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Model Shops UK


binbrook87

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On 14/07/2020 at 13:18, spruecutter96 said:

I'm going to add the blindingly-obvious one here... Hannants London. the only "true" model shop in the London area. There's also the Ian Allan London shop (near Waterloo station), which is around 30% plastic kits and accessories and 70% railway stuff, IIRC. I haven't been to Ian Allan for a few years, so don't know if it's still going or not.  

 

Chris. 

There aren't that many near me but luckily Hannants is about a half hour drive up the A1. It's a cracking shop and the lads that work in there are friendly and knowledgable. The warehouse in Lowestoft as you say is also extremely good but you will have to go in with a set budget. "Kid in a candy store" sums it up perfectly.

 

There is a small shop in Old Stevenage called K and S models. Mostly railway stuff, but also kits, paints, scenics etc.

 

 

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Although focused on model railways  this a useful site for locating model shops.

 

http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/events/local

 

A linked question is how accurate is the listing on the airfix  website? I know my previous lms went out of business 2 years ago but is still listed.

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27 minutes ago, Paul821 said:

Although focused on model railways  this a useful site for locating model shops.

 

http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/events/local

 

A linked question is how accurate is the listing on the airfix  website? I know my previous lms went out of business 2 years ago but is still listed.

Thank you for this link 👍 I used this some time ago and it is very comprehensive but seemed to be more focused on model railways. You have to carefully look at the tiny symbols to see which ones sell plastic kits. Some are only selling the bare minimum so probably not worth a special visit. I think the map posted previously is a great idea and together with regular posts by folks on here for those that are known, or recommend or new ones that are discovered. I'm really amazed how many there are still about. Great stuff! 😁

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I've now added to the above posted map all of the shops from the earlier PDF. At least those that I could be sure still exist as stores that can be visited. Quite a few had closed. If I have missed any, any need adding, subtracting, editing or I have got anything wrong then post on this thread and I will pick it up and amend. I will continue to tinker with the map adding shops that I discover.

 

I wish I had this resource a few years ago when I was travelling more. Or perhaps my bank account wishes I didn't as I am physically incapable of going into a model shop without finding something that I really need.

 

I wonder if the link to the map could be pasted to the start of this thread to make it easier to find.

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I just remebered one in Dorchester which had a good stock of kits. It is easy to pass as it just looks like a shop for artists's materials (which isn't a bad thing anyway.) Quite handy for those on holiday or visiting Bovington.

 

Frank Herring and Sons, Dorset.

 

Just adding two more. They are both gift shops,selling a small range of kits and memorabilia, that are attached to two small, good museums

 

.https://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/

https://www.muckleburgh.co.uk/

 

 

Edited by Stef N.
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On 7/15/2020 at 6:30 AM, Pete F said:

Like this:

 

Google map of model shops

 

Perfect, and very quick work!

 

maybe discuss with one of the admins if this could be pinned somewhere, and also if the editing rights could be opened up so that one person isn’t responsible for maintaining it - but on the other hand not so ‘public’ that it can be spoilt or hacked by anyone.

 

 

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On 7/15/2020 at 5:36 PM, Stef N. said:

There is a small shop in Old Stevenage called K and S models. Mostly railway stuff, but also kits, paints, scenics etc.

 

 

There’s a similar sounding shop in Kings Langley, right by Junction 20 of the M25 called, unsurprisingly, Junction 20 models - tiny shop, mostly railways but reasonable supplies of modelling bits and piece ps and some interesting new and secondhand kits. (Haven’t checked myself if it has survived the Covid downtime).

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9 hours ago, sennapod said:

There’s a similar sounding shop in Kings Langley, right by Junction 20 of the M25 called, unsurprisingly, Junction 20 models - tiny shop, mostly railways but reasonable supplies of modelling bits and piece ps and some interesting new and secondhand kits. (Haven’t checked myself if it has survived the Covid downtime).

Added to the map. Their website says they have reopened after Covid so looking positive.

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9 hours ago, sennapod said:

maybe discuss with one of the admins if this could be pinned somewhere, and also if the editing rights could be opened up so that one person isn’t responsible for maintaining it - but on the other hand not so ‘public’ that it can be spoilt or hacked by anyone.

Sounds good - if any admins are reading - can this be done? 

 

Happy to share - I think I can do it individually by email address. This is in addition to the current share which is by link but doesn't allow editing. I think the share should be in case I can no longer contribute so someone else can take over. From experience it is usually best that only one person has responsibility for editing otherwise it can get a bit messy -  at least in the early stages.

 

I get emails when people add shops to this thread so I wonder if it could be pinned and kept. Old posts can be occasionally purged to stop the thread getting unwieldy (if this is possible). That way I will always pick up on new comments and can add, remove edit as appropriate.

 

As an aside this map is not restricted to the UK so if anyone wanted to add shops elsewhere it isn't a problem - this may be a case when an editor for a particular country is desirable to deal with any language issues. That's just me thinking off the top of my head - I'm not sure how international Britmodeller is.

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There is also a large list of shops and websites on the scalemates website which i try to keep updated often(ish).

Working 12+ hours a day most days on a 5 days on 3 days off shift pattern does seem to limit my mojo somewhat though.

You can access shops on the toolbar where the Home, Notification, Mail, News Feed etc buttons are by clicking the 3 dots between Magazines and Updates to expand the menu.

You'll get a map with red markers indicating shops close to you if you're registered and signed in otherwise you can use the + and - signs to zoom in and out.

Each red marker indicates a modeling shop you can visit and clicking on the marker will give some details for that shop along with a link to see their page.

Note the link in bold for a list of shops on this text line. Browse all plastic scale modeling shops around the world: Scale Modeling Shops

When you have clicked the link you tick a country of your choice to see shops listed for that country including the online only shops.

Currently the UK has over 400 listed of interest and i have no doubt there is alot more in existence.

 

https://www.scalemates.com/shops/

Edited by smackers
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A couple of suggested additions in the east of Scotland:

 

Mac's Model Railroading, 4-8 Reform Street, Kirriemuir, Angus DD8 4BS https://www.facebook.com/macsmodelrailroading/

Mainly model railways (obviously) but also paint, tools, materials and a few plastic kits

 

Space Craft Models, 71 King Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee DD5 1EY https://www.spacecraftmodel.com

Specialist model shop. Restricted opening hours

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19 hours ago, Skodadriver said:

A couple of suggested additions in the east of Scotland:

 

Mac's Model Railroading, 4-8 Reform Street, Kirriemuir, Angus DD8 4BS https://www.facebook.com/macsmodelrailroading/

Mainly model railways (obviously) but also paint, tools, materials and a few plastic kits

 

Space Craft Models, 71 King Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee DD5 1EY https://www.spacecraftmodel.com

Specialist model shop. Restricted opening hours

Added to the map.

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Noticed that the Airfix shop near Margate is not on the map, 

 

The Hornby Visitor Centre

Westwood Industrial Estate, Westwood, Margate CT9 4JX

 

Regards

Robert

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Gravesend model centre, good place only opened a year and half ago or so, also the long running Stamps and Hobbies though kit wise now slim pickings, still my go to for Humbrol acrylic supplies as the former doesn’t carry them. Both on the High Street (which isn’t the high street in the town instead a side street) 

Edited by PhantomBigStu
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3 hours ago, Jb65rams said:

Millennium Models in Morley, Leeds.

Added to the map. I have tagged this as a model shop, as opposed to a model train shop, as there seems to be a decent selection of kits on their website. I hope this agrees with your thoughts.

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 15/07/2020 at 17:02, 12jaguar said:

2 shops relatively local to me:

 

Model Junction in Bury St Edmunds https://www.model-junction.co.uk/

 

City Cycle Centre in Ely http://www.citycyclecentre.com/

 

Both worth a visit 

Due to needing a day out I visited the shop in Ely and can verify it is a good shop. A very good selection of paints, sundries and kits. A better selection of kits for aircraft modellers but still enough for armour and car/bike modellers to have a good rummage.

 

Thanks for the heads up.👍

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1 hour ago, Silver Fox said:

Is there anything in Weston Super Mare?

 

In this months Airfix Model World there is a list of model shops from around the UK. They have the following for Weston:- MT Games Ltd, 21-23 Meadow St, W-S-M, BS23 1QQ.

 

Hope that this helps.

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