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Author Topic: decent model shops  (Read 7302 times)

djrobbo

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decent model shops
« on: December 17, 2007, 02:12:30 pm »

What  is it with model shops ? Now i know some of you have got a really good model shop close to hand , but down in the depths of essex it is not so good :(

       the only shop close ish to me has said he is going to stop keeping boat parts etc in stock coz he cant be bothered with them  :'(
         
           Now i know there are some excellent shops and dealers on the net , but it aint the same as being able to pop into your local friendly shop for a coffee or a chat and come away with more than you intended to. :-\

    Why are they all turning over to planes and cars etc ? we have three or four shops in the area and they all do the same stuff cars and planes >>:-(

          Are we becoming an endangered species or do the shops not care any more .? This of course doesn't include the good shops that do care if you see what i mean.  You hear so much on here praising the good retailers in shops . so can one of them please come and open a shop in essex near to southend O0
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Bryan Young

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2007, 07:00:49 pm »

I guess I can understand the shop owners attitude...to a degree. If you buy a kit then all the bits needed to build the thing should be included. But are they? The ones I have looked at all seem to need "extra" packs to complete the job. To my mind this is verging on a "con". As a "scratch" builder who only really buys raw materials I have no serious problems. Most parts of a model boat or ship can be cobbled together and made to work as well as (if not better) than a supplied item. I have followed with a certain amount of vicarious interest the recent posts on poorly made kits...which cost a lot of dosh. One of our club members arrived at the lake last sunday to ballast his "new" (and VERY expensive) Container ship hull...it has taken him 3 months to fair the hull up and disguise/repair/rebuild the poor quality of the supplied hull. This is reprehensible. There are good kit manufacturers out there but too many just seem to be out for the "fast buck" to the detriment of the good ones. I cannot name names (obviously) but I know of one kit maker that bends over backwards (metaphorically at least) to supply everything that is needed. We need more like him.
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Stavros

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2007, 07:07:45 pm »

OK now how about a Welshman tell you where to get your bits from,Now just around the corner to you you have Brian the Boat and how about the aladins cave in Ipswich a Massive shop,what about the  shop in Chelmsford all three are excellent model shops.Which one are you on about

Stavros
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djrobbo

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2007, 07:47:46 pm »

Hello dave.. i know of brian the boat in harlow and very good he is as well.....i dont actually know the other two ....my point was that more and more local model shops round here at least seem to be giving up on the boat side of things and only doing cars/helis/planes  etc..........i was i one this morning and he told me he was doing away with the boat stuff in the new year because in his words " i cant be bothered with them " .

     I have watched this steady decline over the last god knows how many years and its quite depressing......some people seem to be really lucky and have superb friendly shops in their locality but i have to make a fair car journey , not the end of the world i know but i was used to the personal touch and it seems to have gone round here unless you are into planes/cars etc

               see you sunday

              regards.....bob.




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Circlip

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2007, 07:56:18 pm »

Think you've answered you own question there Bob, Yes we are a dying breed. So many of us were brought up when "AIRFIX" was a NEW word, and there were no such words as Nintendo and Play station. When you look at some of the requests on the Forum for "Where do I get" in the numerosity of scales, 1/12th to 1/96th and all points in between for fittings,armament,civilian/military crew from ALL three services it's got to be a mighty big shop to cater for everyones needs. We used to have two shops in Bradford, one an "upmarket" type, the other, the typical friendly joint where you could get "just about everything", local fire hazard on a Friday night when everybody went in for " A gallon of Diesel for the weekend sir", but just about everything was far less than we expect today. WE were younger and SMALLER Bob, your Crash Tender acquisition would have taken a exercise in logistics to get to the local pond, Did YOUR dad have a car at the time? mine didn't, 36" was a H3lluva big boat, an lets face it, you and I couldn't trade insults and sarcasm 200miles from each other like we do now! thanks to tinternet. We do have the ability to punch a few buttons and get a reply in a VERY short time, and the power of the Plastic makes delivery times so much quicker. When was the last time you sent a Postal order for 3/6d with a SAE for "Our New Fully Illustrated Catalogue"? The only way we'll get back to how it was, is three hundred years after a thermonuclear explosion and the brave new world of Huxley. Until then, plan forward, get yer credit card out an STOP WHINGING!  OK!      {-) {-) {-) {-) {-) {-) {-) {-) {-) {-) {-)  
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Mr Andy

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2007, 08:23:00 pm »

Around my part of North Wales I have to travel about 70 miles for the nearest shop, I spend my cash and they are very polite, I enjoy going in, now then how do you manage to get a cuppa out of were you go?  :o
The Model Exchange in Greenfield, Holywell if anyone is wondering.

Andy.
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djrobbo

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #6 on: December 17, 2007, 08:24:40 pm »

Me whinge.....dont know what your on about........must admit that this internet thingy is very usrful for talking to people you might otherwise never meet.

    After having my account robbed twice this year through identity theft ( through use on the web ) i am very reluctant to use it on the web again.

                     perhaps this makes the loss of shops that cater for model boats so meaningful for me in particular.

                            any way    B&%ger it .

                                  merry christmas

                                   regards....bob.
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Circlip

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2007, 08:37:59 pm »

SEPARATE TOY ACCOUNT Bob.  Put in as and when required.
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bigfella

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2007, 01:01:25 am »

SEPARATE TOY ACCOUNT Bob.  Put in as and when required.
Thats what I do. have a separate Visa debit card just for toys. The balance is usually about $2 until I buy something and then deposit the relavant funds. I also use Paypal a lot and that is pretty secure and a lot more on line shops are using it.

Regards David
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tubby tomo

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2007, 09:23:03 am »

hi djrobbo i wonder if you know brians shop at harlow will be closeing in march most of our club will probeley go to the model shop in hornchuch he said when brian closes he will get more boat stuff in
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djrobbo

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2007, 10:12:43 am »

Hello tommo.....didn't know brian was closing i actually make the odd trip to his shop for some bits and pieces.  Do you know why he is closing ? and where are we talking about in hornchurch.............

                             regards.......bob.
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tubby tomo

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #11 on: December 18, 2007, 10:37:17 am »

hi bob  brian said hes not making enough profit to renew the leas on the shop ill let you know the address of the shop in hornchuch the owner nice chap said there will be a web site soon regards alan 
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djrobbo

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #12 on: December 18, 2007, 01:22:50 pm »

Cheers for that tommo . i'll look forward to hearing from you  O0

                           merry christmas...........bob.
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Circlip

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #13 on: December 18, 2007, 04:35:07 pm »

Thats the other side of the coin DJ, you set up a little business, running on the love of the job to the most part, and trying to make a living for your wife and kids, then everybody and his dog from the local government/ land owner wants a piece of the action. It's got to be better to put some racks up in your garage and set up a cottage industry/website and do your own thing and keep you head down. In town, the pound shops are alternated with empty ones cos some bright spark hasn't the intelligence to recognise that if you reduce the local business rates a bit so that ALL the shops are in use instead of raping whats left, you get MORE revenue, - not rocket science is it? No, we go to the national lottery fund and ask for how much, oh yes £25million to make a "WATER FEATURE" in the middle. Wouldn't be bad if it was deep enough to sail our toys in but oh no, its a mirror pool. We already got a water feature that the cretins (sorry to insult cretins) use to dispose of their beer/coke/lemonade cans etc. and that ones only 20 X 50feet, and they can't keep that one clean, not half the town centre. The lottery fund told them to go away jerkily, but there still determined to have a go. I appreciate civic pride but stroll on, get a life.
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polaris

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #14 on: December 18, 2007, 07:03:43 pm »


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
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Stavros

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #15 on: December 18, 2007, 07:10:32 pm »

Tubby Tomo can you pm me the add for that shop asap as me going down to the area on wekend cheers

Stavros
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barryfoote

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #16 on: December 18, 2007, 07:11:54 pm »

Well Polaris,
I am glad you appreciate the comments but I am afraid to say that I DON'T!!!!

Moan moan moan as some shops are nearly 70 miles away........Oh dear what a shame.

What about poor old me. The nearest model shop that stocks anything like model boating gear is in Barcelona...A mere 940 kilometers away. Now that is what I call a long drive.

(Sorry about that guys but feel better for getting it off my chest)

happy Christmas to you all,

Barry
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djrobbo

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #17 on: December 18, 2007, 07:20:40 pm »

AHOY   GUYS.....there are some superb retailers on the net allways helpful and happy to advise...for instance i have just bought a fitting set for my crash tender from  MODEL SLIPWAY ( no connection ) and the service was first class .........i have bought fittings from SIRMAR ( no connection ) again excellent service cant knock these sort of suppliers ...maybe its me being an old fart who is used to a local shop  ........perhaps its the heavy use of the internet ,may be why the local shops are not making ends meet !   ....now theres a thought !!!!!...... :embarrassed:  I have an intrepid in 1/96 which i am restoring.....also a type 21 frigate in 1/72 haven't started that one yet, so gonna need some bits etc shortly.

                regards......bob.
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Circlip

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #18 on: December 18, 2007, 07:44:25 pm »

Hindsight is a great teacher Bob, they used to say in the 70's & 80's "Use it or loose it" with regards to our local model shops when discounted MAIL ORDER by the big few became the norm. And as for you Barry, leaving the sinking ship cos it's WARMER where you now live, my heart really bleeds for YOU!  {-) {-) {-) {-)
       Ian
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Mr Andy

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #19 on: December 18, 2007, 08:10:16 pm »

Well Polaris,
I am glad you appreciate the comments but I am afraid to say that I DON'T!!!!

Moan moan moan as some shops are nearly 70 miles away........Oh dear what a shame.

What about poor old me. The nearest model shop that stocks anything like model boating gear is in Barcelona...A mere 940 kilometers away. Now that is what I call a long drive.

(Sorry about that guys but feel better for getting it off my chest)

happy Christmas to you all,

Barry

Always one to go that little bit further, not a lot not a lot. ;D {-) {-)

All the best Andy. ;)
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djrobbo

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #20 on: December 18, 2007, 08:15:51 pm »

Oh shame.....my heart bleeds.......lovely sunshine....sangria....easier way of life.... cheaper fuel........how do you cope???? {-) {-) {-) {-)
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barryfoote

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #21 on: December 18, 2007, 08:48:05 pm »

Oh shame.....my heart bleeds.......lovely sunshine....sangria....easier way of life.... cheaper fuel........how do you cope???? {-) {-) {-) {-)

It is not easy......well not all the time anyway......Not ideal for modellling. Everything I buy has to be via the net or getting folk to bring it out for me. As an example I have now been waiting 18 dyas for a hull to be delivered and probably won't get it before Xmas.

That said, sun, sea, sangria and alot of almost crime free peace do have their compensations,

Barry
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tubby tomo

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #22 on: December 19, 2007, 11:54:35 am »

happy christmas to you all  if it helps you the shop in hornchuch is called model world  01708 630633 post code rm12 5RX
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catengineman

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #23 on: December 19, 2007, 12:28:42 pm »

Hi Stavros,

You mention Hornchurch and Chelmsford, I may be wrong but Southend is a bit of a drive for the coffee and chat type of pop in shopping venture.  ;D

Though 2 inches on a map isnt that far    ;D

R,
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Stavros

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Re: decent model shops
« Reply #24 on: December 19, 2007, 05:23:37 pm »

Qutie correct but you don't know how often me is down in Basildon !!!!

Stavros
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