Dear DJ,
I can only state this.
I am in the process of the final stages of completing of a 1:96 HMS Belfast. It has cost a small fortune to date, but, after getting to this stage, what the hell, anything else doesn't matter because it's the home run!
Now, there is no model shop for what seems about 100 miles... and as it happens there isn't - at least one that stocks the parts that I need. If it hadn't been for Mayhem, I wouldn't have got as far as I have and as 'quickly' as I have done, and I must add, not without the help of 'another' as far as elecs. is concerned.
My experience is this (prev. bus., and with now modelling). I have found by simple networking that there is nothing that cannot be had. If I hadn't done this with my Belfast Project, I would have been miles away from where I a now. For example: Ron at Deans Marine sorted out numerous things that were presenting many probs., John Haynes dealt with and supplied all sorts of things that I thought were probably impossible, and numerous other suppliers have helped unreservedly with things that have made my build much easier than they seemed at the time.
Ok, so none are local at all, so one can't just call in, and, being relatively new to all of this I have never met any of them, BUT, all the suppliers involved in this project couldn't have been more helpful. Yes, my project was, is, and has been rather 'specialist', need RN 1:96 parts 1939-45, and I am not experienced in other modelling aspects, and no, I am not really a modeller per se - just quite good with my hands - but I have to say that my gnrl. experience with British suppliers by phone/Inet has been very good indeed and very fruitfull.
Just some comments that's all, but I can and do appreciate what you are saying.
Regards, Bernard