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Good Shops for Locos and Carriages Scotland/North England


Liddiardo
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Agree Arcadia is an excellent shop. It is just a few minutes walk from Shaw Metrolink station.

 

There is also a model railway shop on Carnforth Station.

 

Although I've not been there yet, there is a model shop in Carlisle, I think its quite close to the station.

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Harburn hobbies in Edinburgh

C and M models in Carlisle

Monk bar models in York.

Hattons in Liverpool.

 

Closer to home Waddles models in Bell street though not a huge collection of stock

And there is a new shop in Dumbarton road between partick station and Kelvin hall subway.

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Pastimes on Maryhill Rd near St Georges Cross Subway station is good for preowned.

 

McLaren Models in Falkirk, specialises in USA,but has some UK as well. They also organise a monthly swapmeet.

 

Scoonie Hobbies in Kirkcaldy, the front shop is mainly Radio Control, the rear is filled up to the ceiling with Model Railways.

 

Wonderland Models in Edinburgh, a large model shop with a Hornby section.

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Lets hope its planned to be a 'proper' model shop with all the bits and pieces stocked.

 

If this might be the case then all strength to the owner and he would deserve to do well as the city of Glasgow is still without a specialist model shop.

 

We complain of course that we don't have such shops in the west of Scotland but we are probably all guilty of buying online either for convenience or to save a few pounds but the guy on the high st deserves to have your custom even if its a bit more expensive as indeed it needs to be to cover his overheads.

 

I know from a friend who was in the trade that he had to diversify into other aspects like dolls houses etc as the railway side of the shop hardly covered itself and of course the amount of cash tied up in stock on the shelves was incredible..think over £1k for 10 Hornby locos then multiply that by all the other loco boxes not to mention coaches and wagons that your are expecting to see there.

 

A fully stocked shop apart from the rent and rates and utilities must require huge capital and of course the danger is that if you intend to build and start off with little to offer you are often quickly dismissed.

 

Be watching with interest and will certainly patronise if its going in the right direction.

 

Dave. 

Edited by vitalspark
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Yes didn't know about this shop . As Vitalspark, I fair miss D&F models . Well stocked always happy to serve. Waddles models is a bit of a disappointment in that he does t seem to stock Hornby. He did have some Bachmann trucks for a while but that seems to be sporadic.,maybe he doesn't stock since their prices went through roof. I know he has Oxford and Dapol. I didn't know about this shop in Dumbarton Road so may have a wee nosey round . If it's reasonably stocked then I'll certainly give him some patronage. Glasgow needs a model shop. It can't be easy starting up in this climate.

 

Is there also a shop in Cambuslang ? Anyone been?

Edited by Legend
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Model shops should really concentrate on accessories, kits and material, they are never going to compete with the on-line box shifters but we need somewhere to go to get that tin of paint,  bag of ballast, rail joiners etc.  I do object to having to pay £2 postage for low value bits and pieces, this is where the local shop really comes into its own.  One shop that has not been mentioned is Uddingston Model Centre at 161 main street, not a bad wee shop,

 

Jim

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Model shops should really concentrate on accessories, kits and material, they are never going to compete with the on-line box shifters but we need somewhere to go to get that tin of paint,  bag of ballast, rail joiners etc.  I do object to having to pay £2 postage for low value bits and pieces, this is where the local shop really comes into its own.  One shop that has not been mentioned is Uddingston Model Centre at 161 main street, not a bad wee shop,

 

Jim

 

 

Agree but if your only stock was the accessories that you usually need to pick up at a show its unlikely a shop could survive.

 

What is the mark up on a bag of ballast or even Gibson wheels and how many do you need to sell to pay the rent let alone give you a wage? 

 

Dave

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Agree but if your only stock was the accessories that you usually need to pick up at a show its unlikely a shop could survive.

 

What is the mark up on a bag of ballast or even Gibson wheels and how many do you need to sell to pay the rent let alone give you a wage? 

 

Dave

 

I take your point there Dave - I think that's the reason most do railways as a sideline, Paisley Model Centre was a bit like that , their main source of income was radio controlled models and servicing, they didn't keep a big stock of locos and rolling stock

 

Jim

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I take your point there Dave - I think that's the reason most do railways as a sideline, Paisley Model Centre was a bit like that , their main source of income was radio controlled models and servicing, they didn't keep a big stock of locos and rolling stock

 

Jim

 

D&F were excellent as regards all the bits and pieces as it was run by experienced modellers..think Alloa..however even they had to retail die cast and dolls houses to bolster the railway side of the shop.

When you hear of the likes of Hattons giving up the established city centre shop.. likely because of overheads.. what chance does a small independent have.

Many modellers now buy online and pick up the specialised stuff at the shows available to them which is likely to increase and sadly paints a bleak picture for the small independent. 

 

Dave.

Edited by vitalspark
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I'm pretty sure business rates and extortionate rental costs do nothing for the small trader. There really should be more realistic rate/rental costs for the small guy. The big companies with the city centre portfolio have clearly forgotten that many of them were just small guys who got lucky in the 1980s. 

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Although they've already been mentioned, I would definitely recommend Harburn Hobbies in Edinburgh.  Quite a collection of locomotives, wagons and coaching stock on display (N & 00) and they sell a range of accessories, track, tools, kits, paints and diecast vehicles.  There is also some dolls house stuff, but railways and diescast vehicles make up the majority of their stock.  Of course they also commission a number or limited edition ready to run models and sell their own Harburn Hamlet range.

 

When I used to live in Glasgow, I always paid them a visit when I was through in Edinburgh.  Now that I live in Edinburgh, I've no need to go anywhere else for a lot of things.

 

No association other than as a happy customer. 

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Monk Bar models in York are very good, they are very helpful, maintain a very well stocked shop and test any loco they are selling. Their prices are good when you compare them to online sellers taking into account the postage charges you need to add on.

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Does anyone have the name or actual address of Glasgow shop on Dumbarton road. I passed by yesterday . Obviously as 1st Jan everything shut but didn't see anything obvious. I was in car though so not much time to take in scenery!

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Does anyone have the name or actual address of Glasgow shop on Dumbarton road. I passed by yesterday . Obviously as 1st Jan everything shut but didn't see anything obvious. I was in car though so not much time to take in scenery!

Wild Cat Models?

251 Dumbarton Rd, Glasgow G11 6AB

http://www.wildcatmodels.co.uk

 

Not a name I've heard of before.

 

Also another recommendation for Harburn Hobbies in Edinburgh.

Edited by JeremyC
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Visited Wildcat Models today, small stocks of railway items but the owners suggest he will gradually increase this side of the market. Good news is he has stocks, again a bit limited, of such useful items as Evergreen and Plastruct and the usual glues etc. also some scenic materials. He is also prepared to order for specific requests. Has accounts with Peco and Gaugemaster. Generally seems quite keen to expand the railway side. Wish them good fortune!

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