Chuck Plains Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Teehee, ok I do buy a lot of stuff online, but I'll go to the LMS for odds and sods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted hughes Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Posted by MattyB on 17/02/2015 23:26:41: What's a "shop"? As a glider guy and FrSky user shops are (and have always been) mostly a dead loss for me, as they don't tend to stock the specialist bits needed. T9, GiantCod, Robotbirds and Hyperflight are my "local" shops now, along with the odd order to the 'King. Sorry, but I don't feel I'm missing out on much. This is the exact opposite of my experience!When lived in Wallingham, and now in B'mouth,Tommy Harris and Channel 4 models were the very places I could go to pick up the odd item straight away, and also get advice. For example, Channel 4 used to have boxes in which they kept odd items, such as servo gears, arms and screws. So I could get back into the air the same day for a couple of quid, or pence. Thinking about it, I'm the type of customer who drove them out of business! Mind you, it is the same with everything, with a global economy, and if you can wait a week or so, it simply is not worthwhile repairing items like servos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ashton Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Hi everybody, Not heard of the Nitroflight store, in Rotherham not Doncaster?, must pay that one a visit sometime. My 'local' is Leeds Model shop, now, according to google maps it's 14.5 miles away but we could totally ignore my vote and the reason is that I have the luxury of driving past it on the way to/from work. In the 5 yrs? I have been RC flying I have only gone twice at the weekend, when I very first started to pick up my Chris Foss trainer engine and radio gear and just two weeks ago to pick up acro wot foam e and we can also discount the acro wot because I was dropping the wife off just a mile away. Just something for everybody, if at all you can do, keep your local shop alive. regards Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 4 Max is 23 miles and Andover Models is 24 miles from me. Mainly Trains n Planes Gosport way can be a nightmare to get to depending on the time of day and ModellbauUK at Alton could be slightly nearer and has the nicest drive there. So I'm looking at a 40 to 50 mile round trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Interesting results, and not hard to see why shops are going out of business... If we assume a 20 mile round trip in the car is the point at which P&P becomes effectively "free" if buying online instead, and we're generous and say half in the 10-30 mile category are at the lower end and squeeze inside a 20 mile round trip, that means that it only makes economic sense for just under a third of modellers to visit in person. And that's without factoring in the price premiums that have to be there for shop front operators. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Posted by ted hughes on 21/02/2015 01:26:56: Posted by MattyB on 17/02/2015 23:26:41: What's a "shop"? As a glider guy and FrSky user shops are (and have always been) mostly a dead loss for me, as they don't tend to stock the specialist bits needed. T9, GiantCod, Robotbirds and Hyperflight are my "local" shops now, along with the odd order to the 'King. Sorry, but I don't feel I'm missing out on much. This is the exact opposite of my experience! When lived in Wallingham, and now in B'mouth,Tommy Harris and Channel 4 models were the very places I could go to pick up the odd item straight away, and also get advice. For example, Channel 4 used to have boxes in which they kept odd items, such as servo gears, arms and screws. So I could get back into the air the same day for a couple of quid, or pence. Thinking about it, I'm the type of customer who drove them out of business! Mind you, it is the same with everything, with a global economy, and if you can wait a week or so, it simply is not worthwhile repairing items like servos. Servo gears and arms are not specialist items - I'm talking thin wing servos from KST or MKS, a good selection of carbon strip and composites, or a FrSky receiver. For non specialist stuff it is simply way cheaper to keep stock in a top up when you place your next order - I always keep cheap 9g servos, a variety of clone apc-e props, some spare foam wheels and lots of linkage gear, deans plugs and heat shrink around so I am never really downed (besides, I have too many toys for that to happen in reality! ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott finnie Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I just put into google maps my route From Edinburgh to Lancaster and it's 166 miles. thats well over 300 miles round trip to my closest REAL model shop. I do take my paraglider for some (hopefully nice) flights around the lakes though i do not regret the trip as the drive is great and the service even better. I have even recieved Scottish discount hehe i wont say the amount but thanks guys for you're kind custom. Will always be back, sorry for standing on the old timer Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YakMad Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I used to have 4 model shops within 10 miles of me, the best was 10 miles each way but closed several years ago, the worst I could walk to but don't as he never has what you want and over charges for everything, the next one is about 5 miles away were I used to buy a few kits and all my glow fuel from until I found out he was mixing his own and re-filling empty cans returned by other modellers, he actually thought he was doing us a service as he condsidered he knew how to mix fuel better then the recognised fuel suppliers (he didn't). The last model shop was opened in an industrial unit about 7 miles away a few years ago, he has a well stocked shop and prices are keen but he suddenly decided that he would only trade online from the start of last December??? he now charges shipping on everything, I will not deal with him anymore as I can source everything at lower shipping costs elsewhere, I used to enjoy wandering around his shop and anytime I was there the shop always had a few people in it and weekends were very busy, I just think he didn't want to deal directly with customers as he always thought the customer was wrong and getting problems resolved could take a while. I am 100% online shopping now, sometimes the local model shop can be its own worst enemy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayCee Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 To be honest I think model shops have to have an 'on line' presence to survive they can't just depend on passing trade with the high overheads of commercial property. Apart from my VERY local model shop I use Sussex Models and King Llyn over night delivery if you can't get to the shop...I guess it's a sign of the times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly P Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Posted by scott finnie on 23/02/2015 00:41:23: I just put into google maps my route From Edinburgh to Lancaster and it's 166 miles. thats well over 300 miles round trip to my closest REAL model shop. I do take my paraglider for some (hopefully nice) flights around the lakes though i do not regret the trip as the drive is great and the service even better. I have even recieved Scottish discount hehe i wont say the amount but thanks guys for you're kind custom. Will always be back, sorry for standing on the old timer Scott What about Leeds Scott - that must be closer? So much so that my Dad is going to call in next week on his way from the Borders to our hols in Nottingham..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erfolg Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I thought that Edinburgh had two model shops, Marionville and Wonderland? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Wood Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Marionville Models in Edinburgh is a well stocked shop for most things R/C apart from traditional builders kits - but that seems to be the way it is with many shops now. There's also Scoonie Hobbies in Kirkcaldy, a small shop but with quite good stocks of many items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Etheridge 1 Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 In the 1950's we had three model shops in Croydon. One was located at West Croydon and was called 'Sportcraft' A historian spotted this item as she was investigating the London Road where the model shop 'Sportcraft' existed. Hello Mike, just wanted to let you know that my article covering Sport Craft has now been published: g/history/0224-gucio-express.html >**LINK** Thanks again for your help with this! Kake Edited By Mi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Kulagin Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Bits and bobs can be bought from 4-Max, just a couple of miles away. Wood and a browse can be had at Andover Models aroung 20 miles away. For some reason 4-Max don't stock Model Technics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Gaskin 1 Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 I'm in the next village along from Sussex Model Centre, so two-and-a-bit miles. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Clark 2 Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 17 miles each way to Spire Model near Salisbury. Failing that I shop online with Sussex Model Centre. Occasionally I buy motors direct from Hacker in Germany. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erfolg Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 I am surprised how many have a model shop within 30 miles @ approx 57%. In my case I am in the 3% group, where the nearest model aircraft type of model shop is @ 70 miles each way. There are odds and ends type model shops, which may have the odd thing that can be used on model aircraft, that are nearer, but not much. On my personal situation, I am surprised that only 18% buy on line. All of which goes to show, that your personal experiences are often very different to others. Age is also possibly relevant, as in the past, I travel a lot more. Specifically to Scotland once a month to Edinburgh, Inverness later to Aberdeen. A few more miles to another town seemed part of the break. Now living at the end of a road to nowhere else, traveling 60 miles to Manchester seems a long way, then, where to park the car? I have not been to Webbies for over +4 years now, my now local, proper model shop. A shame as their level of service and bonhomie is exemplarily. Edited By Erfolg on 29/06/2020 12:06:54 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Berriman Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 I estimate I am 5 miles from Leeds Model shop never clocked it and 6.5 miles from the club field have clocked that one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Posted by Erfolg on 29/06/2020 12:05:12: I am surprised how many have a model shop within 30 miles @ approx 57%. This thread was brought back from the dead by Mike Etheridge for some reason; the data from the poll is over 5 years old. A lot has happened since then, including C-19 so I wouldn't bother analysing the results too closely! Edited By MattyB on 29/06/2020 15:52:12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Armstrong Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 Sussex Model Centre is now my go to shop after the big one in Bognor shut 7-8 years ago. Bognor was a 8 mile round trip. The Sussex Model Centre is a 42 mile round trip. In my youth growing up in Wiltshire in the 70's/80's we had a model shop about 1/2 mile from the house. Spoilt or what! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lima Hotel Foxtrot Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 7.5 miles house door to Addlestone Model Centre. I'm very lucky, which why I always mention tjem on here because I want the place to stay open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Bertram Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Pegasus is about 24 miles from me. Great shop. Hobbies is about 4 miles if I run out of glue or ply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vecchio Austriaco Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 Interesting. I can see the result but not my post. Probably I am one of the former members? Well Al's Hobbies still 3 miles away, I have no intention to move... VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff S Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 I've just discovered that the Vintage Model Co is based in Flagg a small village in the 'wilds' between Bakewell and Buxton. I think that's about 25/30 miles from me and by far the nearest. I must go over some time when they're open. I have been known to cycle to Flagg to start a club ride but I'm afraid those days are past more's the pity Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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