Model shops in Paris

[hellotojasonisaacs]

Hello, or bonjour!

 

To cut a long story short, I'm living in France short term for work/study and I'm going to Paris for a short trip and looking for a decent model railway shop in said city. I've seen the occasional TGV train set in general toy shops but that's it so far. Could any of the model railway-ing community offer suggestions?

 

Many thanks in advance 

 

M

[Fat Controller]

This has been covered before, but here's a brief guide:

Around the Gare St Lazare, you have auPullman on rue d'Amsterdam (www.aupullman.com) ,and two or three shops (each with differing specialities) on rue d'Douai.

On rue d'Temple, in the 3rd, you have M Citerne, who my wife said was very helpful when she was looking for something for me; note that he doesn't open Saturdays.

Near Gare d'Austerlitz and the Bibliotheque François Mitterand is a well-stocked shop, whose name escapes me, with a good second-hand collection.

[Bob M]

Hi

 

One of our daughters lives in Paris and as we mooch around we keep finding model railway shops. We found two one afternoon while trudging round textile shops on my wife's birthday!

 

Au Pullman on Rue d'Amsterdam is not far from Gare St Lazare, where there is also a good railway bookshop.

 

Les Cheminots on Rue de Douai, with a secondhand shop with a variety of trains, cars etc. a couple of doors down.

 

La Caverne du Rail on Rue des Filles de Calvaire is unconventional. One side of the shop has hand built O and 1 gauge stuff that costs thousands , the other half is a mix of old second hand stuff that costs pennies. Round the corner on Boulevard Beaumarchais there is a more conventional shop and the only one I've ever bought anything from - Humbrol Paint!- but I can't remember it's name nor spot it on street view.

 

Bob

[jivebunny]

Just don't go in expecting to find the same sort of prices you get in the UK and you'll be fine  Not really their fault though, there seem to be far more business overheads in France than in the UK.

 

A bit further out from the city centre (and less of a model shop, more of a railway modelling supplier), is CDF Informatique in Courbevoie. Don't be put off by their rather basic website, it's run by a friendly older couple and I get all my Peco flex track and pointwork from them (N, OO/H0 and O). They have most modelling bits you'll need, fishplates, wiring, scenic accessories, Humbrol paints, lots of DCC goodies (in fact DCC components is how they started out). They often seem to have the latest Jouef models in, but the selection of actual models is rather limited. They do also stock some other brands such as LSModels and REE if you're into modelling French stuff. Worth a visit if you happen to be around there but otherwise it's a bit of a trek from the city centre if you can find everything you need in the central shops. They were the right side of Paris for me (Versailles) hence why I preferred to buy supplies from them (plus the nearest underground car park is full of stored classic cars).

 

JB