Request for advice on what to visit on a trip to the UK from the US

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14 April 2011 at 18:57 #30307
Kenneth Rifkin
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@kennethrifkin53957
I have gotten involved in RC boating recently (electric scale: tugs, pleasure craft, etc.). I live in Florida and, as we are apt to point out (whether you want to hear it or not), it’s a great place for RC boating. I have built the Dumas Jersey City and will soon start on the Model Slipway Assurance.

I am planning a trip to London from 6 June to 18 June and would like to visit as many shops, museums, trade shows, exhibitions and club events relevant to my new hobby as possible. Are there any suggestions you can provide along the lines of my interests? I am accompanying my wife (who will be on a business trip) so during the week I will be completely free to travel in the London environs or further if necessary. I will not have a car, am familiar with public transport of all kinds in the UK and could travel virtually anywhere in the UK if an event or place warranted it. Weekends are also possible as my wife is extremely supportive of my hobby.

So, please get back to me as soon as you can with your thoughts or, if you are not able to help me, perhaps you can recommend someone else to contact. Thank you very much.
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14 April 2011 at 18:57 #3720
Kenneth Rifkin
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@kennethrifkin53957
14 April 2011 at 19:51 #30308
Colin Bishop
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@colinbishop34627
I suppose it depends just how extensive your maritime interests are!

With regard to museums:

If you are based within central London then the Science Museum has a superb collection of models of all periods. The National Maritime Museum at Greenwich is also well worth visiting, not so many models but lots of interesting exhibits plus its unique setting best approached by water.

The WW2 Cruiser HMS Belfast is moored in the Pool of London just upstream of Tower Bridge and has a number of warship models aboard.

A bit further afield (2 hours by train) is Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, the Mary Rose Museum plus the Royal Naval Museum which has many model exhibits. Across the harbour at Gosport you have the Royal Navy Submarine Museum with two full size subs and many models. If this interest you then you could easily spend a couple of days there.

Then there is Chatham Historic Dockyard (about an hour by train) which has a full size Victorian Gunboat, a WW2 Destroyer, 1950s submarine plus two museums full of mostly naval models and other attractions.

Have a look at the ‘Shows and Events’ link to the left ofr this page for model boating related events, there may be others that members on here can tell you about.

If any of the above is of interest then I can supply website links for you to explore further.

Model boating events tend to be spread around the country and are usually at weekends. You would need to check out anything you are interested in in a bit of detail otherwise you could take a long trip to something which might not be what you are expecting.

There are not many major model shops around these days and those that are tend to be outside London and much of their business in internet based. At one time there was a wonderful model boat shop in Greenwich near the Maritime Museum but unfortunately it closed many years ago.

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 14/04/2011 19:55:56
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