RMweb Premium QWILPEN Posted June 25, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 25, 2011 Hi I visited D &A models today in Enfield Road Ellesmere Port, Google maps met the owners Dawn and Andy, the shop has been open for three weeks and has a selection of Hornby, Bachmann & scenic Items. they seem like a realy nice couple and hopefully their shop wil do well. Steve ps I have no relationship with this trader other than as a customer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiritOfChester Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 I was near by today so decided to take a bit of a detour and try and find the shop. The shop is sign posted from Whitby Road (At the junction near the KFC and McDonalds for those who know the area). Unfortunately, the store was closed at approx 1330 hours with the shutters down, so not sure whether they were just closed for lunch or if they're closed on a Monday. The shop looks very good from the outside however. I'll try again soon! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Hi. This shop is now open on Sundays (Until Christmas ONLY) when parking is a lot easier! The opening hours from their website... Opening hours Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri and Sat 10-5 Closed Wed December Mon, Tues, Fri and Sat 10-5 Thurs 10-8 Sun 11-4 Closed Wed Home Page for D & A Models. (I think some construction is still being undertaken?) http://www.dandamodels.com/ (No connection, but I hope to be a customer very soon!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Well, I placed an order for a loco last Sunday, and I collected it Today, as promised. So, no problem there! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Saddley these guys have now closed down now... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Saddley these guys have now closed down now... I don't know if the owners are still doing "shows", as they were whilst the shop was open... The shop has been closed a few months now.... One problem was parking as it is a Residents Permit Area, so 10 minutes in the road....the town centre car park (pay and display) is there, but Enfield Road (the shop) was away behind the "Market" and across the main Whitby Road.... Now there is Chester Model Centre....Upper Bridge Street Row, Chester. (The old Modelzone, once "Arts and Crafts Centre" shop in the Row level....) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hroth Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Now there is Chester Model Centre....Upper Bridge Street Row, Chester. (The old Modelzone, once "Arts and Crafts Centre" shop in the Row level....) And before that, it was in the Grosvenor "mall" with the wonky copper handrail leading down to the basement model shop area. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 And before that, it was in the Grosvenor "mall" with the wonky copper handrail leading down to the basement model shop area. "Oh yes, I remember it well!" Funny how the model part was downstairs in the "Arcade" (which now leads into the "Grosvenor Shopping Centre" Mall) and upstairs in the Rows! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Andy was at Port Sunlight toy n train fair few weeks back,selling the last of his stock off cheap.. He said he was getting into classic cars... I wished him all the luck.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cape Town Trev Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 I grew up in "The Port" in the 70's and early 80's. No model railway shop then. I had to cycle to Chester. There was Arts and Crafts. I seem to remember a model railway shop in the then "new" market complex by the town hall. Still playing trains 40 years on! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 I grew up in "The Port" in the 70's and early 80's. No model railway shop then. I had to cycle to Chester. There was Arts and Crafts. I seem to remember a model railway shop in the then "new" market complex by the town hall. Still playing trains 40 years on! So, you didn't come across "Alpha Models" in Whitby Road, on the other side of the road from "The Knot" PH, and between there and the Bridge? Sometime in the later 1980s, they had just about stopped Model Railways by then, I got a lot of bits and bobs that were left in a box at the back! The shop in what is now "The Forum" in Chester was the last incarnation of "The Model Shop". By then owned by "Waltons of Altrincham", I think it last traded as "Waltons Model Shop"? This was down the side of the ex "T.J. Hughes" store, now a "B&M Bargains" Store. Apparently the rent went up too much, so Walton's shut up shop. (The Model Shop went from Frodsham Street, to Northgate Street, to the "Forum", over the years.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hroth Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 So, you didn't come across "Alpha Models" in Whitby Road, on the other side of the road from "The Knot" PH, and between there and the Bridge? Sometime in the later 1980s, they had just about stopped Model Railways by then, I got a lot of bits and bobs that were left in a box at the back! The shop in what is now "The Forum" in Chester was the last incarnation of "The Model Shop". By then owned by "Waltons of Altrincham", I think it last traded as "Waltons Model Shop"? This was down the side of the ex "T.J. Hughes" store, now a "B&M Bargains" Store. Apparently the rent went up too much, so Walton's shut up shop. (The Model Shop went from Frodsham Street, to Northgate Street, to the "Forum", over the years.) Was "Alpha Models" the one in a fork of the road, so it had two frontages? I never went there. But I would always look in the shop in the "Forum" when I went to Chester (I'd forgotten all about that one!). I got my live steam "Rocket" there..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 Was "Alpha Models" the one in a fork of the road, so it had two frontages? I never went there. But I would always look in the shop in the "Forum" when I went to Chester (I'd forgotten all about that one!). I got my live steam "Rocket" there..... It could well be...on the corner of Whitby Road and the first road towards Whitby after Princes Road (The one by the bridge!) if it was....It was a while ago!.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cape Town Trev Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 So, you didn't come across "Alpha Models" in Whitby Road, on the other side of the road from "The Knot" PH, and between there and the Bridge? Sometime in the later 1980s, they had just about stopped Model Railways by then, I got a lot of bits and bobs that were left in a box at the back! The shop in what is now "The Forum" in Chester was the last incarnation of "The Model Shop". By then owned by "Waltons of Altrincham", I think it last traded as "Waltons Model Shop"? This was down the side of the ex "T.J. Hughes" store, now a "B&M Bargains" Store. Apparently the rent went up too much, so Walton's shut up shop. (The Model Shop went from Frodsham Street, to Northgate Street, to the "Forum", over the years.) Thank you for naming "The Model Shop" in The Forum. I know the Knot but I'm struggling with Alpha Models. I have a vague memory of a model shop but I suspect no N gauge or if so after I left "The Port". Cycling to Chester was good exercise. Bus fare saved meant a little more N gauge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Thank you for naming "The Model Shop" in The Forum. I know the Knot but I'm struggling with Alpha Models. I have a vague memory of a model shop but I suspect no N gauge or if so after I left "The Port". Cycling to Chester was good exercise. Bus fare saved meant a little more N gauge. As I said...Alpha Models had stopped dealing in model railways by the time I went there, late 198s I think, and all they had left was OO Gauge...so probably never had "N" in..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TangerineWizards Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 On a similar note, RS Models in Heswall is also sadly missed. Its a shame D&A is now gone as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevelewis Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 I remember Alpha Models I used to have a look in but never bought anything, likewise the one in Heswall RS Models, I used to buy quite a lot from Waltons in the Forum in Chester, if I remember correctly they used to have a sort of half day closing at around 3-00 PM on A thusrsday most awkward sometimes, and of course i occasionally bought Liliput products from The Arts & Crafts Centre, in Chester, which moved around the corner after many years, and then sold out to Modelzone Now Chester model Centre There was also a sort of Model Shop in Buckley where we live!! It was actually a washing machine repair business, but the guy dabbled in Model Railways mostly second hand, 0. 00 & N he was connected somehow to the Brookside Garden Centre in Poynton Cheshire, which has (or Had) a lot of Railway interest a model shop & miniature railway. We used to live quite close to Poynton before we emigrated to Wales!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Other Chester model sources... Topper's Toys. This used to be on the right (looking from The Cross) of the top end of Watergate Street. Steet level, steps down. (Last I saw it was a Newsagents...) More the train set and extras, mainly if not only Hornby. I cannot remember the name. Boughton. The shop in the "sharp end" of the tri-angular one way system, the front window would be looking down the road towards Chester (Eastgate). A model shop, also stocked RC boats, planes, etc if I remember correctly. Chester Tri-ang Railways/ Tri-ang Hornby/ Hornby Railways Service Dealers (from lists in our collection) Not all personally remembered! The Model Shop. 43 Frodsham Street (C1958 - C1967) The Model Shop 76 Northgate Street (1968- 1970s) "Model Railways" 41 White Friars (1968-1969) (A side road of off Upper Bridge Street, on the right looking down from The Cross. The Model Shop 37 The Forum (1977-1980s) Walton's Model Shop 37 The Forum (1987-C1990) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevelewis Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I remember the one on the Triangle it was more associated with Radio Control Aircraft & Cars, only visited that one a few times . Now then on to Wrexham Hobby Corner on the outskirts, closed down last year again mostly Aircraft several years ago i noted a Hornby Class 101? DMU 3 car set £95.00! There was a shop in the town centre area more or less opposite Tesco Extra site, I had a G scale loco on order there which never materialised, and also one in the peoples market sold 00 & N gauge in a limited range and Jigsaw Puzzles I think he gave up on Railways eventually I bought a few items as the prices were excellent, ( he also used eBay a lot) I think we have now lost the original topic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jivebunny Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I think we have now lost the original topic. I think we have, but it's interesting nonetheless! Arts & Crafts in Chester is the one I remember the most clearly as I used to go there without fail whenever I was in the area (which was a lot since I lived a fifteen-minute walk away), even if it was just to stare at the models. In fact I still have a '91 Hornby catalogue with the shop stamp on the back of it! I remember being amazed the first time I noticed the Minitrix models in a display cabinet under the counter - my first encounter with N scale! I remember discovering the model shop (Walton's, as I am now informed) in the Forum shopping centre and being rather surprised that I'd never noticed it before, as I went to the Gateway quite frequently on School / Beavers / Cubs outings in the early 90s. Sadly the next time I had the opportunity to go there it had disappeared, and before reading this thread I had in fact always wondered if my childhood imagination and memories were simply playing tricks on me, particularly as nobody else in my family can remember it! The thing that stuck in my mind about that shop was the cabinet with the entire Hornby "Thomas" range on display, with which 6-8 year-old me was most impressed (my recent post in the thread about the return of the Thomas range is indicative of just how much). I would imagine the rents went up around the time the Forum's nasty 70s frontage was knocked down and rebuilt in a far less aggressive and more modern style, which I think was in 1994, although Sarahagain's list (thanks for that!) seems to indicate it was a bit earlier. I was only five in 1990 so I'd wager it closed somewhere between 1992 and 1994. Never got a chance to visit the one in Boughton but I remember spotting it from my dad's car when we were stopped in traffic, again at a rather young age. Quite a quirky place for a model shop, and not the best of location sitting in the middle of what is essentially a 30mph dual-carriageway! Didn't go to Wrexham very often when I was young but I remember Granny Midges, not a model shop by a long shot but you'd find the occasionnal Tri-ang / Hornby model in there. Last time I went to Wrexham the area had been completely redeveloped, anyone know if it's still there? JB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevelewis Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Dont think it is !! (ie G Midges) You wouldnt know Wrexham these days, The old ASDA in Eagles Meadow went some years ago replaced it with a new store just Nr the Police HQ, There is now an Eagles Meadow shopping centre Complete with a Cinema & 10 pin Bowling centre, Sadly the old main shopping centre Regent Street ( where Woolworths used to be before they closed down nationally) is a bit run down I am afraid Oh and the Railway Terminus for the Wrexham to Bidston line (for L'pool & Hattons) has a nice new terminus within yet another shopping centre Called Island Green, I think they called it that because the site is a bit of an island and the rooves are ( or were) Green. The station is nothing more than a single line ending in buffers frequented by Cl 150s Well we have definately gone off topic now apologies to the OP Perhaps we need a category for this Days Gone By theme!!?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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