:veryangry: this has more than likely been said before, but, where are all the shops going? I know that the WWW has taken over. But who likes a good rummage in a shop stacked to the roof in all sorts trains, we'll any models to be honest. I cannot find any model shopd near me. Yes Internet is easy and has a lot to offer at sometimes nice and cheep, but let's all support our local shops. Little rant this may be. Cannot be helped. Sorry. Anyone know of any shops in Warwickshire let me know. Thanks, Craig. PS how do you all feel about the loss of the shops....
There's a small one in leamington. Very small but the chap is v. Pleasant. Prices were ok last time I went (more than 18 months ago). The only other one was castle trains I believe? That went a few years ago :(
It's a real shame so many are going. I bought my first n gauge loco from castle trains 7yrs ago - class 03 for only £30. At the time no one could price match that!
:thankyousign:
34 miles down the road in brackley is AH models
I do use the shop in Leamington regularly. The shop is filled top to bottom. Well stocked for the size. I find the prices are a good deal, if so better then ebay too. The shop is called. Classic bus, train and automobile. Very cramped but well worth a visit. Thanks
Quote from: themadhippy on December 29, 2016, 10:26:09 PM
34 miles down the road in brackley is AH models
Brackley? Which way. Would go there. 34miles on sweat for that. Thanks
Sorry NO sweat for that distance. Predicted text very annoying...
QuoteBrackley? Which way. Would go there
m40 south off at j11 then A422 east
http://www.aandhmodels.co.uk/ (http://www.aandhmodels.co.uk/)
Yes l know now. Been a busy day.. That's my excuse anyway ;D
There are 4 in Sheffield.... Used to be 6 til Antics withdrew....
Marcway
Rails
STM
MG Sharp
and Olivias if ya must
There is Tennents Trains at Halesowen . Not Warwickshire but close to M5 Junction 3 which isn't far in travel time. The model shop in Bourton on the Water is also worth a visit.
Quote from: themadhippy on December 29, 2016, 10:26:09 PM
34 miles down the road in brackley is AH models
an excellent shop for N & DCC ( and other scales)
http://www.aandhmodels.co.uk/ (http://www.aandhmodels.co.uk/)
Hereford Model Centre is very rummageable.
Go to Footplate Models in Kidderminster and have a trip on the Severn Valley Railway too.
http://footplate.co.uk (http://footplate.co.uk)
:hellosign: Just go to the model shop on Wellingborough road NORTHAMPTON , loads of stock including N gauge .
If only there were a national list which also contained shows and swap meets - wait, there is - it's http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk (http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk)!
I agree it's a sad loss, but it's not just because of the web. Not so long ago, if you wanted a variant on a building design or livery, you had to hack something about or even scratch build. The downside of the huge range of products out there today is that people (often middle-aged++) simply buy rather than make. Meanwhile war gaming, which is all about making and targeted at the pocket-money market, sustains a Games Workshop in almost every town.
Mike
Quote from: Railwaygun on December 29, 2016, 11:17:17 PM
Quote from: themadhippy on December 29, 2016, 10:26:09 PM
34 miles down the road in brackley is AH models
an excellent shop for N & DCC ( and other scales)
http://www.aandhmodels.co.uk/ (http://www.aandhmodels.co.uk/)
and they list their N gauge by era!
http://www.aandhmodels.co.uk/n-gauge-european-all-models-in-stock-arranged-by-era-1541-c.asp (http://www.aandhmodels.co.uk/n-gauge-european-all-models-in-stock-arranged-by-era-1541-c.asp)
http://www.aandhmodels.co.uk/era-2-epoch-ii-1543-c.asp (http://www.aandhmodels.co.uk/era-2-epoch-ii-1543-c.asp)
Going back a bit now there was a very good one in Stratford (not the big model shop where castle trains moved to after leaving Warwick). Can't remember what it was called now, it it was my favourite model shop when I was younger 7/8 yrs ago. Massive collection at very, very good prices. It was down a side road, almost a hidden gem but had a lot on display. Wonder if it's still there?
: thanks all. Going to make a day out to visit the shops. Will go geocascheing at the same time so kids can have fun too. Good to hear that there are still some good model shops still. Just need one closer to me so I can sneak away on payday lol
theres also trinders in banbury,more a toy/bike shop but they do stock the odd bit of n guage
Quote from: NOE 544R on December 30, 2016, 05:44:37 PM
Going back a bit now there was a very good one in Stratford (not the big model shop where castle trains moved to after leaving Warwick). Can't remember what it was called now, it it was my favourite model shop when I was younger 7/8 yrs ago. Massive collection at very, very good prices. It was down a side road, almost a hidden gem but had a lot on display. Wonder if it's still there?
Stratford is now almost a desert. The final model railway stockist was "Much ado about toys" which went into receivership about 3 years ago. One diecast shop remains which is Doug Brown Accessories, still family run by Chris Brown. Some oddments in the antique market.
Quote from: JasonBz on December 29, 2016, 10:49:34 PM
There are 4 in Sheffield.... Used to be 6 til Antics withdrew....
Marcway
Rails
STM
MG Sharp
and Olivias if ya must
Is MG Sharp still around?
I read on RMWeb that it has all but gone!
I used them over ten year's ago when I lived in the U.K. and had business in Sheffield.
Quote from: Tonye on December 30, 2016, 10:26:12 AM
:hellosign: Just go to the model shop on Wellingborough road NORTHAMPTON , loads of stock including N gauge .
When I lived in Daventry I made a point of visiting this shop. Very good as I remember.
Quote from: Cape Town Trev on December 30, 2016, 07:23:03 PM
Quote from: Tonye on December 30, 2016, 10:26:12 AM
:hellosign: Just go to the model shop on Wellingborough road NORTHAMPTON , loads of stock including N gauge .
When I lived in Daventry I made a point of visiting this shop. Very good as I remember.
I once left a £5 deposit on a large scale Sherman Tank at The Model Shop that I have never collected. I wonder if they'll refund it :hmmm:
It was a little while ago. 1970 I think. :D
Stratford was much ado about toys. Had good stock there. Yes must be over 3years now since its gone
Quote from: Cape Town Trev on December 30, 2016, 07:23:03 PM
Quote from: Tonye on December 30, 2016, 10:26:12 AM
:hellosign: Just go to the model shop on Wellingborough road NORTHAMPTON , loads of stock including N gauge .
When I lived in Daventry I made a point of visiting this shop. Very good as I remember.
When I lived in Northampton and started in N over 30 years ago they were my shop of choice (no laptop and mail ordering in those days). I still have some stock with their price labels such as my Farish castle class labelled at £33.20 and an 8F at £39.95.
So pleased to hear they are still in business.
All the decent shops seem to be slowly going, it wont be long until we are left with just the "box shifters" and that will not be a good day :'(
Just discovered that The Model Shop in Northampton, which was my go to place as I lived in the area until recently, has been trading for 79 years.
Long may it continue.
Quote from: Beans39 on December 29, 2016, 10:12:49 PM
But who likes a good rummage in a shop stacked to the roof in all sorts trains, we'll any models to be honest.
Absolutely - how many times do you have 'a good rummage' around the internet? You know what you want, find it, buy it. Job done... BUT
In a model shop you know what you want, but, while having a 'rummage' (lovely word that) often come across things you never realised existed or long out of production 'bits' or kits and so on. You went in thinking to buy one item - you come out after a pleasant 30 minutes or more, having had a good chat with the owner, gained a few 'tips', maybe had a cup of tea, and with a bag full of bits - you went in expecting to pay (say) £10 and find you spent nearer £50. I've done it; I expect most of us have.
But on the internet it'd just be that one item - what a boring way to shop.
Quote from: D1042 Western Princess on December 31, 2016, 06:10:27 AM
Quote from: Beans39 on December 29, 2016, 10:12:49 PM
But who likes a good rummage in a shop stacked to the roof in all sorts trains, we'll any models to be honest.
Absolutely - how many times do you have 'a good rummage' around the internet? You know what you want, find it, buy it. Job done... BUT
In a model shop you know what you want, but, while having a 'rummage' (lovely word that) often come across things you never realised existed or long out of production 'bits' or kits and so on. You went in thinking to buy one item - you come out after a pleasant 30 minutes or more, having had a good chat with the owner, gained a few 'tips', maybe had a cup of tea, and with a bag full of bits - you went in expecting to pay (say) £10 and find you spent nearer £50. I've done it; I expect most of us have.
But on the internet it'd just be that one item - what a boring way to shop.
The Engine Shed at Leytonstone, East London. Stop off on my way home on the Central line and find a few gems in the boxes of "stuff" in the drawers. Such things as figures and lineside items which I still have nearly 30 years later for future use :). It was the "thrill" of finding something unexpected :D
Quote from: Cape Town Trev on December 31, 2016, 06:37:37 AM
Quote from: D1042 Western Princess on December 31, 2016, 06:10:27 AM
Quote from: Beans39 on December 29, 2016, 10:12:49 PM
But who likes a good rummage in a shop stacked to the roof in all sorts trains, we'll any models to be honest.
Absolutely - how many times do you have 'a good rummage' around the internet? You know what you want, find it, buy it. Job done... BUT
In a model shop you know what you want, but, while having a 'rummage' (lovely word that) often come across things you never realised existed or long out of production 'bits' or kits and so on. You went in thinking to buy one item - you come out after a pleasant 30 minutes or more, having had a good chat with the owner, gained a few 'tips', maybe had a cup of tea, and with a bag full of bits - you went in expecting to pay (say) £10 and find you spent nearer £50. I've done it; I expect most of us have.
But on the internet it'd just be that one item - what a boring way to shop.
The Engine Shed at Leytonstone, East London. Stop off on my way home on the Central line and find a few gems in the boxes of "stuff" in the drawers. Such things as figures and lineside items which I still have nearly 30 years later for future use :). It was the "thrill" of finding something unexpected :D
Exactly my point, Trev.
I can agree, Tenants trains are now under new ownership, but still worth a browse. they will always try to sort you out. I have used Modellers Mecca in Kingswinford, who were well stocked but not sure what happened to the guy who was really helpful, but the shop space is now about a quarter of what it was & seems to be run by a young lady, but sadly the main business seems to be via www & mail order. Nothing really to rummage through, great shame! I will be trying Mike's Models to see what they have, used them years ago for model aircraft & they were excellent. Will let you know. happy New Year to you all & lets hope 2017 is better than 2016!
Regards Chris
On the subject of model shops a couple of days before Christmas I called in at Richard's model shop in Yatton, Somerset, only to find it nearly cleaned out and the lady working there telling me it will close very soon and the business transferred to somewhere else in the county (Clevedon, I think) where they have taken over a new shop.
Now here is an odd thing these days, a town with three old school model shops
I travel a lot on business and worked in Grimsby for a few days in December and as usual I investigate if there are any local model shops
I visited a very traditional shop called D Hewins down an ally and under a barbers. Noted that all stock had 20% off but sadly this is because the owner had passed away. I bought a few coaches and wished the lady well (his widow). She did say that the shop is likely to be closed by the middle of this January. Such a shame to see a traditional shop end in this way.
There is another shop near the station called Hobby Central and this is a mixed toy and model shop with reasonable stock and again very traditional
The third shop The Grimsby Model Centre does not sell model railways but does radio control and kits but is still very old school
I do have to own up to spending very little in the shops I visit because as a general rule everything is at full RRP and just too expensive compared to the box shifters. I suppose the reason I visit these types of shops is to bring back the memory the local model shops of my younger years!