Supporting your local hobby shop

[Kozmyk]

Koz, the issue here is that as a resource for basic bits, they failed in spectacular fashion.

Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Andy

Croeso

I get the idea. I meant that the old Swansea LHS WAS that useful that it's patrons actively encouraged him to keep going, he was THAT valued.

As an individual I find that, these days, between the interweb for shopping and excellent forums like this for information that my modelling needs are pretty well covered. Probably better than before.

[StuSmith]

I will add to this actualy seeing all this negativity nice to hear positives too. Me and Adie desperatly needed a 700 clutch liner Sunday night and the only way we could think was Kessock models in Weymouth. I got hold of them they reserved 2 packs and I picked them up this morning.

If we had ordered online we would have had to wait an extra day which we can't afford at the moment with 3dmasters Wednesday.

A BIG THANKS TO KESSOCK MODELS!!

[andylinney]

I will add to this actualy seeing all this negativity nice to hear positives too. Me and Adie desperatly needed a 700 clutch liner Sunday night and the only way we could think was Kessock models in Weymouth. I got hold of them they reserved 2 packs and I picked them up this morning.

If we had ordered online we would have had to wait an extra day which we can't afford at the moment with 3dmasters Wednesday.

A BIG THANKS TO KESSOCK MODELS!!

Stu, it's not so much about negatives to be fair, but there is surely an expectation that a model shop will hold basic, multi-disciplinary accessories like servo wheels, even when holding several heli kits in stock the basic consumables should be there too - basic equipment to keep people flying takes up next to no space and is bound to be popular - I'm not suggesting that they keep every type of every blade - far from it in fact. But a basic FG / CF blade is enough to keep people flying - equally, basic spares like shafts, spindles, booms etc should be common sense. It's sad to see shelf space given to items that have been there for as long as I've been going there as a customer (easily 4 years now) where other, more popular lines could be stocked and bring a higher turnover.

[StuSmith]

I know sorry i wasnt clear, i wasn't aiming it at the original post just the responses in general. I agree and would be very annoyed if I was in your position not being able to get just the basic items.

[moonmanflyer]

James (moonmanflyer) had a paddle with stripped threads at 2.00pm yesterday at 3.00pm his new paddles were delivered to the field! now i'll bet none of your mentioned lhs can do that for you!

I too as Ron am lucky that i starter this hobby with such an excellent local hobby shop, in fact from my old house it was 1/2mile from my front door.
I am one of the lucky ones, and as Ron said, one phone call as i knew the boys would be out and they turned up with new paddles (Thanks Stu and Adie) and this is not the first time, Adie and Stu have bought bits to the field for me before.
Yes i do use the internet, and most of my stuff obviously comes from concept and is always fast del and too me when i need it, but with the boys planes and for my helis, with this that and the other bits, and for those emergancy must have parts, i think over the years i have only ever had to order a few parts here and there, and as Ron said was normanly the strange odd item.
If it wasn't for local hobby shops, like the hobby hangar, people like me would never of started flying and i expect many people are the same.
There are many people out there that a trip to the hobby shop is a big trip, but for those who do have local hobby stores, the fact is if you don't use them, they will never stock the parts you need.

[Boggy]

nobody has mentioned the hands on aspect either. twice now ive looked at a model online looked at all the specs,watched you tube vids then at the weekend gone into Hobby Hangar and walked out with a completely different model.

it is a shame that your LHS has failed to keep up its stock levels Andy,maybe its a sign of just how much of a struggle they are finding the competition with online shopping?

[Steve]

I'm lucky, my local is Inwood Models and they have lots in stock at excellent prices. And Nick (the heli guy) is really helpful

Mine too, and Nick is errrrrrrrrr, just Nick,






and an Align Fanboy to boot ,








and a forum user on here,

[derrick]

Never really had a local model shop, the two we have mostly do cars and a few bits for heli's but they ain't cheap, will stick with online.
Fastlads
midland
evoc
Always get bits in a couple of days.

[dw45]

It has totally changed, when I first dabbled into rcheli's before tinternet days, the model you bought was dictated by the LMS for kits and spares, in the Glasgow area there were at least 6. now with the tinternet you can buy and get parts for any model made. which is probably why there is only a couple of shops now in the area and don't support the heli's very well.
If your still after fluorescent fuel pipe ect the paisley shop has them as I popped in on Sunday before coming up to Waterfoot.

[Mart61]

None of my usable LHS are actually L. The nearby stores carry practically nothing for helis so I am into at least a 45 mile drive to get bits I need. Hence FL gets my business a chunk of the time.

[coptermanic]

Ditto Martin. 30 mins to any model shop, neither of which stock or know much about helis. Fast-lads mainly, but I get stuff from Alex, SimplyTrex and Midland.
Bacause i know him, it's good to get items from Alex whenever I can, seems more like my LHS should be. Keep it up Alex!!!!!

[Gate88]

James (moonmanflyer) had a paddle with stripped threads at 2.00pm yesterday at 3.00pm his new paddles were delivered to the field! now i'll bet none of your mentioned lhs can do that for you!

Align-trex.co.uk - TR600 TT gears, main gear, feathering shaft & flybar, call made on a Sunday at 11:40 delivered to the field at 12:05 and I got a free cleaning kit and hat!

[jakegazzard]

My LHS is modellers world in hornchurch, 100's of plane kits but one heli kit wich is the twister 3d storm, a vast array of spares for it though. I like it as the man is friendly and very helpful, it helps when they fly models too!

[barryorbik]

I was amazed in my LMS recently. Apart from myself the shop was empty when this guy pulls up in a new Mercedes CLS, strolls into the shop and says to the manager "I have been flying fixed wing for many years and have a collection of DX9's and various Futaba transmitters and am interested in buying a nitro helicopter but need some guidance, oh and I have £1500 to spend what can you offer me?" The manager of the shop was very cold and replied "well its a matter of personal choice, so what do you fancy?" after a long silence, the guy looked around the various nitro heli's suspended from the ceiling etc and obviously totally confused by the managers response- he walked out, got in his car and drove off.

What would be your reaction if you had £1500 to spend and no help in spending it?

Barry

p.s. they had not got any of the bits I needed either, so no sales to two potential customers, makes you wonder how he stays in business.