Model Boat Mayhem

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Author Topic: Model shop proprietors  (Read 9489 times)

essex2visuvesi

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #25 on: January 18, 2013, 10:59:47 am »

  I remember well that excellent shop in Ulverston, and I follow the same principles of a large stock and good service.

  You have to have the stock, and you have to be prepared for some of it to move slowly. I have an old-fashioned hardware and DIY shop where I cram £25,000 of stock (over 3000 different lines) into less than 500 sq ft. Most of my prices are lower than the big sheds, and I make a point of stocking stuff the supermarkets don't sell. If I haven't got it I'll get it ASAP. Customers say they like the shop as it, so we make it part of our USP, though an online presence does help.

  The real key, however, is service, something that the British, or maybe just the English, are not naturally good at. Half our customers know what they want, but not what it's called. We spend a lot of time interpreting vague descriptions. Don't bother, and they don't come back. Customers must have a warm welcome as they arrive, and leave feeling that they have had a good overall experience.


Im betting you have a 5/8" dooberry with 1/4" wotsits in there dont you?
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Jonty

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #26 on: January 18, 2013, 12:13:46 pm »

Not 'arf! Whitworth or BSP?
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Neil

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #27 on: January 18, 2013, 12:37:58 pm »

AF or BA preferably please, :embarrassed: :embarrassed: :embarrassed: :embarrassed: :embarrassed:
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barriew

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #28 on: January 18, 2013, 01:13:17 pm »

Hi Jonty,


We are lucky to have one of those shops in our village - much smaller than your location. There's always a queue, mostly outside as there's only room for about two inside. If he hasn't got it then probably no-one has. Unfortunately the only model supplies he keeps is a small display of Humbrol enamels. :((


Barrie
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Martin (Admin)

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #29 on: January 18, 2013, 02:58:03 pm »

.... bless you all :-)) ( except the atheists of course).

 {-) {-) {-)
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Shipmate60

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #30 on: January 18, 2013, 04:13:06 pm »

We are quite lucky with our local model shop.
You certainly get a better class of insult (banter?), but at least one of the assistants has a little clue about boats.
Oh yes he is a member on here (after many years of prompting).
unbuiltnautilus
That is him, think you might recognise him!!!


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davidm1945

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #31 on: January 18, 2013, 05:46:14 pm »

AF or BA preferably please, :embarrassed: :embarrassed: :embarrassed: :embarrassed: :embarrassed:

Hi Neil,
    Just gone into nitpickin' mode - AF is for spanners as it is the measurement "Across Flats". Think the thread would be UNF.
Mode over  :-))

Dave (20 years as a motor mechanic).
 
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Circlip

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #32 on: January 18, 2013, 05:56:00 pm »

Well if it's only 20 years as a motor mechanic Dave, you should be well into MM.
 UNF (And UNC) is an aborative compromise so our Collonial chums could screw us in WW2 to try to change from BSF and BSW.
 Regards  Ian.
   
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Jonty

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #33 on: January 18, 2013, 09:19:58 pm »

Aborative? Like this...?

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Neil

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #34 on: January 18, 2013, 10:39:35 pm »

Hi Neil,
    Just gone into nitpickin' mode - AF is for spanners as it is the measurement "Across Flats". Think the thread would be UNF.
Mode over  :-))

Dave (20 years as a motor mechanic).

I always was lead to believe that AF stood for American Fine????, not across flats.....any of our colonial chums correct this please???
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vnkiwi

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #35 on: January 18, 2013, 10:42:56 pm »

I've always understood it to be "AF=across the flats"
vnkiwi
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Neil

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #36 on: January 18, 2013, 10:46:39 pm »

yep.............you learn something new every day, guys...............I'd tell my metalwork teach.....but he's been dead some years..........another fact he got wrong, lol %% %% %% %%
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essex2visuvesi

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #37 on: January 18, 2013, 11:08:56 pm »

same here AF=Across flats


BA is the one I don't know tho
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RAAArtyGunner

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #38 on: January 18, 2013, 11:10:12 pm »

Kiwi,
 
Gotta break ranks.
AF American Fine, it was found on US made/imported cars here in Oz. O0 O0
Also recall BS as British Standard, Pommie cars.
Was a real pain for mechanics/DIY as some cars had a combination of threads, maybe due to some local assembly <*< <*< 

 
Back on topic, in reality a proprietor may choose how to run their business, provided they are prepared to accept the consequences, namely you no longer shopping there, going broke etc etc.
We all have a choice and suffer the consequences.
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Norseman

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #39 on: January 19, 2013, 01:44:06 am »

http://www.scalehobbies.net/ in Skelmerdale is not exactly local to me but it is the one I use. Not open every day but he is there at published times. Always willing to chat and / or advise and he generally has all the boat bits I want. He does hulls too if you look.

Ok I can save time and money on the net but sometimes it's just so much better to drive up there. He does the local shows too so I always tend to buy from him there as well.

I've no connection with Scale Hobbies by the way.

http://www.glue-shop.com/ have premises near Runcorn and are also at the local shows - I like to deal with them too.

Dave
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vnkiwi

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #40 on: January 19, 2013, 01:48:28 am »

Hi RAAArtyGunner,
Agree, but
AF is also a spanner size - 1/2" AF spanner fits a 1/2" across the flats bolt head (can't remember off hand the thread dia), not a 1/2" AF dia bolt thread.

Also support my local model shop, even though he's mainly aircraft and cars, and plastic kitsets, he does have some boatie stuff and will order in.
Also get some off the internet when I think the "markup" is a bit excessive
cheers
vnkiwi
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nemesis

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #41 on: January 19, 2013, 11:42:18 am »

Hi, BA stands for British Association.  Nemesis
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davidm1945

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #42 on: January 19, 2013, 12:02:40 pm »

 Hi All,

According to several sites on Google the thread (erroneously) described as AF is actually National Fine NF or Unified National Fine UNF. Hope this clarifies the situation!
Sorry I started it now......

Dave.
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Jonty

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #43 on: January 19, 2013, 12:06:51 pm »

  The 'American' threaded fasteners that AF spanners fit are UNF and UNC, with the UN standing for either just 'Unified' or 'Unified National' according to opinion, and the C or F for Coarse or Fine.

  BMC and Leyland cars of the 60s and 70s used a mixture of Unified and BS fasteners, a real pain to work on.

  Dave posted while I was typing this.
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davidm1945

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #44 on: January 19, 2013, 04:19:43 pm »

 

  BMC and Leyland cars of the 60s and 70s used a mixture of Unified and BS fasteners, a real pain to work on.
 

I was there with Humber and Hillman and Sunbeam- and then they started bringing in their VWs.......

Sorry, back to original topic - good model shops are rare as hen's teeth and the ones with good proprietors are probably the few still in business! Sadly only one left around here.

Dave.
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Netleyned

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #45 on: January 19, 2013, 05:47:33 pm »

Grimsby, a maritime town with two model boat clubs has two model shops
One mainly trains the other mainly planes.
No boat bits.
Asked the train shop  No call for it
Asked the plane shop Boat modellers are too finicky
I have to buy on line (unless someone can point me inthe direction of a good shop within 50miles)

Ned
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kinmel

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #46 on: January 19, 2013, 06:14:11 pm »

Our hobby shop at Holywell in north Wales stocks a wide range of model kits and almost everything you need for run of the mill modelling and they are very good at sticking to their opening hours.  People come there from a fairly long way away.

My favourite though is not a hobby shop at all, but a small engineering supplies company, run by one elderly man ( rumoured to be in his eighties ) in a small industrial unit that opens only on weekdays.

You never go to buy a particular item, you go with a problem and spend as long as you want, explaining it to him.  While that is going on all sorts of engineers call in to buy stuff and join in.  The problem becomes a plan complete with fag packet drawings and then the necessary materials are brought out. Two bolts and nuts, 2 washers, a cotter pin, a steel rod, brass tubing and whatever else they have dreamt up, all at ridiculously low prices.  I was once in the shop for 3 hours and spent £2.90, but you do have to email photos of the finished item to those who helped you.

They call it bodgeneering and they all seem happy to waste half a day on a problem they have not met before, they appreciate the skills needed for model engineering

Sometimes I even get an email from someone asking my advice because they have gone into his shop and he knows I have already had that problem.

I dread the day he packs in.
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vnkiwi

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #47 on: January 19, 2013, 06:26:06 pm »

Kinmel,
you lucky man. That's my kind of shop. Magic places.
Have been luck to have been involved in two of that style of place, in two different countries, and wish I could find one similar where I am now.
Enjoy the priviledge
vnkiwi
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chris gillespie

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #48 on: January 19, 2013, 06:50:26 pm »

There is no local model shop,
 
the nearest is paisley model centre, which is 27 miles away or a good 45 min drive one way, ive been a lot as you say to support the fact you can touch and physicaly see what you want to buy...as opposed to reading a description and seeing megapixels and interpreting if its any good.
 
They are really helpful and friendly...however there stock is veru up and down and its always we are due a delivery in 3 days time....you check back and nothing has changed.....
 
im very much for paying a wee bit extra to physicaly see what im buying, and more often than not ill buy more than i intended...
 
if it was closer and there stock levels were what it should be and no "xxxxx" about when said stock is to be replenished...id use them alot more.....

inertia

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Re: Model shop proprietors
« Reply #49 on: January 19, 2013, 07:54:01 pm »

I once read a statistic - put around by a radio manufacturer - that there are 100 model aircraft fans for every one boat modeller. If that's true then there is likely to be one model boat enthusiast among every 101 model shop proprietors. How many model shops are there in the UK, as opposed to toy shops whom also sell Airfix kits and Tamiya buggies? If your local model shop proprietor does know about model boats and stocks a range of marine items then you are fortunate indeed.
We have two model shops here in Nottingham. One sells a few boat kits and fittings while the other has practically nothing marine in stock except "crossover" items such as radios, servos, battery packs etc. I tend to use them for basic items such as glue and paint; everything else I need has to be bought either mail-order or at model shows. I've no complaints about that because I regard model boats as a totally separate regime from aircraft and cars, and these two shops are for aircraft and car folk. For decent service and stock you need a specialist retailer; for example I'd not go into a grocer's for boot polish and I certainly wouldn't berate him for not selling it.
As for sticking to opening hours, tardiness isn't unique to the model shop fraternity, and no business will last very long once it has a reputation for unreliability.
C'est la vie, gents - you just have to get used to it.
DM
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