Steve (Kuno-Von-Dodenburg) has just mailed me with an excellent suggestion which could become VERY useful for all the Site-Users.

Steve has proposed creating a Database of Model Shops. Not the usual suspects (the On-line stores) but the actual, physical stores which you walk into and see actual products.

Now on our links page we have LOTS of stores listed, but alphabetically and (logically enough) only for those which have a webpage.

The advantage of having a database would be to have an up-to-date list of stores, so when you're in another city or country, you would access the list and it would be cross-referenced to region etc.

Now, logically, this is a big undertaking - it wouldn't be completed in a week and it CERTAINLY couldn't be done without CONSIDERABLE help from the Site-Users.

So, what's your thoughts on this?

Personally, I think it's a great idea - we really need a DB of these stores. Whenever I go somewhere I tend to make inquiries (if only to escape from SWMBO-organized 'cultural' visits )

What do you think?

Jim,

First off, thanks for the support for this idea.

As you suggest, I envisage a DB that would allow members to select a country / state / region / town / actual address in order to easily locate these stores on their travels.

Perhaps it could also include not only dedicated model shops, but also "hybrid" stores that also offer a decent selection of kits and related paraphernalia.

For example: The guy who runs what I consider to be my local LHS here in southern Germany caters mainly to model railway enthusiasts. However, about 1/3 of his store is given over to kits - tons of Revell aircraft & AFVs, plus a decent selection of Dragon and Tamiya AFVs, with a sprinkling of Trumpeter and (just recently) Tristar. Figues as well, paints (Tamiya & Revell), plus of course railway stuff, some of which is also useful to the AFV diorama builder.

However, as Jim says, this project can only work with LOTSof support from members here, and I really hope that this support will be forthcoming so that we "tankists" at Armorama can do our bit to help what I'm sure few here would disagree has become an "endangered species" - namely the bricks & mortar model shop where you can actually walk in, peruse the wares at your leisure and lovingly caress the boxes while you make your choice: The type of place that gives you that "Aladdin's Cave" feeling when you walk through the door and makes you feel like a kid in a candy store once again.

The guy who runs a model shop that I frequent in Bastogne when I'm in that area tells me that his model shop is one of only 6 of its kind remaining (count 'em - six!) in the whole of Belgium. I don't have any stats for other countries, but I'd be surprised if the situation was (proportionally) any more rosy elsewhere.

Yes, the Internet is great - we all know that. But let's not lose sight of what the "little guys" do for the hobby as well as they try to earn a crust. They may charge a few extra Euros or $$ - but in my book that's money well spent if it helps keep them in business.

So let's give these guys a boost and "Make it So!". And of course help each other find model shops that we can visit when we're on our travels in or through a particular area.

Thanks in advance for your support - it'd only take a few minutes of your time to hack out a quick profile of your LHS.

- Steve

I think its a great idea, we allready have a danish equvalent as a sticky on the danish community board - and one of the reoccuring questions is "any shops in...".

Go for it!

I think it is a fantastic idea.

Those "brick and mortar" locations depend on us for their existence. Making them easy for us to find is a win-win situation.

Jim and Steve,

I support the idea, but don't expect the list of West Australian model shops to be a long one!

Chas

Ola Guys

Nice suggestion really. We have done this years ago on the Benelux section too I think we even started with it when we had one of the first staffs for the Dutch section. Just as with the Danish section not really as a Database as such but as a sticky and all the modelshops of Both Holland and Belgium are to be found in that sticky.
A lot of work and some shops go for various reasons and new ones appear. So you need to keep it updated.

With friendly greetings

Robert Blokker

I think it is a good idea. I would be more than happy to help out.

My job requires me to travel at times and I would be glad to look up local shops where I am staying and get the information and submit it.

Great idea. This should be a very useful tool.

HARV

As an Example this is the list of Modelshops in Belgium and Holland as we combined the list through the years

Hobby shops in Holland and Belgium

Awesome Idea !, As stated eariler, its a Win/Win situation for both the Modeler and the LHS. I travel quite frequently between Ohio , Pa and the N.J. shore, My rest stops are coincidently in the same locations as a LHS. There are 3 that I know of, Are there more !!!!! I would like to know , and could contribute to this.

Yep, great idea! I like the idea of the store's name, address, telephone number, and (if they have it) their website.

There are three shops in town that I know of (two Hobby Town's and Compleat(sp?)). If there are others I'm willing to bet Red4, HalfYank, or a couple of the other 'Springs guys will know them.

Mike

Excellent idea! There are only a couple I know of in the Tucson, AZ area, but that is what this is all about right! This will become aan awesome resource!

IPMS Stockholm have had a similar idea a while back.

IPMS Stockholm's European Hobby Shop Guide
Its a very useful tool, but not only does it need input from members to create, it also needs continuous input to update and maintain.

Im in, how about highs and lows of the shops as well, E.G

Model shop
123 Fake street
London
France

Summary-
Large seletion of 1/72 armor and aircraft Kits, primerialy airfix and revell
Some 1/35 offerings. Tamiya and a few dragon kits

And maybe a sizing
So maybe it would be labled small Medium large and ridiculous.

Bump...

Do it Jim!!

It's a nice idea and I would support it as the humble model shop is a dieing breed, as Frank stated though it would require a lot of work to keep it current and in making sure it was easy to navigate.

whats it gonna be then Jim

Jimmy, thanks for the vote of confidence

However, as I am incredibly busy with other site-related projects, I certainly am not in any position to begin coordination of this task. When I posted this thread, one of the things I was looking for, were people to step up and offer their services to do the actual project work.

I simply can't as with the work I have already, I really couldn't do it justice.

So, the offer is still open, we're looking for several people to take this project on... If you think you can contribute to it, contact the Site Owner, Jim Starkweather (StaffJim) to offer your services..

hello all,
i think that Miss Mary and myself can do this project for the site.Miss Mary is a published author and with both of us retired,we can devote the time needed to to it.
the first question would be where it will be posted and if only the staff can put in the info in and remove it.if everyone can put in the info and remove it,then i think that a sticky would be better.
so if you think that we could do the project,let us know and we will get together with Jim.
cheers,
Bruce & Miss Mary

Bruce,

A very valid point! I shot Jim S a message willing to assist. Whoever gets this going, if assistance is needed, I'd be more than happy to help out. The concept is solid...jut need to work out the "who, what, where, when, and how.

Mike

This is a great idea. Recently the only local Hobby Shop anywhere near me closed and something like this would be very welcome Now if I can find another Hobby Shop I'd be happy and if this idea takes off I'll be happy to go looking for Hobby Shops to add to the list. Bob

hello all,
i have looked at Robert and Frank's link how other sites listed hobby stores,and what we figured out is not only listing US stores,but any hobby stores in the world.they would be in alphabetical order by country,state or providence,and city.
now this will take time and will be a WIP as stores are listed or stricken off the list.so if we are going to do this we need to start gathering store names/town/country/addresses/zip codes/phone #/and a brief description of the store.
all this is depending on Jim OKing this.it will take up a lot of space in the system and needs to be site wide.so let me know what is decided.
cheers,
Bruce

Bruce & Mike - thanks for that. It really needs someone who can dedicate some time to this project!

Absolutely a great idea! I think it will make me sad in the sense I don't think there are any hobby shops around me that wouldn't involve a full day's road trip. The best we have is a Hobby Lobby chain and my last visit there were about 30 kits total covering cars, ships, AFVs, and figures. Ant they're the only game in town.

One other point is the list would need updated periodically to keep it accurate.

hello Jim,
i am hoping that when the members submit the shops,they will also let us know if they go out of business,change thier locations/phone #/email/etc. so we can keep the list updated.
another way would be to check with them about every 6 months to see if there is any changes to the shops they submitted to us.i will print a hard copy of all the info i get from the members,to keep track of what they sent us and who submitted what.
later on today i will post a sample of how we plan to do this.
cheers,
Bruce