FighterControl

Would anyone here recall a plastic kit (mostly) model shop in Farnborough (north Hampshire) in the mid to late 80s, now quite possibly extinct? I was fairly young but often visited a shop in what i recall was a parade of shops in the town centre possibly with concrete office block type architecture above it and parking out the front, possibly. It was like an Aladdin's cave of aircraft kits and i bought many memorable builds there (inc both an anti-flash white and camo Vulcan and a 1:144 B-52, that i bought the wrong colours for and ended up painting it in sand and very dark brown, which actually looked great!). If anyone knows the name, has any links to old photos of the place or can help in any way it would be much appreciated. Cheers.

Was it Cove Models at 119 Lynchford Road GU14 6ET (a stone's throw from North Camp)? Seems to be still on the go, but I could be wrong on that.

There was also a model shop in the parade of shops just off the Clockhouse roundabout. I can't remember the name and it's long gone.

You might find something about it here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/4602606 ... ?ref=share

Wow, that's a blast from the past! I'm Farnborough born and bred and I'm pretty sure you mean the one at the top of Victoria Road by the Clockhouse Roundabout. I've not thought about it for years but I can straightaway see the dusty models in the window (with, oddly, some kind of magnet thing that had plastic flies moving about (really). Once inside was the shelves full of kits, the jolly shop owner and the smell of pipe smoke. Wish I could remember the name of the shop but it is 40 plus years ago. Thanks for the memory Stroudy.

Found the one I'm thinking of Stroudy, thanks to the Facebook group that nugget20 pointed me towards. 48364606_1877752662322694_3962001558400401408_o by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
Hope it helps.

Was a great place full of all sorts of models all presided over by the friendly owner. Spent more than a few pounds there over the years. Shame his name has slipped my mind , think the landlords wanted the parade for something else....
I believe he retired to the coast?

A real shame these type of shops are disappearing - this one is next to a photographic shop as well!!

Used to love spending an hour in Antics in Bristol when I worked down there - always came home with something!

There was a model shop on Farnborough Road (A325) across the road from the Tumble Down Dick. I used to go there on my bike to buy humbrol paint. It was close to an insurance shop called Shelton's where I insured my first car many moons ago.

WinchesterMGF wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 02, 2021 5:29 pm

Found the one I'm thinking of Stroudy, thanks to the Facebook group that nugget20 pointed me towards. 48364606_1877752662322694_3962001558400401408_o by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
Hope it helps.

Brilliant, I think this might be the one. Certainly looks the case on Google street view now with the big concrete office block next door. Wonder if there are any pictures of it in the mid to late 80s anywhere? Thanks very much for your help, seeing that picture has made me a little kid again!

After joining the suggested Farnborough history FB page i can now confirm this parade of shops has just been demolished. The model shop survived until circa 1999. Is now a pair of cheap hotels apparently.. good job as they'll be needed now..

If I remember rightly , the guy that run it was Ron Always wore a brown "shop" coat , as per Arkwright in Open all Hours Like many , spent a few bob in there over the years He closed just after I moved to HW back in 1999

Some of his stock ended up in the shop on Lynchgford Road in North Camp , that was an OK shop for a while , but now a Cowboy shop , selling boots and hats

The camera shop brings back memories too , of my first few visits to the US back in the 70's , they used to hire out equipment , very useful

Thanks for the memories

Paul