I was in Manchester staying at The Abby hotel one guy working there was into very large Rc airplanes. Tok me to his garage shop. Lots of giant scale planes. He took me to a few hobby shops nearby. Also met some of his mates in the hobby. I was there on business. We were to merge companies. That time there the cFO quit, news was Chairman of company had a mistress Kady something. It got in the press he was sending her money. Public company its stick tanked. Deal never went thru n comoany crashed by the next few months. At least I got some kits as my prize. I have the old pics but don’t remember his name or company’s ah memories

Hello Hhager
Glad could bring back some good memories.
Exeter is a great place to live, but sadly all the model shops are now closed like so many other locations.
Take care.
Regards
Bill.

Visited Exeter in 1966. My wife n I got off train and spent day there. Loved the bakery n food. Took train back to Plymouth. Stayed at NAFFI there. I was in us navy visiting. Took train to Cornwall, Exeter n Manchester. In 80’s went back on biz trip still the same lovely town. My sons n grandson will be in UK with Band DEVO. If u get to see them one is sound engineer n other guitar n keyboards on stage. Grandson will be roadie Wish I was going. Last time in Uk I went to hobby shops n bought ship kits. Your post just brought a flashback of then Cheers

Neil.
Thanks for info on the Newton shop.
I live in Exeter but have never heard of them.
I will investigate further.
Regards
Bill 👍

Thanks for the information concerning Bekra Models. Unfortunately Newton Abbot is about a half an hour drive from here and due to my health at the moment I am unable able to drive any distance.

But thanks for letting me know.

Greg 👍

Peter, if you are in the West Country have you been to Bekra models in Newton Abbot? They don’t sell via their website but they have a good selection of boat stuff and are always happy to track stuff down for customers.

https://bekramodels.co.uk/

May be someone or group will think about starting a similar show in the Midlands again nice and central to get to i would support it although I live in the west country and am the wrong side of 80 how about suppliers getting together or an online website all together I'm now going back to try and make some more bits for my scratch built clyde puffer.😔

Have you looked at Evan's?
https://evandesigns.com/collections/hobby-leds

Great pity the int model boat show at Leamington Spa is no more great show for getting bits😔

Totally agree Nick
Buck😉

I completely agree.

Greg 👍

It can take abit to source all the bits, but at the end of the day more job satisfaction because you have made an item, plus hopefully you get something that is exactly the design you want.👍

Hello NickD,

Thank you. I hadn't thought about making my own. Sounds like a good idea.

Greg 👍

Hello Nickthestream,

Thank you for the link. I'll have a search through and see what they have to offer.

Greg 👍

You might have to scratch build a light, 3mm flashing LED's are fairly bright and colourfull for the glass you could use part of a ballpoint pen with a see-through blue barrel

Hi, I found these when I was ordering some batteries last night, they even do a wiring pack to go with them....
https://www.componentshop.co.uk/catalogsearch/result//?q=Blue%20flashing%20Led

Hello Julian,

Thank you for the your response to the post. Model Boat Bits looks to be very good but unfortunately they do not sell the blue police domed light that I want.

Greg 👍

Then owners name is Steve and his prices are better than the US even when I added the shipping fees.
Great guy, tell him Julian from Miami recommended him.

Steve's a good reliable supplier, have used a few times.
Cheers Colin.

Hello Greg:
As you can see in this forum I’m just a rookie with R/C boats and it’s fittings.
I want to put my two cents in this topic because I also had to look for a good fitting supplier since we only have a few descent ones here in the US.
I use to buy from Harbour Models but his prices has escalated so much that it pushed me to look on the other side of the pond.
Now I have place two orders with https://www.modelboatbits.com/.
Maybe you guys know about Steve the owner. So far he has excellent prices and he answers all of rookie questions.
Take a look at him and let me know how did it go, or if someone knows him, also let me know about his store and the way he does business.

Hello luckyduck,

Thank you for the link to the site. I will take a look at what they have to offer.

Greg 👍

Hi Firefighter - have you tried https://www.smallscalelights.co.uk?
They do various sizes, right down to nano size LED's - you may have to wire them in and include resistors. The nano size are tiny, and the wires a nightmare to work with, but very fine, and as long as you can solder, I have used them on my model railways, including N gauge station lights. I have drilled out the lamp standard clear tops which are about 1/4" wide and the same high and threaded the wires up through fine brass tubing for the lamp posts. Very realistic, AND they do blue lights as well.

I have just been having another look at the lights on the Aliexpress site and apart from them being too big for my small launch (16/17 inches) the delivery time is showing on all I looked at was 38 days.

As I said before I would never have realized how difficult it would be to get suitable fittings for my boat. Not just the blue light fittings but others as well. I understand now why when I contacted the manufacturer they said that they were not able to help with any fittings or decals or recommend any fittings supplier. It's now very clear why they were not prepared to help. 😁


Greg 👍

I've bought all sorts, sometimes it comes from China or UK or Belgium. And often will within delivery times as I always select free postage on principle. Not had an issue yet.

Hello Terry,

Thank you very much for your dogged search for emergency services lights but once again the lights you have sent me will be too small at 3mm. What is more important is the light fitting, preferably domed. My original idea which I thought would be easy, was to get two suitable sized dummy blue domed light fittings which I could easily position and glue in place on the cabin/cockpit roof. After all my searching all I could find were some fittings with LEDs installed that I thought I could fit as dummies by removing the wire. Not the best or inexpensive way to doing it but I thought I did not have a choice. These turned out to be too big anyway. Once again aimed at the RC car 1:10 scale.

I think the time has come to write off the idea of these lights and continue with finishing the launch.

Thank you everybody who have contributed to my search.

Greg 👍

Thank you NickD. I had seen the lights on Aliexpress but I thought they came from China and was a bit put off. Not because they are Chinese but having to have to wait a while for the item to be delivered. Having said that, the way things are going I might as well put up with the wait. 😁

Greg 👍

https://www.layouts4u.net/oo-scale-lighting/oo-scale-illuminated-items/blocksignalling-police-ambulance-model-flashing-lights-blue-12v

Found this Greg

Try Aliexpress they do lots of different police lights just make sure you search for model one as they do sell full size as well👍

Hello Nickkthestream,

Thank you but unfortunately the lamp would be too big for my launch as it is under 17 inches in length. I have seen those lights on eBay. I think they were originally made for 1:10 scale RC cars. But thanks for responding.

Greg 👍

I knew I had one somewhere! I got this for my 36 inch Police Launch. 20mm high 13mm diameter. I can't remember which Ebay seller I got it from but will have a search of my emails if any good.

Thank you for suggesting Captain Jack's Models. The picture of the LED looks okay but I would prefer to have a fitting with a blue dome rather than just an LED. I did use a ruler to show what the 5mm LED would look like on the cabin roof of the launch but in my opinion I thought it would look too small. At a push I'm not opposed to an all blue light bar.

I can find plenty of lamps that are for cars which are too big. I can find plenty of the US Police style with blue and red lights which will not do. All I want is a British blue emergency light fitting. Is that much to ask? ☹️

Why are these light fittings so difficult to find?

Greg 👍

Try captain Jack's models
Also this is a 5mm led probably more like what your after

Thanks for the Picclick link but unfortunately those lights are also for model cars and at a scale f 1:10 not 1:24 or there about.


Greg 👍

Thanks for the information on the LEDs. I am sorry but it must be a Bank Holiday Monday and I have not had enough coffee yet. What I also should have said in my request is that the blue light needed to have the fitting with it not just the LED. In fact, The domed lamp can be a dummy and does not have eliminate.

Greg 👍

Any good?
https://picclick.co.uk/Blue-LED-Flashing-Light-Police-Lighting-for-1-10-153176148091.html

Component Shop do flashing blue LEDs , but not a complete fitting. www.component-shop.co.uk😉

I had seen the lights on eBay. They are too big for my model. I should have said in my request for help post that the light needs to be around 1:24. The lights available on eBay are for model cars and are scaled at 1:10.

But thank you for telling me anyway.

Greg 👍

Thanks. I am sure I have tried that but I will give it another go.

(Love your dog by the way)

Greg 👍

Ebay ... just type rc blue flashing police light

Concerning fittings for the Police launch I am building, I have now managed to locate most of the additional fittings I want with the exception of one. I don't know if I am looking in the right places but I can't find a suitable blue dome light or beacon light that would be used by the British Police. If anyone knows of such lights/lamps available on the internet please could you let me know.

Greg 👍

Hello neilw,

Thank you for the link to Mobile Marine Models. Just had a quick look and they seem to be very good.

Greg 👍

Steve at Model Boat Bits is really good at making special some prospects and bushes for all sizes of model boats.

Bryan at Mobile Marine Models is happy to supply excellent GF hulls and plans for all their models on request.

John. 😊😊😐😐

Had a few problems with Model Boat Bits, have had to hassle and remind on a couple of occasions. The quality is good but delivery time is an issue.

I'd forgotten about them, good supplier and fast delivery... I have never had a problem with Model Boat Bits, allways arrived within a few days of ordering.

Mobile Marine Models have some good bits, very quick delivery from them as well. https://www.mobilemarinemodels.com/

SLEC's website does not do them justice and I don't think prices are expensive. If anyone goes there it Unit 10. Ignore CLS FABRICATIONS bit.

Thank you to everyone who has given their recommendations.

Greg 👍

Model boat bits is OK if your willing to wait and wait and wait for delivery

Making us in New Zealand very jealous of your range.

Try SLEC WATTON NORFOLK UK