What has happened to the local model shop

[Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71]

Mornin' all,

 

I'm a fan of the freedom and efficiency of internet shopping for model railways. I order stock from a few tried and tested suppliers to limit the risk on more expensive items and (because P4 requires high track and wheel standards) stick with Ultrascale wheels and C&L track products where possible. Torr Giffard is very much a freestyle approach to 'going model railwaying' so very little (especially at the construction stage) is 'off the shelf' anyway. New challenges are being 'thrown up' regularly and 'Googling' potential solutions continually offers up novel and interesting products, thus, the layout is evolving in ways that wouldn't be possible if I had to get the car out and drive to the nearest model shop etc each time I needed product or assistance. The amount of time and money (fuel etc) which I've already saved by using the internet must rival expenditure on the layout so far. An extreme example is the current waiting time of over a year for packs of Preiser unpainted sitting figures (for populating stock, platforms etc). I used Google to track down a New York model shop with packs on the shelf and within 2 weeks had them delivered to the door.

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[stock_2007]

I'm not sure anyone can point the finger of blame at anyone else for small local shops closing. The shop that has just closed here seemed to do more mail-order work then anything. The owner once said that one of his problems was that a lot of the big makers Bachmann, Hornby etc seemed to look after the bigger out-lets first stands to reason as they put in bigger orders, but sadly if a new item came out my local shop would be lucky to fill his re-orders. Toward the end he stopped taking orders as he said it was not fair keeping people hanging on.

[marc smith]

Yes, there are many advantages of shopping online, with certain suppliers

and that's something I do regularly too

but I do like to support my local model shops

so I pop along to them as often as time allows

 

One thing of note, which online shopping can never do for me

The 2 best shops in Cardiff ("Lord & Butler" and "Lendons")

can be good for a browse and a rummage;

 

L&B do quite a bit of secondhand, and therefore trading of your unwanted items too

For example, I was buying a few bits, when one of the guys there announced he had "found" an EM converted pannier,

gathering dust, in a box under some other boxes.....

result, he offered it to me for £8 and I got a reduction on that...

just right for Cashmores' scrap line

 

Lendons was run for years by a decent old guy, who had run it for many decades

 

He had stock going back to the 70's, and even the 50's & 60's it seems

Often, he had unusual, no longer available, useful bits & pieces

and was happy for you to rummage in the boxes he kept under the table,

or out in the store-room....

This often turned up un-expected, unusual items, and was oddly exciting (what a sad man I am!)

 

Lendons has a reputation for limited editions and out of production stock

but since the younger couple now in charge sell a lot on line,

and via e-bay, that stock is diminishing

Of course, it's theirs and they want to sell it

but rummaging about and finding useful, unusual odds & ends will sadly lessen....

[southern42]

I'm not sure anyone can point the finger of blame at anyone else for small local shops closing. The shop that has just closed here seemed to do more mail-order work then anything. The owner once said that one of his problems was that a lot of the big makers Bachmann, Hornby etc seemed to look after the bigger out-lets first stands to reason as they put in bigger orders, but sadly if a new item came out my local shop would be lucky to fill his re-orders. Toward the end he stopped taking orders as he said it was not fair keeping people hanging on.

 

We experience the same thing: it’s what’s in the shop or look elsewhere. One shop, at least, seems reliant on what the Reps bring round (and when). We’ve been told that orders can be taken for main dealer items but retailers can’t guarantee its arrival and usually recommend you get it from elsewhere, but all done in a friendly, helpful manner.

 

We have several shops within an hour or two’s drive: toy shops, model railways only, military and gamers, retail store with the longest station name in Wales, and preservation railway shops. Some also sell online. We have also got to know quite a few traders at local exhibitions and individual specialists in the area.

 

So, what do you get?

 

Bachmann, Hornby, other manufacturers, different gauges, kits, accessories, scenics and modeling material, books, magazines and DVDs, tools and equipment, and related gifts and souvenirs (including Thomas and Ivor). It doesn’t take long to learn who sells what and who has the expertise.

 

The nearest shop has minimal stock and I’ve only bought a few small items. This means we take a want-to-buy or see-what-they’ve-got trip and make it a (rural) day or half day out as was the shopping trip custom when I was growing up, though then it was on (urban) buses and Tube and usually for clothes and gifts. I learnt at a very early age that not everything is on your doorstep.

 

And, yes, we buy online or over the phone and from shops and exhibition traders further afield. Many of our local outlets sell to visitors to the area and are geared up for that and we are happy in the knowledge that we buy from someone else’s local supplier as well as our own.

 

Yes, it's a pity that shops have closed and I don't know how long ours will survive.

In the meantime, we support if we can.

[stock_2007]

There is of course one problem which was high-lighted by a friend of mine (yes I still have one or two) he works under a

franchise agreement with Hornby he has ran his franchise thingy in a number of big stores in town but sad as they've cut back or closed

he is the first to go. At the moment he is working out of a corner in a 'toy-shop' anyway the problem is that Hornby set his prices

which are always RRP. Its only at this time of year with the run up to christmas his sales pick up.

[Talltim]

There must be something good in the model railway water here in Sheffield I think...

 

There are seven (yes 7!) model railway shops in the City, and Wakefield Model Centre not overly far away - All of them have decent websites, well at least one of them has a very good website for box shaped things!

 

We are lucky in Sheffield, however none of them have anything I would impulse buy except books. Its that obscure (for this country) interest issue again. Despite Rails being a very good internet retailer, and having a very good in (model railway terms) shop, I find it curiously uninspiring.

 

 

I did yesterdy receive an a pre-order made with a 'local' (in the UK) shop (LSWR Models) , It worked out at probably cheaper than an individual ordering from the US. However this only really works for new items, unless a UK shop has taken a punt on ordering the item with no confirmed buyer in mind, anything not current has to be bought directly from the US

[JohnR]

I believe that they are like The Works and are reprints. In a shop if I dont like I dont buy.

 

I have yet to get anything like that from Amazon, and I have been a customer of theirs since 1999.

[Talltim]

I have no idea where you got the reprint idea from, AFAIK amazon publishes nothing in its own right, except possIbly Kindle books

[stadman]

Another in Devon, Exeter Model Shop.

See his banner ad on some of this sites pages.

Kev S

[Captain Kernow]

Another in Devon, Exeter Model Shop.

See his banner ad on some of this sites pages.

As Kev says, it's great to see Dave from The Model Shop, Exeter (just off the old Iron Bridge, folks! ) advertising on here (some of you will know him from his regular attendances at our Taunton Members Day each April - hopefully he'll be back with us next year after being ill earlier this year). The shop is a genuine old-fashioned modellers shop, but also with the full normal range of R-T-R / R-T-P items.

 

Darren said we were well-off for model shops in Devon - and so we are, fortunately. There's also a good shop in Paignton (which Re6/6 can say more about, being closer to where he lives), plus the excellent Expressway Models adjacent to Buckfastleigh station on the South Devon Railway. In Newton Abbot town centre there is a decent-enough model railway section in the department store Austins (they even sell Precision Paints!), plus Bekra Models down towards the station, which do a mixture of model railways, ship and aircraft kits etc., but who are very good for paints and glues etc.

 

Plymouth is relatively devoid of 'proper' model shops, but do have a branch of Antics and also ModelZone (I have found the staff in the former to be somewhat snooty at times, whilst the prices in the latter are generally pretty high).

 

Both Dave in Exeter and Expressway Models in Buckfastleigh also offer pretty good prices, especially when you consider that they are not major box-shifting outlets.

 

If you are passing Camborne in Cornwall any time (funny how work trips sometimes require a visit to that town...), then the retail premises of Kernow Model Railways is superb, with the well-known good prices and good service too.

 

Haven't been up there for a while, but Tavyside Models in Tavistock always used to have a decent range of bits & pieces, too.

 

While I'm about it, I'll just mention the Titfield Thunderbolt bookshop, proprietor Simon Castens - http://www.titfield.co.uk/ As well as having the finest selection of railway books I've ever seen, Simon is gradually increasing his stock of model railway items, and can also offer a comfortable sofa for browsers to look at potential purchases over a cup of his coffee! The shop was only opened about two years ago and is in Larkhall, a suburb of Bath and extremely handy for the A46 back up to the M4.

[AndyH]

I remember Ballard's and Bob's models in Birmingham as the odd treat after the family moved to Brum whereas Beatties was a regular stopping point. I suppose modelling appeared more widespread and open and most shops, apart from Beatties, lacked a retail gloss. Now my local is Kernow or Cornish Kites in Mullion.

Am happy to support whoever is producing the best products wherever they are. Just wish Kernow did 7mm, ah for a well tank...

Andy

[Vanders]

Richard's in Yatton, Model Railways Direct in Portishead, Model Masters in Weston and Modelmania in Bristol in increasing order of distance away.

 

Model Masters in the Galleries in Broadmead are absolutely useless for 'N' gauge, last time I went into there all I could find were a few bits of setrack pointwork and a couple of kits.

 

Hang on, Antics are still there too aren't they?

 

Nothing will ever beat Max Williams, though...

[N15class]

I have to use the internet to get my parts, my nearest model shop, at which I can paints etc, is 4 1/2 hour flight away in Sao Paulo. Nearest railway model shop is 5000 miles away. When I was in Dorset we had a few nice shops but they were slowly closing. Then all you were left with was the shps with the RTR stuff no good at all for a kit builder.

[Barry Ten]

 

Sadly though, Antics has now closed

sad because they took over "Bud Morgan" - who were my fave haunt as a lad,

and were the model railway shop to visit in the Welsh capital

 

 

Not sure if you're aware of this, Marc, but it's not closed, just moved - they're now

on Wood Street opposite Cardiff Central.

 

So there are still more than the average number of model shops in central Cardiff...

[Danemouth]

Not sure if you're aware of this, Marc, but it's not closed, just moved - they're now

on Wood Street opposite Cardiff Central.

 

So there are still more than the average number of model shops in central Cardiff...

 

Visited Antics in my lunch hour today. TBH not worth the effort of walking across the city centre from my office. Comparatively little railway stock and poorly laid out though the tools and raw materials make be useful.

 

Regards,

 

Dave

[AngryMeerkat]

It seems that you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't ....

 

My local model shop as a kid, and the only reason I knew anything about model railways, was Hattons. I remember it as a relatively small shop with friendly staff, and I spent many a long hour in there learning and parting with my pocket money. However because Hattons has adapted and really caught on to the Internet boom, they are apparently partly responsible for the demise of the local model shop and have the title of 'box shifters'?

 

As for my current local model shop .... Nothing has a price on it and there is a strange feeling in the shop, I can't describe it but you never feel comfortable going in there. But I do go there, every week, and spend something in there. They don't have a working website, and the shop is a bit of a mess so you have to ask for almost everything you want, but they seem to do well. However I know many people who refuse point blank to go near it, and I understand why. Unfortunately I doubt the shop in question will change at all.

 

Personally I believe the Internet is the way to go, you don't need premises which allows small businesses to trade with low overheads, and as Ten Commandments have shown - you can build a good business through the Internet with quality products and a good reputation. I believe that within 20 years the 'local model shop' will be thought of as Woolworths is - we miss it but we move on, nostalgia doesn't supply what we want at the price we want.

 

Mark

 

 

[Crantock]

The problem with shops is where they don't sell the basics. Shops which get rave reviews just don't have what you want. I did a weekend in Warwickshire with a pot of Humbrol 85 at the back of my mind. Warwickshire Model Engineering Exhibition - No, Castle trains Warwick - no, Warwick hardware stores - no, Metropolis toys - closed at 16.00, Classic Leamington - went into basement and found one.

 

As i have not opened it 2 weeks later the internet would have been cheaper. Why go to the hassle.

 

I mostly buy at exhibitions these days.

[MJI]

I prefer back in 80s I had The Model Shop, Cotswold Models, over to Cheltenham for CMC.

 

Back in 70s Fletchers

[The Q]

It's 20+ mile each way to either Sheringham, GT Yarmouth or Norwich which is my nearest model shops, although they are supposedly going to open one at the future permanent Model railway Exhibition in Hoveton (12 miles) this they claim will be a High end shop what ever that means. I suspect it will mean the big manufacturers and Thomas the tank engine, because that is the only way they will get sales to their passing trade (mostly tourists) going to the exhibition and the Bure valley railway.

 

I have never lived where there has been a shop round the corner, the nearest for a couple of years would have been 5 miles (each way) to Alnwick many years ago, but I have always mail ordered or now internet. For much of the country this has alway been the case if not the magazines would not have always (in my life time ) had pages of adverts subsidising the magazines. We are lucky that so far this has continued, many magazines in other hobbies have folded as their advertisers disappeared to only the internet. This would reduce future people joining the hobby as you don't look on the internet in passing, you look FOR something. Whereas in a paper shop people see the glossey covers and decide that looks interesting.

I suspect that the future will be a few toy / model shops in most big towns or cities, enthusiasts / up to rivet counters, of any hobby will buy from the internet and or mail order. hopefully our dealers will keep advertising in the magazines.

 

Oh I believe Most of the Works books are end of print runs and returns from unsold warehouse stock hence the very erratic stock they hold, which is why if I visit a place with a Works I alway go in for a look round as I do if I find a model shop.

The Q

[sammyboy]

I'm very lucky to have a local model shop, it's just at the end of my road!

WD Models is the name of the place, run by a couple of blokes who are members of the same club as myself, very good selection of stock both in OO and N gauges and the shelves are always full of nice models to tempt you with parting with your hard earned cash!

 

The shop has been open as long as I have known it to be there throughout my childhood, has had a couple of previous owners and even was a victim to a break in, the owner at the time gave up Modelling and running the shop, and I thought after that the shop would close down for good, Also remember walking down there with my Dad to pick up bits of track for the layout after school!

 

Another good shop is Antics in Sheffield city centre, just at the top of the hill from the station, used to go in there when ever I was in Sheffield, and called in there before starting my shift at Sheffield station (my old job) a few times.

[JZ]

I try to use my local shops, East Somerset Models at Cranmore and Signals in Midsomer Norton. At ESM I get a small discount, one of the owners is a fellow FGW conductor, which make thing fairly competitive with Rails and Hatton's. I also get the occassional item from Ian Allan in Cardiff and for paints I tend to use Antics in Cardiff, as it is now handily close to the station. Sadly though, all the shops where you could get odd bits and pieces have all gone, Challis's in Shepton Mallet and further back, Max Williams, Model Highways and Kemps in Bristol.

[Poggy1165]

I recently built an O gauge wagon. I worked out that the various bits came from no less than seven different suppliers. Nine if you include paint and varnish. There is no way any small, local model shop could or would stock them all. The hobby is much more complex than it used to be. At one time a guy might be the local agent for Hornby Dublo (or Triang or Trix but probably not all three.) He might stock some Merit or S&B 'accessories' and maybe a few Kitmaster or Airfix kits. Throw in the odd tube of glue and maybe some Humbrol paints and that would be it. Most of us now would not be satisfied with such a small selection. Oh, and the Hornby Dublo range (for example) was much smaller than the modern equivalent.

 

This is one factor - another is the abolition of Retail Price Maintenance which made it as cheap (or rather as dear) to buy from your local retailer as from anyone else. People who want the mass produced stuff now mainly seek out the lowest prices. Those (like me) who want the specialist stuff go either direct to source or to whatever online source is able to supply it.

[westie7]

Acknowledging all the points that we know contribute to the decline in independent (small) railway retailers, is the root of the problem not earlier. In life that is.

Anybody of my age (40 odd) probably didn't have anything more advanced than a model railway when we were younger, in most cases the attraction is still there. Just do an ages survey on most railway and modelling forums and you'll see.

 

These days unless the parents get in there quick with the roundy roundy or the Airfix Spitfire (As I did with my son) then you're on a hiding to nothing against, PSP, X-Box, Wii, iPad etc.

 

There was a model shop in Peterhead which recently closed, it did everything, Planes Trains and Automobiles. Tools, crafts repairs the lot. He shut up shop simply cos he couldn't compete with high volume internet shops, rising rents and folk who wanted something for nothing. He wasn't one of the RRP or nothing guys either, I always had a haggle and we both came away happy.

 

When I went in with my son, he often commented that he never really had kids in unless it was the muppets at lunchtime. It was a grown ups model shop effectively and we grown ups just don't have the spare cash these days.

 

There are a few shops i will go that bit out of my way to give my business to, but they are fast disappearing. But I also have to buy the big ticket items online after an extensive search... otherwise My chancellor of this houses exchequer will shut me down :lol

[MJI]

The multiple activities does hurt some hobbies, but not necessary kill them. My twins have a train set they have spent about £60 on it out of present money, I supplied a few coaches Thomas, Percy, Dock Shunter, track, they bought a green class 20 from Bachmann. But their main activity appears to be Minecraft.

 

Now I do most of my modelling at the weekend, or watching TV, but I play games as well, I really enjoy a good multi player session after tea, it helps me destress, but I have still spent more money on model railways. (This year about £200 vs £40, 2011 was other way round!)

 

It did help that we needed a BluRay player.

 

At the weekend the boys want me to play on games, but I want to sit there doing my DMU conversions.

 

Now if games were the big money thing why are so many game shops going under?

 

I personally think it is a town centre issue.

[dbanbery]

The multiple activities does hurt some hobbies, but not necessary kill them. My twins have a train set they have spent about £60 on it out of present money, I supplied a few coaches Thomas, Percy, Dock Shunter, track, they bought a green class 20 from Bachmann. But their main activity appears to be Minecraft.

 

Now I do most of my modelling at the weekend, or watching TV, but I play games as well, I really enjoy a good multi player session after tea, it helps me destress, but I have still spent more money on model railways. (This year about £200 vs £40, 2011 was other way round!)

 

It did help that we needed a BluRay player.

 

At the weekend the boys want me to play on games, but I want to sit there doing my DMU conversions.

 

Now if games were the big money thing why are so many game shops going under?

 

I personally think it is a town centre issue.

 

I can sympathise with this viewpoint, i too play computer games [not ver often anymore] and have other hobbies. its about how you divide your time up. some people devote a lto of time to one hobby, others have an assortment. i am the latter, and go through phases of model aircraft, model cars, model rail, computers, actual cars, etc.. it also depends whether you have friends with similar hobbies as you do get spurred on by mates who have their own stuff that "need some help" and it holds you interest.

 

It is a highstreet issue. we have this dissonant situation of too many retail units, yet the commercial leasing seem to choke off business too - i dont understand it. i see it in a lot of different places all over the UK. I think the additional reason why games are going under is because of the availability of downloadable content, with supermarkets and their agressive pricing.