Largest city without a model shop

[jamieb]

Brighton used to have a couple when I lived there in the 80's.There was Kemp Models who owned Westward and Perseverance but they upped sticks to Bristol and then disappeared a few years later.Also a small shop called (I think) John Taylor whose manager went to Beatties when they opened in Brighton(I worked there for 3 years).Sadly since Beatties closed in the early 90's theres been nothing, but at least The Engine Shed is only a short train ride away.

 

Jamie

[JZ]

I agree with Gordon and Barry Ten about The Engine Shed in Leytonstone. An excellent little shop that appears to have all of those hard to find items. I have even popped up there before work one day. After checking they had the bits I needed of course. It's a long way from Bristol to come back empty handed.

Locally, I have East Somerset Models, but I would hardly call Cranmore a city. In Bristol there is an Antics, but railway stuff is limited to the main names. There used to be a very good one up the Gloucester Road not far from Montpelier Station, but this sadly went many years ago now. Another good one was Kemp's in Brislington, but they too have gone. And I must not forget the legendary Max Williams. Ask for the most obscure item in there and it would be found. Again, sadly gone.

As for Bath......................... The Modeller Den is still there, although now called The Bath Model Centre(The Modellers Den). Railway stuff is not the priority in here and the prices are high, all RRP. Though this is no doubt due to the crippling business rates in Bath.

[Burkitt]

As for Bath......................... The Modeller Den is still there, although now called The Bath Model Centre(The Modellers Den). Railway stuff is not the priority in here and the prices are high, all RRP. Though this is no doubt due to the crippling business rates in Bath.

 

It's very good for materials and accessories though, they have lots of plasticard, microstrip, wood, electrical bits, tools, various Peco things etc. In my opinion that's far more important for a local model shop to have as I can just pop in and get something I need for a project, and with postage costs they're not worth ordering off the net. RTR on the other hand I would shop around online for anyway.

 

Paul

[Tim V]

Antics in Bristol is good for materials and Woodland Scenics. It even has some RTR.

 

The shop in St George is good, parking is poor.

 

Gone are the days of Salansons, Max Williams, Model Highways. There used to be a shop in Trowbridge that was worth driving to.

 

It depends what you want from a shop. These days I don't expect to get my requirements from shops, it's too specialised. I get most of what I want at shows. I always rate shows on the trade that's there.

[Trevor H]

Come to sunny Cardiff - we've got Ian Allan and Antics in the city center, within a few minutes walk of each other, one of Lord and Butler's two shops a 10-15 minute walk away, and Lendons and Lord and Butler's other, bigger shop a short drive to the outskirts. Sorted

 

 

Getting a Modelzone as well, Cardiff must have a high percentage of modellers

[John M Upton]

Brighton used to have a couple when I lived there in the 80's.There was Kemp Models who owned Westward and Perseverance but they upped sticks to Bristol and then disappeared a few years later.Also a small shop called (I think) John Taylor whose manager went to Beatties when they opened in Brighton(I worked there for 3 years).Sadly since Beatties closed in the early 90's theres been nothing, but at least The Engine Shed is only a short train ride away.

 

There is a Modelzone in Brighton now in West Street near Churchill Square and it was expanded fairly recently. Heading east on a train or bus you can reach Train Times in Eastbourne near the seafront run by Trevor of this very parish. Much reccomended by the way!

[Barry Ten]

Antics in Cardiff has improved a bit recently. It used to be very good when the model train section was down in the basement, but suffered a bit with the move upstairs. But lately I've noticed a good selection of Parkside kits, Woodland scenics and so on.

[Del]

There is a Modelzone in Brighton now in West Street near Churchill Square and it was expanded fairly recently. Heading east on a train or bus you can reach Train Times in Eastbourne near the seafront run by Trevor of this very parish. Much reccomended by the way!

And if you jump off the bus in Peacehaven, you have Loconotion Models too.

[vc-10]

Salisbury, one of England's smaller cities, has 2 model shops. One does the full RRP thing, the other often beats Hattons etc once postage is included. I must count myself lucky!

[Buhar]

Aylesbury's surely not too far from Marlow or Henley.

 

But don't get me started on London! There are shops on the outskirts, Jennings in Enfield, a couple in the south west and Leytonstone, which I visit for work occasionally and then get the *+-/ out. The Engineshed could be doing BOGOF on Black 5s and I'd still be down that tunnel to the tube station without a second glance.

 

I found a shop in Wandsworth the other week. The sign above said "Russ" but it was very faded. Some RTR stock and bits and bobs, brass, plastikard etc, but it had the feel of a business being run down.

[Marcyg]

I vote Portsmouth. Fratton model centre USED to have a show piece Fleishman display, but they seem more interested in remote control toys now. Betties have gone, and unfortunatly Tonys trains and models have gone too (all the best Lou if you're reading this). That leaves Collectors Corner, and whilst John will do almost anyhting to help, he seems to be very much an RRP man, and is kinda short on the 'nick knacks' older second hand shops seem to have.

[Wicor Models]

There used to be a very good one up the Gloucester Road not far from Montpelier Station, but this sadly went many years ago now.

That was Nobby's Hobbies if I remember rightly. I used to live right opposite in Meridian Terrace and the couple who owned it used to baby sit my little boy when he was very young so we could have a night out. You don't get that sort of service from many model shops today!!!

 

As for Bath......................... The Modeller Den is still there, although now called The Bath Model Centre(The Modellers Den). Railway stuff is not the priority in here and the prices are high, all RRP. Though this is no doubt due to the crippling business rates in Bath.

It's not just the rates that stifle businesses it's also the rents and it's not Bath or any other council that sets business rates, that is done by Central Government, the local council are acting as collectors.

 

Tonys trains and models have gone too (all the best Lou if you're reading this)

Lou often pops into the shop for a chat and she's OK. I'm sure she'll be chuffed that so many people still ask after her.

 

Dave

[45156]

Croydon (can't get reply with quote to work?)

 

Does it not still have Norwood Junction Models (not great but better than nothing) by the bridge at (oddly) Norwood Juncion, and Engine and Tender (which was mainly second hand) in Spring Lane at Woodside?

[Guest jim s-w]

Hi All

 

No model shops in Birmingham! There's Ian Allan which is a book shop that sells a few trains but that's your lot. Modellers mecca is fantastic but thats getting on for 10 miles from the city.

 

Cheers

 

Jim

['CHARD]

Hi All

 

No model shops in Birmingham! There's Ian Allan which is a book shop that sells a few trains but that's your lot. Modellers mecca is fantastic but thats getting on for 10 miles from the city.

 

Cheers

 

Jim

We're still fortunate in Sutton to have Hobbyrail, and over in Erdington there's the hit'n'miss second-hand grot(to) that is Sleepers. Fair comment though, there used to be Gills in Sutton, Graingers at Scott Arms, even one across here in Walmley village that I used to cycle to. Can't for the life of me remember its name - it was unbelievably 24 years ago now!

[Marcyg]

I think the problem is eBay. Seems to be kinning off most of the smaller secondhand shops:(

[Ron Ron Ron]

I think the problem is eBay. Seems to be kinning off most of the smaller secondhand shops:(

Not only eBay; but internet shops, property rents, business rates, tax and a shrinking market have all taken their toll.

 

There may have been a boom in model railway sales over the last seven or eight years, but I suspect it's largely been concentrated in certain product areas, such as RTR, DCC etc, and to a smaller number of modellers with greater spending power.

The old style local shop operating on low margins (if any) is doomed unless they can carve out a place in the market for themselves. Some local shops have done just that and seem to be doing reasonably or very well. Those without the abilty or wherewithall to survive, will perish just as dozens have already done.

 

.

[Steve K]

We're still fortunate in Sutton to have Hobbyrail, and over in Erdington there's the hit'n'miss second-hand grot(to) that is Sleepers. Fair comment though, there used to be Gills in Sutton, Graingers at Scott Arms, even one across here in Walmley village that I used to cycle to. Can't for the life of me remember its name - it was unbelievably 24 years ago now!

I've been into Hobbyrail, and I remember Gills now you mention them (going back a while, though - I seem to remember ogling Lego in the basement...), and I remember buying a Fujimi kit from a shop at Scott Arms, too, but I've never been into Sleepers. I guess the place always looks shut, even when it's open. Just how grotty is it? If it's not quite as forbidding as it looks, I might take a peek one day.

['CHARD]

I've been into Hobbyrail, and I remember Gills now you mention them (going back a while, though - I seem to remember ogling Lego in the basement...), and I remember buying a Fujimi kit from a shop at Scott Arms, too, but I've never been into Sleepers. I guess the place always looks shut, even when it's open. Just how grotty is it? If it's not quite as forbidding as it looks, I might take a peek one day.

Yeah, Gills had two incarnations. The first, until circa 1978, was on both floors of the premises at the corner of Holland St, opposite a big derelict mansion, now The Bottle Of Sack. In those days the shop was a treasure trove. It moved to where Games Workshop is today (thanks to my son Charlie for that gen), close to Duke St and Hazel's Funeral Directors. I don't think I went in there more than a couple of times, it just didn't seem as good, possibly all the obsolete i.e interesting stock had gone. It closed without fanfare within a couple of years and the resident railway expert went on to Beatties in Birmingham.

 

There were two at Scott Arms, one on the city centre side specialised also in kits, the other (Graingers) was a 'mom & pop shop,' half devoted to knitting, half to model railways.

 

By coincidence I saw Sleepers' proprietor this morning from a passing bus (one of the last WM Metobuses!), on his way to open up at 1000. To be honest, when you get inside it's exactly 65% worse than it appears from the street.

[Pete the Elaner]

Croydon, while still not yet a city, but larger population wise than many (including Wolverhampton, Sunderland, Hull and Leicester)

 

Croydon is in Greater London. Does Greater London count as a city or a county?

For its size, I agree that it is poorly served with model shops.

[Edwin_m]

I think the problem is eBay. Seems to be kinning off most of the smaller secondhand shops:(

 

Maybe eBay in particular but the internet in general as well. When you can get pretty reliable next day service from Hattons at a keen price then the traditional local shop, selling at RRP and not necessarily having everything in stock, is in trouble. The ones that are doing best seem to be cutting prices to a level similar to Hattons list price plus their P&P, and that's probably impossible if you're in a high-cost location like most city centres.

 

Of course Hattons isn't much use if you just need a pack of rail joiners NOW, but there's not much profit in such odds and ends.

[pauln]

 

 

But don't get me started on London! There are shops on the outskirts, Jennings in Enfield, a couple in the south west and Leytonstone, which I visit for work occasionally and then get the *+-/ out. The Engineshed could be doing BOGOF on Black 5s and I'd still be down that tunnel to the tube station without a second glance.

 

I found a shop in Wandsworth the other week. The sign above said "Russ" but it was very faded. Some RTR stock and bits and bobs, brass, plastikard etc, but it had the feel of a business being run down.

 

That'll be (FH?) Russ in Battersea Rise (Clapham Junction). My Saturday treat was to look longingly in the window there when I was a kid (30+ years ago). It is past its best for sure. Not too far away is Jane's Trains near Tooting BR station (mostly second-hand). Croydon has Modelzone, Kingston has a small Modelzone, Epsom Downs (stretching the London definition) has Masters and that's the lot in my neck of the woods.

[Dudley Dodger]

wolverhampton has none, bar a cabinet in the entertainer. you need to be in dudley or birmingham for one.

[Andy Y]

Just how grotty is it?

 

If Mr Trebus had ever ventured into retail it would have been Sleepers.

 

 

 

 

 

[D605Eagle]

I take it you have been in there then? A good friend used to work there 10 odd years ago, and it was a grotty scary shop then, it seems its got worse over the years judging by the state of it exterior in passing! Its a shame really because when its previous owner had it it was a well run smart little shop.