My first shop

[Panzer21]

A big wall of MINITANKS  1/87th. Blister packs with orange/blue header cards.
I used to regularly buy three or  four models each time I visited. 1973-1983? Then it closed.
One could buy some useful tanks such as PZ III and stug but no WW2 trucks (they later added a  blitz). The allies got M10 etc but no British tanks early on.
Infantry, just a few odds and ends.
The models were wonderful for wargaming. Clean, sharp and robust. The models worked fine with early British combat group and Heil Hitler Germans.
We used the Charles grant battle rules.

Hobby lobby had the full range of Humbrol enamel Authenti-colour too. Brown Bess , lovely



martin

Living in the far flung north, while we had the occasional Airfix kit (there was a toy / model shop in Alnwick - the same chap who founded Barter Books), such esoteric things as Roco Minitanks only appeared in books and magazines.
My obsession with Minitanks started in the 1980s when looking at gaming "moderns" and I discovered the next generation - Bradleys where the TOW launcher was hinged and could fold up or down. Soviet opposition was in short supply until Petner Panzers produced a T-72 and Armortec a T-62 and CMSC produced BMPs. CMSC also produced a limited range of figures designed by Dave Allsop; they are like a large 18mm figure of today.
I stuck to "20mm" figures as shown in Frank Chadwick's Combined Arms and Twilight 2000 US vehicle guide.
I still have them and have used Roco and other 1:87 vehicles for Arab-Israeli conversions for 1967. Pictures here:

http://aufklarungsabteilung.blogspot.com/search/label/1%3A87%20Arab-Israeli

http://aufklarungsabteilung.blogspot.com/search/label/1%2F87th

http://aufklarungsabteilung.blogspot.com/search/label/Arab-Israeli

As far as paints, Authenticolour were non-existent until you went further afield; the best the local shops could do was Humbrol Gloss enamels! A lot of my early ancient armies were painted in those!
Neil

[martin goddard]

Good old enamels.
No other option was even imagined.


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

They did rather slow down the painting process somewhat.

Or at least make interesting blends for the impatient. Pink crossbelts for the British Foot Guards, anyone? 

Simon

[steve_holmes_11]

Woolies in Barkingside High street.

Airfix kits and figures, Airfix and Humbrol paints.
Also primary school uniform, black plimsols, gardening stuff and records.

[Bankinista]

Where I grew up wargames wise there were no model/figure shops. Airfix provided 95% of wargames stuff and even other manufacturers were considered relatively rare and special.  Woolworths was the nearest thing to a model shop we had. Visits to real model shops were left to city visits when travelling. Wargames shows were a dream marketplace.

That's just setting the scene.

The real story concerns a work visit to Southampton. Ah! Minifigs. I finished the class I was teaching, early – using my lousy cold as an excuse - and set of to the factory/shop. I looked at my map and began walking. The area got dodgier with every turn. I suppose the rents got cheaper. Anyway with just 100 yards or so to go I was approached by a "lady". "You here on business. Sir?" Knowing that my suit was somewhat out of keeping for that area I replied "Of course". I blame my cold/fuzzy head but what she'd said was "You want to do business. Sir?"

I sussed the real situation and got to Minifigs where I bought my first 15mm figures. Ho-hum.


Bankinista

[mellis1644]

Mine was John Brittons toy shop in Barnsley. In the late 70's early 80's they had everything - from D&D/SPI games through soft toys to rocking horses, action man and airfix models and trains. A huge store and if there was not something for a kid there they did not like toys.