CRM Hobbies (Chris Merseal Hobbies) was a well-known St. Louis-area hobby shop founded in
1988 and operated by longtime modeler Chris Merseal, serving scale-model builders with an
extensive selection of plastic model kits, paints, tools, airbrushes, accessories, and specialty
modeling supplies. Particularly strong in military scale modeling, CRM earned a reputation as a
classic, old-fashioned hobby shop where builders could spend hours browsing boxes and
discovering unusual, specialized, and hard-to-find products. Merseal is also a familiar presence
at model shows and conventions throughout the Midwest, where CRM operates vendor tables
and introduces hobbyists to Grex Airbrushes, Aves Apoxie products, Atlas Paint Brushes and
brands they might not otherwise encounter. Beyond the store itself, Chris has been deeply
involved in the modeling community, including serving as president of the IPMS/Gateway
Chapter in St. Louis. Known for knowledgeable, personal service and genuine enthusiasm for
scale modeling, CRM Hobbies has become a respected name among generations of model
builders in the region and beyond. Since the shop closing in 2018, CRM Hobbies has continued
on line, and still attending shows. CRM is Grex Airbrush Company’s official show vendor, and a
rep for many other lines.