Sourcing scarce and older models

[VESPA]

If you are struggling to find a particular model you may find that it can found out of the region that it belongs to. For instance getting hold of LNER older models in say York is harder than getting them in say Paignton. I was told by a retailer in York that this was the case for them. Although they have SR locos and rolling stock it sells slower than LNER items. I suppose it makes sense as they have lots of oddball SR items in stock. Bear in mind this is a very busy well stocked shop with knowledgeable staff. So if you want something try stockists out of the region you are looking for from the Hornby stockists lists. You may be pleasantly surprised. I have several times with some items.

[LCDR]

The shop you refer too is excellent, and very helpful. As a Southern Modeller myself the fact you mention has worked to my advantage on a number of occasions. I have purchased examples of most of Hornby's SR steam types there in recent years

[The son of Triangman]

It's interesting, LMS models are very scarce in East Anglia, but the M&GNJR which was the main trunk route into South Licolnshire, North Cambridgeshire and Norfolk and was of course part Midland so you would think some classes would be easier to find.  Most numerous models to find in East Anglia are the old B12 model, Flying Scotsman, and Mallard, Southern stuff is very very rare to find out here, and GWR stuff is extremely common mainly the old Tri-ang-Hornby Hall model.

It's odd how in regions of the country you would expect a vasty pool of older models for particular company to be present, and yet they aren't about. For SR locos for instance York is the place to find it and Brighton on it's home turf, for LMS stuff Loughborough and Cornwall!

[flyingfox4475]

I have found in the past when on Holiday in different parts of the country you can some times find that some LNER and LMS loco's are available that i have not been able to find locally. When in Cornwall a few years ago I went in to a model shop, and found they had a lot of stock for other areas and had very little GWR.  I always try to vist model shop in holiday areas as they some time have just what I want.