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Looking for recommendations for ship modelling museums and hobby shops in London

dockattner said:
It would seem we are dying breed pursuing a dying craft...
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I’ve thought that, once or twice, but I then have to wait my turn in the model shop so maybe that too is not in as bad shape as it might seem. I suspect serious model making has always been pretty niche and only a few of the kids who, in my day, would do a plastic kit start to finish in a day or two, ever went on to pursue it as an art form. But keep an eye on the 3D world; it’s huge, and people are clearly still interested in ‘making’; some of them will undoubtedly move into mixed media, because you can only go so far with plastics.
 
Don't bother looking for any hobby shops in London either. If you see a chain called Hobbycraft, don't bother going in.
 
For anyone down this neck of the woods, or visiting the Seven Sisters cliffs in Sussex, a new shop has just opened in Newhaven, called ModelWorx. I haven’t visited yet but will be trying to put custom their way and hope they succeed. From their website they look like enthusiasts, which can only be good news.

Re’ HobbyCraft, it has its uses. I buy general art materials there, that I wouldn’t find in the model shop. And even though they are just another big chain, I like to avoid Amazon whenever I can.
 
Kevin the Lubber says, nothing much in London by way of hobby-shops - rents and other overheads have driven them out. But there are a few places worth looking at. A very interesting source of materials for modelmakers, primarily aimed at architectural modellers, but nevertheless a great place for a visit is 4D models near Tower Bridge in central London.

4Dmodelshop

Offering model making supplies and bespoke services including laser cutting, photo etching, 3D printing as well as Industry jobs, events, guides and more.
modelshop.co.uk modelshop.co.uk

If you use wood veneers at all, the on the east side of London is Capital Crispin Veneers- a treasurehouse stcking all the wood species you have heard of plus many more that you will not have, Not cheap, but then again they have captured a niche market.. Accessible via the Docklands Light Railway from central London to Beckton.

Our Veneers - Capital Crispin

www.capitalcrispin.com www.capitalcrispin.com

If your interests embrace plastic models, then Hannants in N.London is probably worth a look too,
 
I'm the OP, thanks for all the replies. Here's a short report back (we went in April). As many have said the Maritime Museum (I've forgotten the new name) is a big letdown from what I saw 10 years ago. However they do have a 20 or 30 models that are really top notch, I thought it was worth the trip to Greenwich once we were in London. The near-by Cutty Sark was interesting but the best thing in the neighborhood (by a long shot) was the Royal Observatory and especially the Harrison clocks. They are original hardware, fascinating to look at and the Longitude story was very nicely told by the tour guide.
 
Interesting about the observatory, I've never gone on to that, and I think I'd like to see the clocks. I keep meaning to have a go at making a clock as I love the mechanisms. I expect there's another forum somewhere for that!

As I never saw the National Maritime Museum until 2 or 3 years ago I can't compare. I intend to, at some point, go back and see how I access the archives and all that kind of thing.
 
TnAeroNut said:
My wife and I are planning to spend a week in London for our 50th anniversary soon.
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Hi Tennessee

I loved RMG back in the day but things change, and for ship modelers it is a shame.

This is old news now, but as you live in the US have you spent much time at Preble Hall? Unless things have changed it is my understanding they have more models on display than any other museum, at least in the US. Some years back now I was visiting and the ship model curator Grant Walker took four of us on a grand tour that was supposed to be about an hour and wound up being closer to three hours. They also have a fantastic ship model shop that we visited and where we met with some of the volunteers working there.

If you are into schooner models, the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan is a must.

AGO in Ontario, Canada holds the Thomson collection and is well worth a visit. Back in 1992, Simon Stephens, curator of the ship model and boat collections at the National Maritime Museum was working with AGO and discovered a note hidden inside the model of the Bristol, identifying George Stockwell as the modelmaker. It was on display when I visited, but I don't know if it is still on display.
Stockwell note.jpg

I believe the Musee National de la Marine in Paris has a large display as well. We were hoping to go when in Paris last summer but the museum was still closed for major renovations. It did reopen this past October and is on our bucket list for next year.

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum in Oxnard, California is worth a visit if in the area.

If anyone else has suggestions on museums in the US or Europe, I for one would love to hear about them.

TIA

Allan
 
AllanKP69 said:
If anyone else has suggestions on museums in the US or Europe, I for one would love to hear about them.
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Hallo Allan,

once we started to make a listing of existing and known naval museums all over the world - but it some years old - yes - we should actualize it ...... :oops:

Links to International Museums

Latest Additions is "Italy and Portugal" / Update 9/6/2018
shipsofscale.com
 
Just remembered this one in Bologna, Italy. Good amount of ship models and obstetrics. Heck of a combination, but true none-the-less.
Allan

Museo di Palazzo Poggi​

 
Bob Ellis said:
Greenwich (NMM) and the Science museums now have very little in the way of model ship displays. The management didn't think it appealed to the 'yoof' of today!! The Greenwich collection is in climate controlled storage in Chatham, Kent. You can make an arrangement in writing to visit and see some of them but will need to specify which vessels. Not very useful. The equally impressive collection at the Science Museum is also in storage and not available to the public. When I was a child I used to roam London on my holidays, the model ships were a delight, I visited the museums 2 or 3 times a week.
I'm afraid Portsmouth hasn't much to offer in the way of models, even though it has the largest collection in the UK there are not that many, most are modern warships. But there is Victory, Warrior and the Mary Rose. All in all, I think Portsmouth is your best option, you'll need a full day, and if you're luck, I'll buy you a pint!!
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This news is very sad but you have saved me a wasted journey to Greenwich so thanks for that.
 
The National Archives in Kew, England has a lot of original contracts. They will take them out so the pages can be photographed which can then be used to transcribe them. Some of the script, the grammar, the spelling, and punctuation (there is hardly any) can make this a bit of a challenge, but they do provide the actual dimensions given to the shipyards that were to build the vessel. It is my understanding that these pertain to ships built in private yards, there were no such contracts for ships built in His Majesty's yards.
Allan
 
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