I do't know if Westboourne Models experience by others is recent but in summer of 2016 I was listening to BBC Radio 4 and shocked to hear a 15min report on Westbourne Models!!. I was actually on the way to a job, and pulled the van over just to listen to it in disbelief (the customer never paid for the time). The excuses posted on 'tinternet from the shop since seems prolific, I have to watch what I say but for BBC to investigate something relatively insignificant as a model shop was somewhat shocking! The only other time I heard of this was Paisley Models near Glasgow who disappeared with allot of outstanding orders, and some folk robbed of their models which were apparently in for repair or on display.
Its difficult to judge from on-line appearances on the web. Does your bank offer on-line protection? Fairly sure mine does so even without using a cc so I should be protected if I click to buy on-line. I am not protected if I order by phone, bank transfer or cheque. Not sure if that works for international orders or not.
Maritime seem pretty legit. Sure I've ordered from there before though I tend to favour Cornwall Model boats for the range and very speedy dispatch. Model Dockyard are good also -but very s-l-o-w dispatch, I have also had issues with e-mails as one of their servers seems to block's my address.
I don't want to cause further harm, but I'm amazed that Westbourne are still going considering the feedback?
Rich