Hi to you all.
We currently have a craft shop in Ipswich Suffolk and have some spare shop space. I am close to making it a Plastic Model Aircraft specialist shop. I am looking for a bit of feedback about some aspects so if you have any opinions please post them here or to me directly at snipped-for-privacy@scrapboxnow.co.uk.
- We are going to stock 1/48 and 1/72 scales only - with Hannants 50 miles up the road, we can source anything else very quickly.
- We plan to stock around 7 - 800 kits in total. We have calculated the total number of kits available from the manufacturers we are planning to stock and strangely, although there is a lot less 1/48 kits, the total list price of the 1/48 is almost the same as the total price for 1/72. Keeping this ratio, we would end up with 35% 1/48 to
65% 1/72.
- We are planning to stock Lifecolor acrylics and Xtracolor enamels with a few basic colours in Humbrol.
- We shall be stocking SAM, SAMI and Model Aircraft Monthly plus a small range of books.
- We shall be offering an internet based shop with a small discount on the shop price plus free delivery - within mainland UK.
- We shall be stocking a selection of old, out of production kits at a variety of prices
- We shall be making a speciality of RN FAA models and hoping to build a comprehensive range of kits representing the FAA since 1945 including many kits currently out of production and hard to get - along with decals and etched parts where appropriate.
- Because Hannants is relatively close we will be offering the whole of Hannants catalogue on a 2/3 day delivery option.
If you have any general comments about the above I would be pleased to hear them. However, I am specifically interested in the following:
- Your opinions on the mix of 1/48 and 1/72 - does 35/65 seem right for the UK. Personally, I model 1/48 so may be making the mistake of having to much for that - or maybe not.
- Comments on the paint selection - personally, I get on very well with Lifecolor and know that they have a great range of accurate colours and have been hard to get for the last few years. I have a souce so getting them is not an issue. I find that Xtracrylix pots are difficult to pour and you can't see what is left in the bottle - plus the quantity of each that I have to buy is double that of lifecolor. What about enamels? I don't use them so I need some advice here.
- Any other thoughts (oh boy will that open up something - grin).
David