Jump to content
 

Modelzone Southampton


petethemole

Recommended Posts

  • RMweb Premium

Modelzone are opening a new shop in central Southampton on Saturday 5th Dec. I'm not familiar with their stores but it must be good for the hobby to have a city centre shop selling a decent range of model railways, more than the minimal range of Hornby at Toys R Us!

Pete

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

 

Don't they charge full r.r.p. though ?

Not always and the Derby shop offers 10% discount to members of the Hornby and Bachmann Collector's Clubs as well as the local model railway club. However I don't know if this applies to all of their stores

 

Mike

Link to post
Share on other sites

It'll be 85 Above Bar Street according to their website. From their website it looks like they do Bachammn & Hornby RTR and Woodland Scenics. They also have a some tools but their modelling materials section has balsa and matchsticks listed. Good to have a model shop in the city centre - but I doubt I'll buy anything from them.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

With the imminent closure of Footplate Models, we've lost all three railway models shops in less than 2 years, so this is a little bit of salvation.

How are Modelzone for accessories and all the other bits and bobs, or do they just major on RTR?

 

Mostly Bachmann/farish and Hornby, but they do commission their own special editions from both on a regular basis. Aside from that there is a bit of woodland scenics and some plastic kits, along with modelling tools (compressors, airbrushes, glues paints etc).

 

At my local modelzone, you can usually negotiate a 10% discount off a loco with a bit of talking, the staff are friendly but not knowledgeable on railways in my experience. Prices tend to be the rrp for things, but they occasionally have bargains (they had Bachmann american steam locos with dcc sound ??249 reduced to ??98, and last year I picked up a Hornby voyager set for ??99 including the digital select controller and track)

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

it's a good little shop doesn't look as big as Basingstoke ModelZone but has all the usual stuff, I bought the all Blue 4CEP at £139.99 ouch and the their other current Bachmann limited edition 47573 in ONSE.

Yes Standard stuff is RRP but I usually go through Hattons for that, at least I can get their limited editions when required. They do have all the cars, bikes and planes in diecast also, kits and RC stuff I feel like a kid when I go in one their shops!

 

is that right Southampton model centre at Totton closed? I didn't like the service..if you know what I mean! shame the engine shed? from Northam to Swaythline went.. and now another is gone then...

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

I'll reserve judgement on a new store in this chain as they all seem to be rather different in their attitudes and local ways. Brighton barely has a railway section worth speaking of and the staff I spoke with there on two visits didn't have any apparent railway knowledge at all. Liverpool has been a little more helpful but only a little. Emailing through their central website seems to generate stunned silence and the business generally has given me the impression that they are less than keen to deal with overseas mail customers.

 

However Southampton may be better and I'm certainly willing to listen to first-hand experience. If they care to quote me for supply and shipping (to a non EC destination) of a blue CEP without VAT then I'll also consider that a positive move. None of their other stores seems able to cope with that sort of request.

Link to post
Share on other sites

 

Don't they charge full r.r.p. though ?

 

 

More than, in the case of Hull (again I wouldnt like to speak for others) - one model I particularly noticed was the Bachy Presflos at £9.25 as opposed to £9.10, and the latest sand tipplers (probably Bachmann's cheapest wagon otherwise) were also affected by a slight hike. Whilst I'd defend the right of a traditional hobby shop to charge RRP in order to cross-subsidise the bits 'n' bobs, I'm not sure it's so excusable in the case of a large chain like this, with plenty of other high-profit lines on stock

Link to post
Share on other sites

is that right Southampton model centre at Totton closed? I didn't like the service..if you know what I mean! shame the engine shed? from Northam to Swaythline went.. and now another is gone then...

"Southampton Model Centre" closed down a few years ago. Good riddance in my opinion.

They still trade on ebay though.

 

The other one you mention was "The Old Toy Shop" aka "Park Trains". After moving to the much better premises, it too closed after several months. A great loss to those in and around the Southampton area.

 

With "Footplate Models" also having closed down recently, that just leaves Ron Lines (off Millbrook road) and this new branch of ModelZone as Southampton's only model railway suppliers.

 

 

.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I dealt with Park Trains he was okay, the sort you can ring up and do a bulk deal with. The other guys SMC "ebay lot" well they are on a par with Modelzone "so expensive", Modelzone are okay for the Ltd Editions, but so expensive for model railways, but then they cater for all modelling sections, Military, RC Cars etc.

 

Its getting difficult in a lot of places to find the "proper" modelshops, the guys who do it all, not box shifters, but luckily a lot of the smaller independents are on the web as well.

 

Just remember people "Support" the small Guys first.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I will stick to Ron Lines who has now moved upstairs at the Solent Business centre, he`s now on the ground floor at the end by the car sales place.

Looking at the posts about Totally Trains I saw a comment suggesting that the major manufacturers won`t supply you unless you have a proper shop. The Hornby Website still has SMC as a stockist in Totton and a service dealer to boot! I think they now operate from a warehouse somewhere -ebay only. A Bournemouth phone number. They certainly seem to stock Hornby new products. No wonder the little guys who play the game and have shops and bits and bobs go to the wall,

 

Les

Link to post
Share on other sites

I doubt many in the Hampshire area will know about this one, but a new model shop has opened up in Eastleigh in the past few months. It's a tiny little place but he does a lot of refurb stock as well as some new stuff. It does mean you can pick up some real bargains! Hornby 60 with a cracked window for £40 take your fancy?

It is located on the eastern side of the Bishopstoke Road bridge, the main road over the railway line immediately north of the station, about a 4-5 minutes walk from there.

 

The only thing I can't remember is the name! But if you're in the area certainly worth a look.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I doubt many in the Hampshire area will know about this one, but a new model shop has opened up in Eastleigh in the past few months. It's a tiny little place but he does a lot of refurb stock as well as some new stuff. It does mean you can pick up some real bargains! Hornby 60 with a cracked window for £40 take your fancy?

It is located on the eastern side of the Bishopstoke Road bridge, the main road over the railway line immediately north of the station, about a 4-5 minutes walk from there.

 

The only thing I can't remember is the name! But if you're in the area certainly worth a look.

 

AC Models, 5 Bishopstoke Road.

I walked past it the other day but have yet to visit, good to see someone having a go.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Went to visit Ron Lines today to find their unit all closed up and some leaflets attached to the door saying that they've moved to a new shop in Shirley. I've got to pop in to Shirley tomorrow anyway so looking forward to checking it out...

I have to say I have enjoyed having Modelzone in town to browse when we have to pop in anyway but I haven't bought anything there (yet).

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...