Actual military modelling shops in UK?

[Peapot]

Hello again to all,
This may have been done before, but I am asking if there are any actual shops in the UK where you can go to buy models, 54mm to 120mm figures etc, admire painted models, paint brushes etc. Even soak in the delight of peering through a glass display cabinet at models or has the Internet completely killed the shop idea for ever?
I have a weeks holiday in summer to organise and if I could just quite by accident end up somewhere where the local town has a shop then lucky me, don't tell my wife.
Then again I could be going further afield, so my second question would be any shops in Europe worth visiting?
Thanks in advance Michael

 

[housecarl]

Figure World in Oundle.
Not a model shop.
But it will have loads of traders, and figures to peep at.

 

[Paul Kernan]

There are still a few general hobby stores in Glasgow (including Games Workshop) but the best is (I assume it's still there) a little store off Argyll St on Saltmarket Rd called Jamieson's. Maybe the guys in Glesga will chime in
Paul

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

I very much doubt it ! .. there is, ' Sod-all', left in London ! ... You are sort of correct ! (ish) the 'Internet', has killed the shops,... but it has also made the viewing and purchase, of a kit that much easier, and more accessible !... The days, of 'Window Shopping', are long gone! especially with figures, (IMHO). However, even, going back 10-20 yrs., there where not that many shops even then. ..

I suppose this is why sites like this are a, 'God-Send'. As you can garner what information you need, about a particular piece and get an honest appraisal of it, from others who have bought it.

Regards,

Mark

 

[DEL]

Hi Michael.
Jamiesons is the only actual military model shop in and around Glasgow.
They specialise in AFV kits and unfortunately no longer offer model figures kits as such (except 1:72 and some figures to go with tank and aircraft kits).
They do carry a range of pre-painted figures though but not enough to merit a special visit.
On the up side, just around the corner is The Treasure Bunker.
http://www.treasurebunker.com/
Cheers
Derek

 

[Paul Kernan]

Thanks Derek. That's too bad. The last time I visited Jamieson's was back in early 2000's

 

[Blind Pew]

Hello Michael - a sad topic in many ways......The demise of the old-style model shop is partly down to us - using the interweb to buy stuff. There are often loads of different factors in such things though....

 

[Luis R.]

Art Girona shop in Girona, Spain is worth a visit. Well, not the shop itself, which is tiny, but once there ask to be taken to their workshop, some 100 m away. There you will find an extensive stock of figure kits: the whole of Art Girona's own products, obviously, and most of Metal Modeles, Pegaso, La Meridiana, etc ranges, the odd OOP kit and some samples of many other European manufacturers. They do have a large display cabinet there, filled with award winning figures and the masters and box art figures of their own range.

Girona is one hour drive away from Barcelona, where there is another small but well stocked shop, Samarkanda. There are a couple of armour-model shops too, where you can find many 1/35th figures.

Both Barcelona and Girona and their sorrounding areas are nice holiday destinations, so convincing your wife shouldn't be a problem!

 

[Mirofsoft]

Art Girona shop in Girona, Spain is worth a visit. Well, not the shop itself, which is tiny, but once there ask to be taken to their workshop, some 100 m away. There you will find an extensive stock of figure kits: the whole of Art Girona's own products, obviously, and most of Metal Modeles, Pegaso, La Meridiana, etc ranges, the odd OOP kit and some samples of many other European manufacturers. They do have a large display cabinet there, filled with award winning figures and the masters and box art figures of their own range.

Girona is one hour drive away from Barcelona, where there is another small but well stocked shop, Samarkanda. There are a couple of armour-model shops too, where you can find many 1/35th figures.

Both Barcelona and Girona and their sorrounding areas are nice holiday destinations, so convincing your wife shouldn't be a problem!

Thanks for the info
Will add it to the list of " physical " shops for travellers

 

[gothicgeek]

I don't know of any model shops specializing in figures but there is one in Stockton and up here in Yorkshire and the North there's a department store chain that stock Vallejo, citadel and humbrol! Also various modeling supplies!
And there are model shops in York and Scarborough!

HTH in some way!

 

[Peapot]

Thank you all for input, it does seem like they are a thing of the past.
Michael

 

[Luis R.]

Mirofsoft,

Samarkanda's website:
http://www.samarkandaminiaturas.com

 

[Mat Lambert]

Browsing the shops in my childhood was one of the things that really got me into the hobby. I know that we can window shop everyday online now and order instantly which is marvellous but I do wonder whether online participation will encourage enough new interest for the hobby to flourish in the future.

It seems that other modelling hobbies still have a more actual shop options - war gamers and radio control etc.

That said, I know that some online stockists don't mind if you call into their premises and ask to have a poke around - I often get offers from retailers on eBay etc to do this if I'm in the area. I'd love it if the could open little shops but guess its just too expensive.

I am actually am lucky enough to have a model shop in my local small town -
ROSSENDALE MODELS - but it doesn't do figures mostly kits, railway and RC. I often buy paints and bits from there which arent always exactly the product I want and are a little more pricey than online but am happy to support it. Be so sad if it went and I think this is where things went wrong in the past - we the hobbyists weren't buying. Even ModelZone couldn't keep going in the UK which at least used to give a bit of respite from the endless chain stores when out shopping with the family - and you could get paints quick and easy when you needed. I hate way the high street has become so bland these days.

WONDERLAND MODELS in Edinburgh is a really great store to visit - it does mostly kits and little plastic figures etc but is vast (2 or 3 normal shop fronts wide and deep too) and has great selection if you want to get that 'alladins cave/kid in a sweet shop' feeling once again! And of course Edinburgh is a great place too.

Not a shop but a great place to visit is HOUGHTON HALL in Norfolk. It's a stately home and a bit remote but it has the most fantastic collection of model soldiers and battlefield dioramas - (biggest in Europe apparently) all housed in a proper museum within the house.
http://houghtonhall.com/index.php/soldier-museum

Cheers
Mat

 

[polyphemus]

I think Modellers World in Halifax (Yorkshire) are still active but I don't know if they stock figure kits any more. Their website suggests their focus is now on plastic kits and related items.

http://www.halifaxmodellersworld.co.uk/

Geoff

 

[housecarl]

I think Netmerchants have folded, I don't think they had a bricks & mortar shop though.

 

[bogusman53]

Halifax Modellers World, I had a shop in the Piece Hall when it first opened. One of those shops where you are surrounded by towering boxes full of delights. My eyes are sadly not up to painting 1/35th of which they have loads, especially eastern bloc kits of 1/35 buildings.
Stocks of paints and various tools in abundance. They also have some very finely painted figures of varying scales and some diorama stuff as well. They do stock some Alpine, Verlinden and also some 1/6 vinyl. Worth a visit if you are in the area. And no I don't work for them, they're just a bus ride away from me! There is also a very nice model shop in Bridlington, East Yorkshire but best to find them on the net and give them a ring before visiting them as they are tucked away on a side road and if it's not a busy day they may close early. Again towering masses of Tamiya, Revell and Airfix, also railways and other goodies. And Bridlington is such a nice place anyway. One last thing, if you have a Boyes store near where you live, they do all the Vallejo, some humbrol and tons of modelling tools, archimedes drills and bits, diamond files and other goodies.

 

[Mirofsoft]

Mirofsoft,

Samarkanda's website:
http://www.samarkandaminiaturas.com

Thanks, but your name was already in the list, with automatic link when clicking on the logo/name