To the collective....

I have to go to the West Country (Taunton/Wellington) next Friday for a family funeral.

As I am being unleashed on an unsuspecting world I thought I would make the best of my time and try to see the 'sites'. As in model shops.

Being unfamiliar with the facilities in that region I thought I would ask to see what model shops were worth trying to get to in my corridor of travel.

My two route options are these: 1:    Cheltenham M4, down to M5 Taunton.  2:     Swindon, Devizes, Frome, Street, Taunton.

I'm familiar with Cheltenham Model Centre and the model shop at Bourton but I'd love to know of any others in this corridor worth a visit.



P.S. I am NOT going into Bristol, not even if they are giving away free Duchess', 8F's and gold bars.

Mike. Maybe bell em, ring em first see what they have in stock https://fromemodelcentre.com/

This any help? Model shops by county...........

https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/modelshops

Quote from: Newportnobby on May 15, 2021, 11:02:35 AM
This any help? Model shops by county...........

https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/modelshops

I'm aware of that site Mick, I was kind of hoping for some first hand recommendations from locals.

Trainfish john @Trainfish maybe . The only others are in bristol or kernow. Sorry to hear of the news mike

Usually I would say go to East Somerset Models but it looks like they're closed at the moment. Frome Model Centre is ok but last time I went they didn't have a huge amount of N gauge. It's a bugger to find even though it's in the town and there's about 4 parking spaces right next to it. Not in Bristol but Model Railways Direct is usually good but I'm not sure if they are open at the moment as it's a small shop (lots of stock though) in a housing estate. Longcroft is always open but it's not a shop 

I agree with John, East Somerset Models is definitely the favourite. It's just off the road between Frome and Shepton Mallet, but isn't open much at the best of times. It shares a car park with the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore, so simple to visit - and you can explore the old station as well. No trains running on Fridays though. Frome Model Centre was very disappointing when I went there, hardly any N gauge. Model Railways Direct is a bit out of the way for you, and I think they are only open for order collection at the moment.

I've never found any decent model shop in Bristol, so don't worry about being enticed there. The only other shop close to your route is Signals, in Midsomer Norton - https://www.signalsmodels.com/contactus.aspx]Signals [url]https://www.signalsmodels.com/contactus.aspx[/url]. It has some N gauge, and quite a lot of materials. They normally have some second hand bits and pieces as well. Midsomer Norton is a slight detour for you, but it's got easy parking and is probably open.

- Andy

When I was visiting Plymouth for work (before Covid) I would drop into Chris' Crafts & Model Railways. A great little shop with a good stock of N gauge plus his second hand prices were very reasonable.

Quote from: Rabbitaway on May 15, 2021, 03:01:34 PM
When I was visiting Plymouth for work (before Covid) I would drop into Chris' Crafts & Model Railways. A great little shop with a good stock of N gauge plus his second hand prices were very reasonable.

Wrong direction for me, but worth highlighting for others.

I reckon I'll go motorway down to Taunton, then cross country back on Saturday via East Somerset and maybe Frome. Thanks for the input fellas, @Trainfish thanks for the info on Frome.

How about Osborns in Bideford? By car it's only about an hour further west and definitely worth the extra mileage if they're open

Quote from: Flange Squeal on May 16, 2021, 12:08:39 AM
How about Osborns in Bideford? By car it's only about an hour further west and definitely worth the extra mileage if they're open

That's a fair point. I am very familiar with Osborne's and have often discussed possible new things with Maurice, and I've often purchased from them. I'd love to pop in, but time constraints mean that I need to really stay reasonably close to my travel corridor.