Heads up modellers in and around Croydon

NARSES2 · August 20, 2014, 06:38:41 AM

Was having my regular (actually large) cappuccino in Costa's this a.m. and noticed the 50% off sign over a couple of Airfix kits in the old Alders window so popped in.

Firstly the model concession is now upstairs on the left as you go in via the entrance by Costa's. More importantly most (not sure about paint and tools as I didn't look) things are half price, including the die cast stuff.

Picked up a Airfix 1/72 Mustang and Spitfire F.22.

Rather like Weavers new Manchester shop a lot or all of this stock looks to be ex MZ and previously was hidden down stairs. Quite a lot of Airfix and Hasegawa in the aircraft section and plenty of ships, cars and tanks as well but I didn't look at them

However given the circumstances around the old Alders store (and some one may know what's actually going on rather then rumour) I'd get in quickly as I don't think it will be around that long.

Going to pop in on Friday and have another look see

McColm · August 20, 2014, 07:40:34 AM

I've noticed that some large Sainsbury's stores do a limited range in Airfix kits,I'm not too sure if this is true in all the UK stores. Just around London NW10.

NARSES2 · August 22, 2014, 07:27:18 AM

Popped in again to have a look at the Hasegawa stuff they have. Brain went 50% off might be reasonable ?

Well apart from not much in my main period of interest the price comparison was interesting. Hasegawa single boxing of a 1/72 scale kit was almost twice the price of Tamiya 1/48 scale

?? Now this is with 50% off and the Hasegawa stuff was still daft prices.

They had a boxing of the old Hasegawa Fw 190 I haven't seen before. It's basically the original kit with a resin Hagelkorn (or whatever it was called) glide bomb. Now the box is marked up as "Limited Edition" and there are at least 10 on the shelf

?. Resin or not at over £15 or so and with a Revell one available at £7ish or less that's daft. So originally it was £30 odd. Must admit I can't remember actual price as brain just went "no way" and steered me away

Green Dragon · August 23, 2014, 02:15:44 AM

What is Alders now Chris, I went there a couple of times in the 70's?
I saw a Hasegawa 1/72nd Me262 with the mortar tubes in resin for £32 in the UK, got mine for £8 inc P+P from Japan!

Paul Harrison

NARSES2 · August 23, 2014, 05:23:39 AM

Well Paul it's now an "Outlet" store whatever that means. No relation to the old Alders Dept store founded by Josiah which you remember and which finally went bankrupt a few years ago after several previous attempts at achieving the feat !

The new "Outlet" has also gone bankrupt despite all the assurances of the "entrepreneur" who set it up. In set up it's very like the old store and indeed a lot of people would not notice the difference. I'm not sure how it operates. Some of the outlets are owned by private business but then the old store was also heavy on the franchise side

All a bit confusing and sad and will probably finally go when the Whitgift gets redeveloped. So much for all the grandiose plans of the 80/90/00's

You can possibly tell this all makes me a little sad.

Green Dragon · August 24, 2014, 07:02:42 AM

Be sad if goes completely, I got some Aurora spaceship kits from a model shop in the Whitgift centre back in the mid 70's (at least I think it was the Whitgift?).

Paul Harrison

NARSES2 · August 24, 2014, 07:45:46 AM

Probably the original Modelzone (wasn't called that as it was an independent) in St Georges Walk. That became MZ and moved to the Centrale shopping centre.

Store was opened by a guy who started to import Solido and other Continental die casts into the UK. n the end he sold out and concentrated on that. I'm now going back to the early 70's.

Strangely the assistant manager of that shop is now in "Men's Wear" in M&S and the young Saturday boy is now in the "Alders" model franchise having been with MZ all these years.

Rolead · August 30, 2014, 03:07:51 PM

Went there today and not expecting anything new, was told that they had a delivery come in from old Modelzone stock!

I came away with a Trumpeter A3D Skywarrior and a Trumpeter Su-27 both at half price. They did have some Trumpeter Me509 as well which I left.

They may well be expecting another delivery soon.

Robert

NARSES2 · August 31, 2014, 07:35:15 AM

Cheers Robert.

So that's where the stock is coming from. I assumed they'd just bought the stock in the old shop but they obviously have a source of old MZ stock ?? I'll stick my head in on Thursday.

Army of One · October 24, 2014, 07:30:14 AM

Chris.......is this place still getting models in..? Is it in the ols Allders store....? I remember working in the old Bentalls in Kingston before it got developed.......almost Harrods like when going through the big doors on the side of the building......I enjoyed working there......

NARSES2 · October 24, 2014, 07:44:39 AM

Yes mate. Still had stuff in the window this am and yes it is the old Alders. The model section is right by the entrance in the Whitgift Centre by the Costa Coffee place. Other coffee shops are available

Green Dragon · October 25, 2014, 09:54:47 PM

Loved Bentalls before it got developed, got my first Tamiya and Japanese Anime kits there. Also Got my first Frog (Spitfire & V-1) kit from Santa's Grotto!

Paul Harrison

lancer · October 26, 2014, 01:42:48 PM

Still got a Bentalls in Bracknell, looking pretty much as it always has. Alas, no models in the toy/model/hobbies section. Although way back they did. I used to get some of my tamiya kits from there...