I could tell more than a few stories about looking for the elusive item needed for a model I was making, too many when I think about it, one shop was famous for ‘no, none in stock but we can get one for you’, I learnt never to hold my breath!
Here’s my latest experience which happened only yesterday, I’m planning to build an R/C aircraft for next spring and I need some foam board called Depron, I decided to visit one of the few shops left reasonably close to home (40 mile round trip)
I also needed a coupling insert for a ship I’m building plus some epoxy, cyano and a few other small bit's so its worth the trip and I can see what other modellers have put up for sale in the shop, its like a bring and buy! left the credit card at home though.
Shop door is open, that's a relief...it has odd opening times and you usually have to ring the bell to get in!
Any Depron I ask? Nope…! ‘were looking for a supplier’ was the answer…well I can give you an address but its buy in bulk of course… I said!…no response to that one…
OK are you keeping boat stuff?..yes we have prop shafts and couplings…Oh good! I need one to fit this motor shaft and a 385 comes out of my pocket, out comes a box and bingo here’s one that is just right, do you have any rudder assemblies? Nope…
Now then, I say, will you start keeping more for boats? I know quite a few who are struggling to find what they need… ‘we don’t have the room for more’…..
I nearly said…well you have the boat magazines… but thought no I don’t want to push it!
Back to the internet and the occasional model show..Ho hum…
JB.