Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Model Boating => Topic started by: kendalboatsman on March 28, 2007, 06:03:03 pm

Title: Model Shops
Post by: kendalboatsman on March 28, 2007, 06:03:03 pm

Can anyone recommend a good model shop with plenty of model boat fittings etc that is in or close to Birmingham (UK that is :)

My nearest shop is Bob's Models in Solihull (about 2 miles) but I haven't seen much in the way of Model Boat fittings in there. Can anyone else in the midlands recommend somewhere I can go to for a browse. I particularly want to buy some of the fine elastic that either Robbe or Graupner sell, as it is good for handrails etc.

Thanks
Clive :)

PS wasn't sure if this is the right section to post it.

Title: Re: Model Shops
Post by: Tug on March 28, 2007, 06:13:06 pm

"I particularly want to buy some of the fine elastic"

Your local milliners, hat shop, dressmakers, stock this black and white no problem.  Tug

Title: Re: Model Shops
Post by: Martin (Admin) on March 28, 2007, 06:15:23 pm

How about Midway Models in Leicester?

 Yell Link (http://maps.yell.com/clients/browse.cgi?client=yell_mandd&nat_id=1443747&businessType=MODEL+SHOPS&pc=LE2+3BZ&sl=&storePC=LE2+3BZ&ssm=&companyName=Midway+Models&replayURL=%2Fucs%2FUcsSearchAction.do%3Fooa%3Don%26searchType%3Dadvance%26keywords%3Dmodel%2Bshop%26M%3D0%26location%3Dleicester%26scrambleSeed%3D49338902)

Title: Re: Model Shops
Post by: tigertiger on March 28, 2007, 06:17:13 pm

I wish you luck on this one. 8)

No shop is ever big enough to have 1/10 of the stuff I want. ;D

I think that is why mail order is so important and the internet has been a lifeline to many small traders in this specialised area.

I just order stuff on line, If it is wrong it is still cheaper than travelling across the city to look for stuff that isn't even there.
And I often can find a creative use for some things

Title: Re: Model Shops
Post by: kendalboatsman on March 28, 2007, 08:01:50 pm

Thanks Martin, will try them. I wasn't sure if they were still trading or not.


Tiger Tiger, I do buy predominately mail order, but sometimes it is good to browse and find interesting things that way.


Hi Tug, Do milliners do down to 1.5mm dia as that was the size of the graupner/robbe elastic cord I had.

Thanks everyone
Clive  :)

Title: Re: Model Shops
Post by: malcolmfrary on March 28, 2007, 09:25:18 pm

Hi kendalboatsman
It called "Shirring Elastic".  Also available in grey.  Diameter is about 1 and a bit mm, but this depends on how much it gets stretched...

Title: Re: Model Shops
Post by: Roger in France on March 29, 2007, 06:44:11 am

No, it's called "Nicker Elastic"!

Roger in France.

Title: Re: Model Shops
Post by: FullLeatherJacket on March 29, 2007, 08:32:45 am

Clive
Be careful using this stuff because it's prone to perishing after a couple of years. I don't know if the Graupner/Robbe variety is different - maybe just a different price....... ;)
FLJ

Title: Re: Model Shops
Post by: Peterm on March 29, 2007, 08:39:14 am

Try what the anglers call `pole elastic`.   Available in various diameters, strong, and very durable.   Pete M

Title: Re: Model Shops
Post by: portside II on March 29, 2007, 10:26:11 am

hi Peterm the trouble with pole elastic is that it tends to be rather vivid in flouresent /bright  colours and i dont think it will take paint as it has a scilicon base to allow it to slip from the end of the pole when playing a fish ,but if you want bright yellow etc at least it will stand out in the crowd and on the pond

Title: Re: Model Shops
Post by: RickF on March 29, 2007, 12:02:14 pm

Roger,

Surely knicker elastic was flat - although my experiences with it were long ago!

The stuff I have just bought to try and tension the steering chains on my torpedo boat is elastic thread - shiny, black and about 0.018" diameter (sorry - haven't got a metric micrometer!). It has a "stretch" of about 1.5 times and is available locally in two diameters - this one and about twice as thick.

What the DSM calls shirring elastic has a fluffy appearance -  at least the bit she offered me does.

Rick

Title: Re: Model Shops
Post by: dougal99 on March 29, 2007, 01:19:30 pm

Hi All

I've found that shirring elastic loses elasticity when it gets wet and stretches. Once tight rigging sags orribly and need reworking. However, it does seem to last the season, so if you don't mind replacing/tightening rigging once a year it is OK.

Cheers

Doug

Title: Re: Model Shops
Post by: kendalboatsman on March 29, 2007, 05:50:46 pm

Hi FLJ,

The German versions I found looked like cotton thread but was elastic, what I would term elastic cord. Looks like a smaller version of bungee/octopus clip elastic.

Did some "googling" and found this site http://www.fabmania.com/google~elasticcord~index.htm (http://www.fabmania.com/google~elasticcord~index.htm) looks interesting. Price is cheap but p&p is high.

Clive :)