ATTENTION - MODELZONE PURCHASERS

[silly moo]

I will miss The Signal Box, I used to visit once a year on my holidays, I always found their prices competitive. I have only used Model Zone once so I can't comment on them. I now need to find another model shop with reasonable prices and lots of N gauge near London.

[NeMo]

Do try Kent Garden Railways. Despite their name they have a lot of N-gauge stuff; typically two cabinets of new locos (some US, but mostly Farish), a large under-the-counter display of Dapol stuff, and then a fourth selection of stuff that's mostly used, some British, some US, and some European outline locos. In addition, there's three cabinets of new British and US rolling stock and usually a couple decent boxes of used rolling stock as well.

Prices are reasonably good. Dapol Class 22 for example was £115, so within a few quid of what you'd pay at a box shifter. Used stuff is fairly well priced too; one of my recent purchases was a mint-condition NCB Class 14 for £45, and there's a Modelzone special Class 24 at £65 if I recall correctly. Older used locos seem to be around the £40 mark.

Their selection of N-gauge kits is good. All the usual Metcalfe kits, as well as plastic Kestrel kits; rather fewer Peco or Ratio kits whenever I've visited. If you're prepared to rummage through three or four dusty boxes in the N-gauge section you can also find all sorts of wagon kits (including N Gauge Society kits and Taylor Precision Models kits) and any number of whitemetal kits, transfers and so on. There are a lot of US kits too, but I haven't much looked at those so can't comment on the depth of their range or their prices.

I've yet to make it to The Signal Box; thought about it today, but it's a long way from the western end of Hertfordshire where I live. I've found Kent Garden Railways much easier to visit because it's in the Travelcard zone (5 or 6, I think, for St Mary Cray) so I can roll it into other activities in London.

Cheers, NeMo

I now need to find another model shop with reasonable prices and lots of N gauge near London.

[EtchedPixels]

Swansea one has a few coaches some WDs and thats about it in N - and at 20% off still more expensive than elsewhere...

Alan

[NgaugeDan]

Well,  I've just been in to my local branch and snapped up the last limited edition IVOR class 08 shunter in RTC livery that they had in stock.

I'd been umming and erring about it since release as I've got the rest of the RTC livery stuff they bought out (including the Autocoach exclusive to The Signal Box) but didn't really want to pay £83 for it, Today I got it with 20% off and thought I'd better get it now because I assume it will become difficult to source and prices might rise on eBay once it is unavailable.

I'll only miss Modelzone for the few N gauge exclusives and for general browsing, I always did think their prices were too steep for most things.  The Signal Box on the other hand, I really hope manages to break away from modelzone and keep going as you could get some good deals from them.

I feel sorry for all the staff who currently don't know if they still have a job to go to every day when they wake up.  One employee was telling me that when they close any stock that isn't sold will be binned which really shocked and appauled me, despite that fact he was unwilling to do any deals if I bulk bought items which was a shame.

[47033]

That's just crazy to bin stuff but I suppose it's the world we live in today. You would think there would be a more sane alternative.

[Agrippa]

If a business goes into administration or liquidation their stock cannot just be binned,
it is the responsibility of the administrator or liquidator to safeguard the company's assets,
although damaged or shopsoiled stuff might be chucked out. Thats the theory.
In the St Enoch Centre in Glasgow, one of the 2 Modelzone locations in Glasgow, there
was a clothing store a few years ago which went bust. An aquaintance of mine
who is an industrial cleaner/maintenance worker was clearing out the dumped
stuff , mostly old packaging and asked me if I wanted a red parka which was there.
I took it off him for free, turned out to be Goretex hill jacket costing about £250.
Got him a pint for his trouble.    

[EtchedPixels]

Which also means if for example someone has offered said receiver a price on all remaining unopened Bachmann stock then they won't necessarily be trying to clear the shop 100%, merely get more than the offer.

Alan

[Agrippa]

Was in St Enoch (Glasgow)branch today, picked up a few N Gauge
items discounted, brings the price similar to Hattons. N gauge stock very small,
but not much less than before administration. Still large stock of paints, scenics etc.,
and v large stocks of Hornby and ship, plane  and military kits.
Staff reduced but still polite and business like, hope something works out.

[SymonC]

Popped into Signal Box in Rochester again today.

Bought a few items (everything is 30% off).

Main purchase was a Dapol ND129A A3 "Lemberg" for £83   

[Agrippa]

That's a good deal , Glasgow 20% off, some aircraft and military stuff 50 %.
They had a few basic Hornby train sets ( local goods type ) quite cheap.

[Thorpe Parva]

Popped into Signal Box in Rochester again today.

Bought a few items (everything is 30% off).

Main purchase was a Dapol ND129A A3 "Lemberg" for £83

I called in also, got a Farish Class 46 for just under £25.

[NeMo]

Crikey! That's a heck of a deal. I wonder if it's worth making the trek on Saturday? Was there much in the shop or is it all half-empty shelves by now?

Cheers, NeMo

I called in also, got a Farish Class 46 for just under £25.

[SymonC]

Crikey! That's a heck of a deal. I wonder if it's worth making the trek on Saturday? Was there much in the shop or is it all half-empty shelves by now?

Cheers, NeMo

I called in also, got a Farish Class 46 for just under £25.

They had loads of stock as at 1pm today!

[1936ace]

and a quick call to say hello to peter and i just could not resist also
another 46,50,40,108,42 plus wagons.
they are all for little zac who turns 5 next week
bart

[SD35]

I popped into the Manchester Deansgate branch this morning and as suggested above, even with the 20% off there isn't much difference from the Hattons price.  I picked up the triple pack of weathered shell tanks for £26 while I was there though as well as some evergreen strips and balsa wood.

I asked the staff what would be happening to the stock if they didn't shift enough of it and they suggested that although they were getting the mushroom treatment from above they hinted that there may be further reductions to shift it later and it may be one to watch. 

Some branches elsewhere were closed for good yesterday.