAHA 481 Early Coach

Kato N 1260309-LS GS-4 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive, Southern Pacific #4445 (ESU LOKSOUND DCC EQUIPPED MODEL)

Kato Kato N 1260309-LS GS-4 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive, Southern Pacific #4445 (ESU LOKSOUND DCC EQUIPPED MODEL)

$420.99 $470

Earn $21.04 store credit

Browse reviews for Kato N 1260309-LS GS-4 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive, Southern Pacific #4445 (ESU LOKSOUND DCC EQUIPPED MODEL)

Kato N 1766035 GE P42 Genesis, Amtrak (Midnight Blue) #100

Kato Kato N 1766035 GE P42 Genesis, Amtrak (Midnight Blue) #100

$95.89 $135

Earn $4.79 store credit

Browse reviews for Kato N 1766035 GE P42 Genesis, Amtrak (Midnight Blue) #100

Kato N 1768955 GE ES44AC, Union Pacific #5553

Kato Kato N 1768955 GE ES44AC, Union Pacific #5553

$101.99 $125

Earn $5.09 store credit

Browse reviews for Kato N 1768955 GE ES44AC, Union Pacific #5553

Factory Direct Hobbies is a family owned business based in Asheville, NC that began in 2006 as Factory Direct Trains. For 14 years, we focused on bringing our customers the finest, cutting edge model railroading products available. During that time, we've expanded our model railroading inventory to one of the widest and most up-to-date in the world. But we've also grown our customer base and offerings to include hobby products that go well beyond trains, like the Bandai Gundam franchise. Our goal is to provide the best selection of hobby products in the world, at prices that make purchasing from us easy.

7 Glenn Bridge Rd, Unit B
Arden, NC 28704
tel: (828) 818-1404

WE ARE ONLINE ONLY: no in-person shopping or store pickup.

Factory Direct Hobbies strives to make our website accessible. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and meeting the needs of all of our customers, including those with disabilities. We are continually improving our website to comply with the accessibility guidelines in WCAG 2.1 Levels A and AA. Further accessibility efforts are under way and we continue to update our website to improve accessibility. In the meantime, if the format of any material on our web pages interferes with your ability to access the information, please contact us to request assistance or if you have questions or comments about our web site’s accessibility. Please call (828) 818-1404, e-mail ask@factorydirecthobbies.com, or submit an inquiry using the gold chat bubble in the bottom right hand corner of our website.

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Preorder FAQs

How preorders work

How do preorders work?

Guarantee your reservation on any item marked with the red "Preorder item" flag, by paying just 10% down. Preorder items also display a date badge indicating the anticipated arrival.
We will email your invoice approximately 30-45 days before your preorder item lands at the warehouse. This interactive invoice will allow you to select your preferred shipping method, and pay the balance of your order, right online!
We'll ship you your preorder once your item arrives at our warehouse. Preorder fulfillments are queued in the order in which they were paid for.

Preorders used to be $0. What happened?

Recently, our suppliers have made a major policy change and are no longer accepting product returns for non-paying end customers. After much consideration, we unfortunately must also change our policies to align with the realities our suppliers have created.

As our preorder offerings have grown, we’ve found that a large percentage of preorder reservations are canceled or left unpaid without notice. We pay our suppliers for every preorder item that arrives at our warehouse, so when a customer does not pay for their item, we are left no choice but to absorb that cost. We have tried our best to cope with the effects of this change; however, after more than a year of trying, we have found we cannot continue to do so.

We understand that this is an unwelcome change, and no one wants to pay earlier than necessary. However, this is unavoidable in order for us to be able to continue to offer the wide variety of preorder options you’re used to getting from Factory Direct Hobbies. We must now ask that customers pay a 10% good-faith down payment toward the price of their item. This non-refundable good-faith payment is applied to the price of the product, and the balance (plus shipping and any applicable taxes) will be invoiced approximately 30-45 days before the item is slated to arrive at our warehouse.

We thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have questions or would like further clarification, feel free to contact us through the gold chat bubble.

Is my 10% down payment refundable?

The good-faith down payment is not refundable if you choose to cancel your preorder or do not pay your invoice.

However, if a manufacturer cancels a project for which you have made a down payment, you will receive a refund for your down payment.

If the manufacturer cancels a project, will I get my 10% down payment back?

Yes. We know that paying ahead of time can be unnerving when delivery dates are distant, and not every project makes it to the production line. Rest assured that, in the event the manufacturer cancels your preorder project, you will be refunded your 10% down payment.

Hobbies should be fun, not stressful!

If my item gets delayed, can I get my 10% down payment back?

The manufacturing process involves many different moving parts, and this complexity often renders production timelines unpredictable. Therefore, some level of unpredictability in timing is inherent to preordering hobby products. Down payments are not refundable in cases of routine manufacturing, delivery, or other short-term delays.

However, we know it can be frustrating when a project gets delayed for many months. In the event a project is delayed more than 6 months beyond the delivery window originally estimated by the manufacturer, we will handle refunds of down payments on a case-by-case basis.

Friendly Reminder: Should you choose to cancel a preorder, it will no longer be reserved for you; in the event the item becomes available on our website, all customers will have equal access to purchase the item.

I preordered items for $0 before this policy change. Do I owe a down payment?

Nope! The policy is not retroactive: if you already made a preorder reservation before this policy update, you do not owe a down payment for that reservation. However, any future preorders you make will require the 10% good-faith down payment.

When will I get my preorder item?

We make every effort to keep our website updated with information that reflects manufacturers' current estimated delivery schedules. To find the estimated delivery month of an item, you can visit our Preorder Section and use the filters to narrow down your selection.

However, we encourage you to directly visit the manufacturer's site for the most current delivery dates.

How do I pay the balance of my preorder?

Approximately 30-45 days before your preorder items land at the warehouse, we'll email your invoice to you to pay in full. At this point, you'll be able to provide your shipping address and select your preferred shipping method.

Your item will be reserved for 7 days, beginning when your invoice is sent. After 7 days, your preorder will be canceled.

Why do I have to pay for my preorder before it arrives at the warehouse?

Recently, our suppliers have made a major policy change and are no longer accepting product returns for non-paying end customers. We have tried our best to absorb the effects of this change; however, after more than a year of trying, we have found we cannot continue to do so. After much consideration, we unfortunately must also change our policies to align with the realities our suppliers have created.

As a result, we must now ask that customers pay in full prior to the supplier finalizing shipment to FDH, about 30-45 days ahead of product arrival. This gives us the time we need to cancel with our suppliers any unpaid orders prior to shipment.

We understand that this is an unwelcome change and no one wants to pay earlier than necessary. However, this is unavoidable in order for us to be able to continue to offer the wide variety of preorder options you’re used to getting from Factory Direct Hobbies.

One silver lining is that this change will result in preorder items getting to your door even faster, as all payment processing will be well out of the way and the usual several day wait after product has arrived will be eliminated. We thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have questions or would like further clarification, feel free to contact us through the gold chat bubble.

What if my preorder item gets delayed after I pay my invoice?

Manufacturing schedules can sometimes be unpredictable. In the event your preorder item does not arrive at our warehouse within 60 days of your invoice payment, then you will have the option to cancel your preorder and receive a refund OR you may elect to continue waiting for the item.

Friendly Reminder: Should you choose to cancel a preorder, it will no longer be reserved for you; in the event the item becomes available on our website, all customers will have equal access to purchase the item.

I need a bit more time to pay. Can my reservation be extended?

We know life happens, and missing out on a great item can be a drag!

We're here to help; just contact us via the gold chat bubble and we'll do all we can to work with you!

How do I view all of my preorders?

If you have an account with factorydirecthobbies.com, you can view all your preorders, as well as your active orders. Login to your account, and select the “My orders” option. All your preorders and active orders will be listed along with the current status of each order. If you have further questions about your order, please feel free to reach out to us through the gold chat bubble.

Where can I find the most up-to-date information on preorder statuses?

Although we try to keep our preorder arrival estimates as accurate as possible, we encourage you to visit each manufacturer’s website to find the most up-to-date delivery information.

For instance, with Athearn and Walthers, you can enter the part number into their websites and navigate to the item. Most of the time, the delivery date will be listed there. Broadway Limited has a published delivery schedule, as does Rapido.

Rewards and Preorders

Can I use rewards for preorders?

Yes. Rewards can be used on both your 10% good-faith down payment and on the balance of your preorder at invoicing time.

Can I earn rewards on preorders?

Yes! Preorders are awarded reward dollars at the same 5% rate. You'll receive your reward within several days of paying the balance of your preorder invoice.

Still more questions?

Contact Us

If we still haven't answered your question, please click the gold messaging bubble in the bottom right of our site, and we'll help in any way we can!