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/

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/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
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
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

It was a little while ago. 1970 I think.

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
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 

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 

Exactly my point, Trev.