I'm not sure about Chatham Dockyard Shop. I hve been there a couple of times but they are into different type of model boats to me. I have used Hobbies a few times and visited there when we have been on holiday up in Potter Heigham. They carry some stuff but when you want to get things like propshafts, straight or flexi they dont carry that. I purchased a AeroNaut Classic Sports Boat from them but I am not impressed
with that model boat probucer. The bottom skins didn't fit
so I have had to buy more ply to make ones that fit. The side strigers are just skinny ply and it is hard to fit the side and bottom skins on. I managed the side eventually but I got so down hearted with the model I have stopped the build for now
. It is so tight where they have positioned the holes for mounting the motor on the bulkhead it has to be fitted before the bottom skins are fitted. I have never built a model like that before. I am into speed boats of all types including fast cats and F1 tunnel hulled boats, and Vosper and Elco styled hulls like the MTB's and RAF Crash Tenders and that style boat. I am a speed freak, I seem to want to go faster with boats where a lot of modelers of my age want to go slower with tugs and battle ships and that slower type of model. I'm 71 with the speed freak thoughts of a teenager, I suppose most think I'm odd as they do with my music likes. I like Prestwich Models gear but now I am retired money isn't so easy to get together and with the cost of living rising so quikly I cannot afford to but things from there like I uased to. But I havee got quite a lot of things in my shed I will have to use up some of my scraps for now. I sold off eight unused and still boxed Marine IC engines of various 61,90 and 120cc ranges to fund buying brushless motors and ESC's. I will go from now until I need to hunt for things I need. It's just so sad
and a shame the model shops no longer seem to cater for marine modelers especially fast boats.