Just how hard does it have to be?

Well, it’s a miracle anyone in the UK, or if they live in towns with limited hobby stores, that they stick with this hobby. I’ve been to the local hobby shop three times in two weeks looking for XF53 paint to finish the dash of for my current build. Have they got any, no? Time to get some, they don’t know. Mail order is now looking like my only option. But £3.50 postage for a £1.00 pot of paint.. What a jip..!! The town I live in has ONE hobby shop (the ONLY HOBBY shop) that sells Tamiya. Nowhere else sells Tamiya in this town. It’s a 25 mile trip to the next place that has what I want, and even then they might not have stock. Just how bad is this..? Is this hobby starting to die, as there are hardly any shops to buy stuff from? If it wasn’t for the Internet I’d be completely stuffed..!!

I know in the UK it’s hard to buy advanced stuff, but when it gets hard to find even the basic of basics, then you have got to start thinking –just what is going on?

we dont have ANY hobby shops in my town that carry cars or any paints the nearest is a hour and a half drive north so yours isnt that bad but it is bad

Being in the Western US is tough too.... especially where I live. The only place for me to buy anything within an hour and a half is the local Fred Meyers. And I get stuck with Testors and crap because of that.

The cool thing is that Squadron, a military catalog, is now stocking cars at pretty low prices. Since my dad is used to ordering through them, I can get a small collection of kits that way.

Other than that, I've pretty much lost all hope that there will ever be a new hobby shop where I live.

I had a gripe too about how crap it is to be a UK modeller (even started a thread about it!) but I have since changed my mind.

I get kits on ebay cheaper than my nearest model shop could ever offer......even in a sale! For paints I choose www.modelsinmotion.com because orders over £15 have free delivery. For aftermarket I go to www.mediamixhobby.com/sg - this site is awesome, cheap prices and extremely cheap postage (sometimes cheaper than a UK model shop would charge, and they're Singapore-based!!!)

Okay, sometimes you get delays with the postage but I am a patient man. Impatience and modelling don't go together too smoothly!!

I do use ebay to buy kits, but I shouldn't have to order a single pot of paint online. For the cost of the paint, the postage just ain't worth it.. I've now got to either wait until the LHS gets some more, who knows when, or order online and order enough stuff to make it worth the postage.

A £1 pot of paint could now cost me £15 to dodge the postage. This is nuts..!! I'm all for supporting the LHS, but I just need a single pot of paint, as my monthly budget this month is a little tight. I'm going to just have to wait., as I don't want anymore kits, I'm well stocked on everything now, apart from XF53 it would seem.

Yep - this was a gripe..!! Bit peeved about making three trips to the same shop (4 miles away from home /work) to find they didn't have any, and because no one answers the phone when you call them..!!

Personally I think we've got it alot better than you think. There is nothing we can't get (except for Testors lacquer sprays !!!) and because of the strength of the pound we get it dirt cheap too, even with delivery charges added.

Like Stickyfingers says Models in motion is great and Mediamix is fast and cheap! Two great online stores.

I also recommend Hannants aswell.

To be honest I think you should just get a bulk order in, you can never have enough modeling paints or tools. Stock up on Tamiya TS paints. :D

I also recommend hobbylinkjapan and Hobbyworld. HLJ has almost everything but you can't get GSI lacquers from there. Thats where Hobbyworld comes in, they're my source of GSI Super Metallics, my favourite metallic paint.

As for Hobby stores we only have one real one in Leicester and thats Domino's. We used to have a Beatties aswell but since they closed all their stores Dominos is the only one left.

Cheers

Farrokh

Have you thought about getting the shop to order the stuff? If they have other paints in stock, they probably just ran out, and they may not know it. It might take a while to get, too, but it'll get there and since they get it from their distributor, you won't have to pay shipping. And the real advantage to asking is that if you do it nicely, you will build up a friendship witht he owner/clerk, and it will be easier and easier to get what you need. I've started buying Tamiya paints like crazy lately, and have noticed that the selection stays pretty steady now, and there is a growing section of japanese kits which I feel sort of responsable for. And also, since he knows me, if I order something, he knows I'm good for it.

This is what I do, I mix my own if this problem arises, Grey is only White with a bit of black, and I'm betting you have those, as it's the dash I would use Flat Black and add black bit by bit till it looks close!

Mike I would send you a jar but, the postage would still be £1-50 ish

I guess i'm lucky having a Hobby shop 10 minutes away that has everything i need.

Mmmm... Local Hobby Shop!

Oh - they've all closed where I live - D'Oh!

Seriously - anybody know ANY good LHS's in Essex (UK)?

We, I guess I can be thankful I have "ONE" hobby store. Problem is, I think I'm going to just stock up with paint from anywhere I can get it, be it mail order or LHS. If I order £15 worth I can dodge the postage charge from www.modelsinmotion.co.uk. However this is where the problem is. Because we are now all using the net for orders etc, it means LHS are closing down, making it hard to pick up the one or two items we might need.

Stocking up is OK, but we all run out of something, and it would be nice to just pop to town and buy it there and then. I'll give the LHS till Friday, if they haven't got it then it's go to be a net order.

Talking of paint - why are Tamiya paints now 10ml? Years ago they where 23ml. What happened in the years I wasn't building models?

I remember form when I was a kid all the Tamiya pots were much bigger (still have some)

I order all my paints from Models in motion and invariably end up buying far more than I'm actually shopping for just to avoid shipping charges.

I have a fine collection of paints and tools now for this very reason!

For aftermarket I go to www.mediamixhobby.com/sg - this site is awesome, cheap prices and extremely cheap postage (sometimes cheaper than a UK model shop would charge, and they're Singapore-based!!!)



When I go to here it just seems to be links to other websites - am I doing something worng?

Aha - it appears to be www.mediamixhobby.com.sg

I know exactly how you feel. My LHS is actually quite good for Tamiya and Humbrol paints, also a fair selection of kits - although nothing unusual. But.......if it's not in stock, you're well and truly screwed!

There are no other shops for miles around and the few there are are totally useless. I work 35 miles from home and the LHS there (nothing more than a toy shop really) has not had a delivery of Tamiya kits or paints for over 6 months and they can't tell me when they will be getting some. Over the last few years many model shops have closed down, claiming a lack of business as the cause, but if this is the best service they can provide then it's really no surprise.

I've found that for kits it's best to order over the Internet from places such as HLJ. If you order a few at a time it usually works out cheaper than buying locally in the UK. For paints and tools, etc. the best thing to do is go to shows and stock up on things when you see them.

OK, gripe over........Relax..........Arrgggghhhhhhhh........ :banghead:

Aha - it appears to be www.mediamixhobby.com.sg


Yep, sorry all for typing my link in wrongly :loser:

Talking of paint - why are Tamiya paints now 10ml? Years ago they where 23ml. What happened in the years I wasn't building models?

I know, for some reason they have stopped being imported. You can still get them in Japan but not here. Another thing we can't get here are the wonderful Tamiya enamels, but Hobbyworld saves the day again there :D

Cheers

Farrokh

Mickbench, you seem to have contradict yourself all the time. Your LHS are lacking in stock - have you mentioned this to the guy? How often does he order? A lot of places only order once a month, so maybe they recently ran out?

You were previously a modeller, you've now just got back into it - I wonder how many other customers they have lost over the years? If the market is not really big enough, that would explain why there aren't many shops around.

Model Shops do appear to be looking more at mail-order, and rightly so. They want to aim at the bigger market.

And don't worry about 'buying for £1 when it costs £15 for shipping' - Just buy enough that you get free shipping. It may be a pain if you don't have much you need, but at least you'll build stock up. Either that, or wait until you're ordering something else and put the orders together.

After a couple of years, most modellers have a huge 'stock' or product themselves that's clogging up cupboards etc. You'll get there pretty soon I'm sure.

In the interim - look at mixing the colour. Not like you'll be using liters of the stuff, just a small amount.

On the subject of the 10ml bottles - these were previously 23ml, yes. Tamiya are still making the larger bottles, so not sure why the UK distributor is not bringing them in any more.

Must agree with you mick. Living in NNeewport South Wales we have one model shop (D9. the guy is great!) but thats it. if he doesn't have it i'm stuffed. and there is no way i will drive to Cardiff to find it. Anyone who has ever been there will agree that the 1 way system is pants. So Ebay it is for me. and mediamix. :smile: :shakehead