Model shops-endangered species

[west1871]

Last weekend I fancied an hours piece and quiet from mrswest1871 west1871 junior. So I thought I would try some of the local independant model shops in the area,you know the ones that stock not just airfix and a few revell gift sets.

I knew there was about seven in the area,and fancied a change from the fawlty towers model shop I go to.I planned on going to just one but as I drove around to the shop it had closed down ,shame,I try the next one.Same again to cut a long boring story and drive short, FIVE OUT OF SEVEN had closed down in about a year.

Has anyone else out there seen a decline in model shops.is it down to the internet or something else,maybe MARS has a hand in it?

would like to know if its local or worldwide?

[ModernKiwi]

In the past 3 years, Auckland has gone from 6 model shops (one of which was exceedingly good) to just 2, both very average. Some were clearly run poorly, while the good one's lease expired and they decided to keep only their Christchurch store (800km south) open.

[Fenton]

I think the situation is the same all over the world...The internet has killed off a lot of independent hobby stores, as the internet can provide cheaper prices and usually have whatever you want in stock

In Northern Ireland where I used to live there was one store remaining in Belfast...Lucklily though we had these people about 30 miles away whre we could go and shop


http://www.netmerchants.co.uk/

[0wlbear]

we only had two.
One shop that only offered Zvezda, and had a very small collection.
And one that only offers some revells and some italeri I believe.
The Zvezda shop is still there, but they've stopped selling Zvezda
The other hasn't changed but is sooo bad that I only go there for paintbrushes.
I thought it was the crisis.

[Maurice]

when I was young, we had like 6 or 7 shops here in town that offered a lot. The last one of these shops closed its doors a couple of weeks ago

Now all we have left is a modeltrain shop with a little bit of scale modelling on the side.

[Peter]

Same thing here in Belgium. All model shops are going away or they specialize in other things. Most of all railway. The nearest shop for me is in Antwerp, about 100 km away. There was a second one there, who had all brands and everything for modelling. Now it's only railway stuff. I had one nearer,Hasselt 40 km, but.....gone!

There's nothing else to do, you've got to buy on the web, and so miss a part of the fun. Touching and smelling the boxes, before you make your choice.

Greetings Peter

[0wlbear]

Touching and smelling the boxes, before you make your choice.

and if you had not seen the set before on psr,
you secretly opened the box to have a quick sneak preview of the sprues.......
I loved those days.

[Taphouse]

and if you had not seen the set before on psr,
you secretly opened the box to have a quick sneak preview of the sprues.......
I loved those days.

I never did that. The sets were so few and far between that I would buy them no matter how good or bad they were.

[T. Dürrschmidt]

Yes, the same thing here in Germany. If you want new sets, you mostly have to order it from a online-trader. Even in Nuremberg, the capital of toys (remember the toy fair) there are only one or two model shops left and their modelling stock gets smaller and smaller. Specially in 1/72. And in toy stores (also just a few left) you get always the same stuff....Revell and if you are lucky a little Italeri and Tamiya.....no Zvezda, Pegasus, Hät, etc...

[Paul]

two gone in my area of germany, don´t care though, it´s generally cheaper to use the web (no travel costs, travel time etc) and I don´t have to suffer dopey spotty sales types with no idea!

[ColeF]

Well, I guess I'm lucky. As far back as I can remember, Hayes hobby's has been the only hobby store in town. They specialize in cars and etc. but they have a very good selection of 1/72 plastic. And anything not on the shelf, Mike will order for me, with no shipping charge.

[ModernKiwi]

I have no problem buying kits or figure sets from online. I do like to look at paint, brushes and glues before buying though.

[Maurice]

No problem here either, I buy most of my things online these days. Only two things bother me with online buying, outrageous shipping costs and sellers who do not respond if you send them an order

[efb]

Well, I guess I'm lucky. As far back as I can remember, Hayes hobby's has been the only hobby store in town. They specialize in cars and etc. but they have a very good selection of 1/72 plastic. And anything not on the shelf, Mike will order for me, with no shipping charge.

hey cole, what did Mike say 'bout gettin' us some Revell TYW cavalry for less than 30 or 40 bucks?

[M. Hazelton]

Well, I guess I'm lucky. As far back as I can remember, Hayes hobby's has been the only hobby store in town. They specialize in cars and etc. but they have a very good selection of 1/72 plastic. And anything not on the shelf, Mike will order for me, with no shipping charge.

Same here. Marchet's Toys and Hobbies has been around for almost 50 years, and there is a decent 1/72 stock. Also, the owner will order anything- no shipping. Of course, there is also a Hobbytown USA, but there 1/72 selection is rather pitiful.

[Susofrick]

Was to the hobbycorner at the toyshop yesterday to buy some paint and very thin brushes. No luck. The guy who stood there just works there 'cause he is the son of the owner. He doesn't know anything, he's not interested and doesn't care to find out about things you ask him. It is not that often that I see him (the 2 other guys working there are pretty decent fellows). Brush? Nah, didn't know where they were and didn't look at the usual place at my suggestion. Paint? I've been using my trusty Humbrol Acrylic 5029 as earthcolour, but now the can is empty. Humbrol Acrylics is no more, what can I use instead? Come and look for yourself. He didn't say "nerd", but I felt it in his eyes. Bought GW Graveyard Earth which sounded good in my ears and luckily it is not often I see him. He should probably work with something else, but got stuck in the toyshop. Now he's about 35-40 and probably too stuck in his ways to change. Figures I have to order on the net or go to Stockholm (which costs more with travel, lunch, etc, etc. than ordering them from overseas. (there is an online shop in Sweden, but I havn't tried them yet) ).

[ColeF]

Well, I guess I'm lucky. As far back as I can remember, Hayes hobby's has been the only hobby store in town. They specialize in cars and etc. but they have a very good selection of 1/72 plastic. And anything not on the shelf, Mike will order for me, with no shipping charge.

hey cole, what did Mike say 'bout gettin' us some Revell TYW cavalry for less than 30 or 40 bucks?

I haven't been over there in a while. I am going to make every effort to get there tonight

[dykio]

Hi Guys,

just to let you know that in my local shops (voor de kenners de Houtloods in Den Haag en Wapstad in Rijswijk) nearby the hague there is something wrong also. They used to have almost every new set within a couple of weeks but now a days they dont have that much any more. One of the owners said that the interest in these small figures is getting less so.......

Dykio

[Old Wolf]

lucky me, cause living in in my hometown is like living next to paradis comparing to some of you guys. In the railwayshop, there is a corner with revell and italeri figs and the other one, mainly selling modellkits, has zvesda and hät too. Unfortunately the owner never knows when he will get in, new boxes ,nor which one they are:(
Usually i buy my figs on the fair in Herne, twice a year. knowing that i ll never paint all these in one life.

Old Wolf

[Paul]

Ah Ha!!, Hagen has good model shops!?, Still Herne it is for me, Bit cheaper