Local model shop distance.

[ozzie Bill.]

 
Thank you Bill,
I don't shop in Australia much but I will take a peek at them as by your report they may be quite O K.    Cheers, Denis.

Hi Denis, they are pretty good, have a reasonable website but can be pricey for some things. Good range of US stuff. cheers, Bill.

[Cutter]

I try not to go to model shops as I appear to be the kiss of death to them--as soon as I find one it closes. I live near Boston, Massachusetts and just lost an n gauge shop 30 minutes away in Sudbury and a hobby shop in West Concord that sold a few trainy things. My best bet now is Northeast Trains in Salem, 30 minutes away and entirely HO and O. Since most of the stuff I want is not available in the USA I buy online from the UK, favoring small businesses when I can.

[Bealman]

If you favour small businesses, have you checked out the Buffers website? The business is owned by two lovely ladies who are an absolute crack-up!

[Cutter]

I will definitely check out the website--thanks!

[ajc]

Living in Southend-on-Sea in Essex my nearest model shop is 'Plus Daughters' in Basildon who are N Gauge Model Railway Specialists having an excellent selection of British, European, American and Japanese N Gauge and who regularly attend model railway shows all over the country. My next nearest model railway shop is Flair Rail in Burnham-on-Crouch who stock some N Gauge and John Dutfield in Chelmsford who also stock N Gauge and both attend local model railway exhibitions.
My daughter lives in Manchester so I can visit Arcadia in Shaw which is an Aladin's cave of model railways including N gauge.
ajc

[MattJ]

ModelMania in Clouds Hill Road, Bristol is nearest, Richard's Railways in Yatton is not too hard to get to.  Is it usual these days that model railway shops are in somewhat out-of-the-way locations, never near town or city centres?  Not handy if you don't have a car!  When I got my Zephyr from DCC Supplies I just missed the bus, it was actually quicker to walk all the way back to Worcester than to wait for the next one!

Otherwise there's Antics... if only someone could un-invent radio controlled cars!

[Cooper]

Nearest model shop is 8.5 miles away, Junction 20 Models in Kings Langley which is frankly a bit sparse. I made the 18 mile journey to K&S Models in Stevenage Old Town today for the first time in quite a while. (In fact, for the first time since I started modelling in N). I was really impressed with the amount of N Gauge stuff, lots of accessories, a decent selection of stock and all the modelling basics and more. Helpful assistance in choosing soldering iron bits as well.

Came away with the 'bits', solder paint, a Knightwing bridge, a ratio signal box interior kit, two HAA wagons currently unavailable from Hattons and a container for my pocket wagon. Got a discount for being a member of Stevenage and District MRC too!

It's a fair old round trip but not much more than my weekly trip to the club room. I'll be back!

[portland-docks]

for me, its 14 mile to Pooleys Puffers which have a good stock of N Gauge in, but because he isnt stocked by bachmann, i have to travel 25 mile to get a whiff of bachmann stock at Rolling Stock in North Shields, even then its not the best range, mostly diesels and very few range of coaches or wagons.

which basically leaves me with TMC in beck hole, a whole 70+ miles which have a huge range of bachmann and dapol, its also more expensive but worth it for the jobs they do to the locos with weathering etc.

[silverfox]

A quick plug for one of my local model shops Wicor Models.

They have now started stocking a very decent range of N gauge in their Bognor Regis branch at very competitive prices so if any of you are in my area of West Sussex they're well worth a look. They also have a branch in Portchester, Hants

Though they don't stock Kato unitrack they ordered what I wanted in at a great price, so I now have all the last bits I need for the next layout

Regards

Jason

[Dorsetmike]

Dodgy Derek's was the nearest at about 3 miles, but now Platform models have opened about a mile away

Back in the 70s and 80s I used to be able to spemd the best part of a day touring the shops in Poole and Bournemouth, including numerous excellent second hand model shops.

Until Platform opened I used to get a lot of my supplies from a shop in Westbourne that only did planes and ships and a few cars, mostly radio control stuff but they did carry a wide range of  balsa, metal and plastic by  Evergreen, & Plastruct, also tools, glues and paints.

[Newportnobby]

for me, its 14 mile to Pooleys Puffers which have a good stock of N Gauge in

Every time I see him at shows he tells me he has an enormous stock of N gauge but hasn't the time to catalogue it all. Instead, he appears at shows with naff all N gauge, although I did get some bargains at the Perth Show last year.

[johnlambert]

I was in Worcester yesterday and, out of curiosity, I thought I'd see if there were any Graham Farish stockists in the WR postcode area.  According to Bachman's web site there aren't any!  I thought there was a model shop in Worcester city centre but I suppose it must have closed down.

[simong]

Antics had a branch in Worcester but that closed several years ago. 

Whilst there are two model shops in my nearest town neither have much N gauge or scenic material.  I either go to A C Models in Eastleigh (30 miles away) or use MRD and Hattons.  It is a shame as browsing in a good model shop is a great way to past time.

[lionwing]

My local model shops are The loco shed, where Jim his very freindly and help-full and also Arcadia in Shaw, Oldham, where they are also friendly and have good stocks of n-gauge.

Arcadia in Shaw are great.

Lots of N Gauge to browse, very helpful and always offered a tea or coffee whenever you visit!

[Michael Shillabeer]

Hello

Cheltenham Model Centre is only 10 minutes drive from work with a car park behind them

At home local shops are:
Spot On Models in Swindon has a good N Gauge section
Westons near Royal Wootton Bassett good for N Gauge and free parking

When returning to Poole I visit Platform Models (with a massive 4mm layout out the back) and Setchfields in Old Town Poole.

Best regards
Michael