In Praise of Model Shops: Frizinghall Models, West Yorkshire

I thought I'd start doing some mini-posts, in praise of some of the model shops I regularly use.  Whilst I do from time to time use online ordering when I'm up against a tight deadline, I do prefer to use actual shops where I can. This is my local shop, Frizinghall Models, in Baildon, near Shipley, West Yorkshire. Somewhat unassuming from the outside, this is the third premises they've been in since I started shopping with them. BTW, no commercial interest here, no sponsorship- I just wanted to mention places I love shopping for these projects.

...and then you get inside. Everything neat, clean, and tidy. Quick note- there's a lift to get upstairs, even a loo that shoppers can use. The shop itself is pretty huge. Railways in pretty much every commercial gauge from some Z up to G, as well as Airfix and similar plastic kits, slot cars, some general toys, and more, They're good for modelling tools and scenic bits/accessories. They've a decent online shop, and reserve/pre-order system.

I've always thought you can judge a good model shop by if they have a working layout, a legacy of my two childhood haunts in the West Mids, A.Oakes and Ace Models of Dudley, now both sadly closed. They both had awesome working layouts, and Frizinghall has this huge N layout with DCC sounds. There's also a multi-gauge test track by the till.

This is what makes the shop so lethal, at least to my bank balance. The sort of random mix of projects I do would be impossible without access to these boxes full of random second-hand bits and pieces.

The chaps there have stopped asking me about the mad mix of things I buy. This was one trip! N gauge water tower for a 009 project (same with the flexitrack and points), van and some plasticard section for a BRM, new razor saw, and the rest for a pair of Hornby Collectors Club articles.

The only downside is the distance from 'civilisation', it won't get passing trade on an industrial estate on the edge of suburbia. That said, there's a main road with bus stops adjacent, Baildon railway station is about a 10-15 minute walk away, and there's lots of free parking outside. Honestly, my project work would be so much harder without this place.

I hope to do a few more of these pieces over the next year- please modellers, support physical shops where you can.