Topic: What model shops are there left? (Read 28693 times)

Mike S · « **Reply #50 on:** August 03, 2011, 01:48:37 pm »

Like Subculture I live in North London and use 308 Hobbies and Hobby Stores in Camden Town. Both are what would be termed traditional model shops, although these days that tends to mean floor to ceiling stacks of large lavishly illustrated boxes of ARTF planes, and not a great deal of model boat related stock.

I find the 4D Modelshop, based underneath the railway arches in Leman St. E1, a much better bet. Although primarily catering for professional architectural modelmakers it has a vast range of model making materials (ABS, wood, metal, etc.), tools, glues, fillers, and accessories, of much interest to we model boaters. It bills itself as a 'creative materials resource centre' which I think is a poncey name for a model shop, but it does have a huge range of stuff, knowledgeable helpful staff, and is near to St. Katherine's Dock. Check it out if you get the chance.

Mike

snowwolflair · « **Reply #51 on:** August 03, 2011, 01:59:41 pm »

Quote from: Mike S on August 03, 2011, 01:48:37 pm

Like Subculture I live in North London and use 308 Hobbies and Hobby Stores in Camden Town. Both are what would be termed traditional model shops, although these days that tends to mean floor to ceiling stacks of large lavishly illustrated boxes of ARTF planes, and not a great deal of model boat related stock.

I find the 4D Modelshop, based underneath the railway arches in Leman St. E1, a much better bet. Although primarily catering for professional architectural modelmakers it has a vast range of model making materials (ABS, wood, metal, etc.), tools, glues, fillers, and accessories, of much interest to we model boaters. It bills itself as a 'creative materials resource centre' which I think is a poncey name for a model shop, but it does have a huge range of stuff, knowledgeable helpful staff, and is near to St. Katherine's Dock. Check it out if you get the chance.

Mike

4D is a fantastic shop

fatcat123 · « **Reply #52 on:** August 03, 2011, 02:01:49 pm »

Quote from: treeboa on August 01, 2011, 05:48:30 pm

seems to be a lack of them in county durham

Theres one in Stockton.

I try my best not to go in these days as they never have what i want, and the stuff they do have in is very expensive.

cos918 · « **Reply #53 on:** August 03, 2011, 04:18:43 pm »

Quote from: hopeitfloats on August 02, 2011, 10:04:33 am

just curious but are either of the top 2 in the city centre. i was in oxford some 25 odd years ago when i was a young fella and i remember looking through a model shop there and was very impressed with their range of stock even back then. i cant remember the name but it was quite a small premises.

Hi
The Oxford model center is on St Clements which is on the edge of the city centre just over the magdlen bridge near the plain roundabout.
Howes models moved out of broads st years ok. Howes are in the top end of Kidlington which is north of Oxford about 5 - 6 miles from the centre of Oxford.

John

thegrimreaper · « **Reply #54 on:** August 04, 2011, 04:01:06 pm »

Steve Webb in Frodsham Cheshire great shop basicly anything you want from basic materials to RTR models superb service the guys in the shop seem to know what they are talking about and never rush in their service well worth a visit

Regards Mark

hopeitfloats · « **Reply #55 on:** August 07, 2011, 05:02:55 am »

Quote from: cos918 on August 03, 2011, 04:18:43 pm

Hi
The Oxford model center is on St Clements which is on the edge of the city centre just over the magdlen bridge near the plain roundabout.
Howes models moved out of broads st years ok. Howes are in the top end of Kidlington which is north of Oxford about 5 - 6 miles from the centre of Oxford.

John

could possibly have been howes by the looks of the google earth map i checked. sourroundings (sp) seem vaguely familiar taking into account it was 25 years ago. thanks john.
craig

Number 6 · « **Reply #56 on:** August 07, 2011, 06:39:10 am »

There aren't many model shops left in the Stoke-on-Trent area, and these mainly cater for static kits, certainly not many kits for us boaters, can get the basics though! Near me there's Affinity Models in Longton, near Stoke. Also got eModels about a mile away from them. They're both good for paint, tools, filler etc. Affinity stock brass rod & tube, styrene sections and some sheet. We've got Tony Hill Models in Talke, about 5 mile from Stoke on the way towards Crewe, to be fair he does sell a fair selection of r/c stuff and can get get it ordered if not.
I'm all for supporting local shops and do get my basic supplies and sundries from them. The more specialist boat stuff has to be ordered though or obtained from one of the shows. My usual on line sources are Cornwall Model Boats and Westbourne Model Centre. Batteries from Component Shop, motors from Giant Cod. Not a shop as such but SHG Marine in Penkridge are good too and helped me a while ago when I blew both my esc's day before a tugging competition, I rung them up and was able to collect them. They're mail order only really, so top morks there, Dave.

Affinity Models http://www.affinitymodels.co.uk/
eModels http://www.emodels.co.uk/plastic-kits/
Tony Hill Models http://www.thmodels.co.uk/

mikearace · « **Reply #57 on:** August 07, 2011, 06:52:25 am »

Walked into a local model shop recently to buy a sheet of evergreen card.

Produced a £5 note and got very impolite muttering from the lady (owners wife) serving about was that all that I had? At that point the door opened and another customer walked in looked like a dad and son or even grandfather and son. She then stated loudly oh this is absolutely ridiculous Im not supposed to be serving on my own and mark off the new stock Im gonna have to close for a while............promptly stormed off to the door and dropped the deadlock and turned the sign to closed. I just walked off without my plastic card and said its okay dont bother.

If this shop goes under yes it will be a shame but I dont think they need to look far for the reasons.............

peterm1250 · « **Reply #58 on:** August 09, 2011, 11:38:05 pm »

having just started needing a model shop i found it best to order on line as the only shop in my
area just sells plastic models.
anybody from the bromsgrove area of worcestershire know of a good shop within 20 miles or so.

Philipsparker · « **Reply #59 on:** August 10, 2011, 09:23:15 am »

I photograph and write up any model shop I find on my blog:

http://philsworkbench.blogspot.com/search/label/Model%20shops

One day I'll tier a map to these but in the meantime there are a few you might not have found.

Phil

Tug-Kenny RIP · « **Reply #60 on:** August 10, 2011, 11:50:21 am »

Just had the news that 'Mad on Models' in Newport, South Wales are closing down at the end of the month. They will open just on Saturdays thereafter until the stock has gone.

What a shame as they have only been open a year and were looking good on the spare bits front for us boaty's.

Ken

Timmer · « **Reply #61 on:** August 26, 2011, 09:11:31 pm »

Quote from: shipmate60 on August 02, 2011, 06:45:58 am

Fratton Model Centre in Portsmouth.
Our own Unbuiltnautilus works there so plenty of Model Boat knowledge and some good advise.
Once you get to know them you do get a better class of insult, sorry banter.

Bob

Went to Fratton model Centre today for the first time to get some much needed advice on speed controllers and batteries amongst other things. i found the guys there very helpful and easy to approach and talk to so will certainly be going back.
Just means i have to take a short trip up the M27 from that other south coast city that I'd better not mention while driving around fratton. still a small sacrifice i guess

Grub · « **Reply #62 on:** August 29, 2011, 12:00:21 am »

Quote from: hopeitfloats on August 07, 2011, 05:02:55 am

could possibly have been howes by the looks of the google earth map i checked. sourroundings (sp) seem vaguely familiar taking into account it was 25 years ago. thanks john.
craig

If they had loads of plastic and balsa kits it was Howes, unfortunately there's not enough money(or interest) in them so you wouldn't recognise the place if you visited the new shop.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #63 on:** September 18, 2011, 01:01:49 pm »

Quote from: biggles1 on July 31, 2011, 09:01:56 pm

We still have 2 good model shops in Peterborough area, Geoff Stubbs in Oundle great builder (aircraft) sells balsa, dope, tissue and great advice. Also Inwoods in Huntingdon although once again aircraft sells great balsa 4 foot long!! also all sizes of ply, paints and finishes also great for anything R. C. at good prices Dave

Popped into Geoff Stubbs model shop Oundle yesterday.
Although primarily a aero modeller, a good old fashioned shop with lots of bits and pieces...

.... but what a great aeroplane builder!
(sorry, only had my crappy phone camera on me)

http://www.oundle.gov.uk/a-to-z/m/model-shop-geoff-stubbs/

nhp651 · « **Reply #64 on:** September 18, 2011, 03:17:19 pm »

I don't knowe whether this one has been mentioned before, but seeing as Redbank models has gone there is one called Speedy's models for those in the fylde area on the A6 just north of the Broughton M6/ M55 / A 6 junction heading North towards Garstang, just before the first set of traffic lights on the right hand side. I went yesterday he's open from 11.00 am to 4.00pm most days and seams well stocked and said thsat if more boaters used him he'd stock even more for us.

well worth using or loose him.

neil.

Kangaroo1 · « **Reply #65 on:** September 18, 2011, 03:32:34 pm »

We have 4 around here... The Sussex Model Centre in Worthing, another, who's name escapes me, in Upper Beeding & a Modelzone. Sussex Model Centre is the biggest, but apart from selling a few boat kits, they are predominantly a plane/helicopter/car model shop. To be fair, they do sell all the radio gear you can wish for, but sadly they seem to lack support for the boating community.

The 4th one is a specialist in model railways.....

wbeedie · « **Reply #66 on:** September 18, 2011, 04:01:01 pm »

One in Inverness in the Victorian arcade and seen one in Dingwall on Wednesday but had fishing tackle in it as well

dondecap · « **Reply #67 on:** September 18, 2011, 04:03:27 pm »

hi guys.
another one in BRISTOL.
AL'S hobbies has a shop in filton ave. there are only two left of these left now one in bristol and one in glouster I think it is.

mainly air stuff and materials,
asked for a look at the props and was told, "we don't stock them but can order one".......
wow.......Geoff Stubbs still got some of the old rubber power kits .:)
.
mainly kits..........
regards
don

mikearace · « **Reply #68 on:** September 18, 2011, 04:14:27 pm »

The other Als is in Essex and Milton Keynes. The Model Shop in Gloucester is another Branch of Antics although there is also a small - very small - shop that selles Aircraft stuff and a few FE bits

justboatonic · « **Reply #69 on:** September 18, 2011, 04:58:46 pm »

Quote from: nhp651 on September 18, 2011, 03:17:19 pm

I don't knowe whether this one has been mentioned before, but seeing as Redbank models has gone there is one called Speedy's models for those in the fylde area on the A6 just north of the Broughton M6/ M55 / A 6 junction heading North towards Garstang, just before the first set of traffic lights on the right hand side. I went yesterday he's open from 11.00 am to 4.00pm most days and seams well stocked and said thsat if more boaters used him he'd stock even more for us.

well worth using or loose him.

neil.

He is a bit unreliable at times. The car club I used to help run tried to use him but he rarely fulfilled orders. He even said he'd leave my order in the petrol station you mention (I used to travel home from Newcastle so couldnt get there by the time he closed). When I called into the station they said they'd had a few people told he'd leave stuff there to be collected but never left anything with them!

Not wanting to knock him but hopefully he has improved.

Spook · « **Reply #70 on:** September 18, 2011, 07:47:33 pm »

Quote from: nemesis on July 29, 2011, 08:15:06 pm

Hello, If we do not patronise our local model shops it is obvious that we are going to lose them, you cannot get the face to face expert advice off a computer. Nemesis

Unfortunately that's just what has happened round my way. Just Antics and Hobbycraft in Cardiff (nothing in Barry). Neither really specialise in model boats, so I tend to do most of my purchasing online and get my help and advice from you good people. There used to be a couple of model shops in Bridgend but I don't know if they're still there.

Navy2000 · « **Reply #71 on:** September 18, 2011, 08:12:41 pm »

Well here were I live in the US is not a matter of the number of hobby shops, it is a matter of what they carry. I have three that are very close to me the furest being 20-25 minutes away form my home. The bad part is that they don't carry very much in what I use in my model ships. The hobby store that does, I have to travel about 1 hour to get there and then I spend about 1/2 to 1 hour there then drive back home so I loss about three hours just making a run for a small amount of items. The others don't carry the stuff becuase they say there is not much of a requirement for it. This being the one type of glue (Zap a Gap) and the Styrne strips/ Plastruc items and Model Master paints.

When I need or get the chance to do a big order I will contact Evergreen for a large order in the styrene strips it is a little cheaper for me that way. For my paints it dosen't make a difference for it is the same cost at the hobby shop or if I order it directly. I just make a call ahead to the hobby shop to make sure that have what I want in the paint and enough of it. If not they will order more and let me know when it comes in to pick up. As for my radios I have always had to order then none of the hobby shops carry the Robe F14 Navy version.

Duane

johnboscoirl · « **Reply #72 on:** September 18, 2011, 09:09:52 pm »

One 1, Chandlers Ford near Eastleigh Hampshire. Called "mainly planes and Trains" but has a smattering of r/c ships and r/c cars, also handy for modelling accessories.

John

DickyD · « **Reply #73 on:** September 18, 2011, 10:42:30 pm »

Quote from: johnboscoirl on September 18, 2011, 09:09:52 pm

One 1, Chandlers Ford near Eastleigh Hampshire. Called "mainly planes and Trains" but has a smattering of r/c ships and r/c cars, also handy for modelling accessories.

John

He can be a miserable so and so at times.

essex2visuvesi · « **Reply #74 on:** September 19, 2011, 10:42:44 am »

Quote from: Essex2visuvesi on July 29, 2011, 10:13:00 pm

most of the hobby shops in Finland are down in the southern part in helsinki and surrounding areas tho I do have 3 localish model shops in Tampere (about 1.5hrs drive)

Scrub that now down to 2.... One has just closed down :(

News:

Author Topic: What model shops are there left? (Read 28693 times)

Mike S

snowwolflair

fatcat123

thegrimreaper

hopeitfloats

mikearace

peterm1250

Philipsparker

Timmer

Grub

nhp651

Kangaroo1

wbeedie

dondecap

mikearace

Spook

Navy2000

johnboscoirl