Drum and Flag closing down

[Rich W]

Not sure if anyone has seen, but Drum and Flag have announced they are shutting down over the upcoming weeks/months.

A real shame for the hobby as Rupert provided an excellent service-good selection and often slightly cheaper prices. It was one of my two main online shops (Arcane Scenery still going for now!) so I will have to consider a new place for reliable and well priced figures (happy to hear recommendations)!

A lot of the remaining sets are now being sold off at cheap prices so well worth a look before they sell out...

[blacksmith]

What a pity they are closing down. Thanks for the heads up though.

[Minuteman]

Not sure if anyone has seen, but Drum and Flag have announced they are shutting down over the upcoming weeks/months.

A real shame for the hobby as Rupert provided an excellent service-good selection and often slightly cheaper prices. It was one of my two main online shops (Arcane Scenery still going for now!) so I will have to consider a new place for reliable and well priced figures (happy to hear recommendations)!

A lot of the remaining sets are now being sold off at cheap prices so well worth a look before they sell out...

Yes, I agree Rich. Rupert - operating pretty much as a one-man operation I believe - has provided a sterling service to the hobby over the last 20 years. Certainly, in recent years Drum and Flag have probably been my primary source for figures. Customer service has always been superb, and the fact that this has been a business run by a genuine enthusiast who knows the 1/72 figure market well has added to the quality of this service.

With Andy Harfield (Harfields) shutting up shop a few years ago and Drum and Flag now closing, I fear that we no longer have a specialist 1/72 figure dealer/retailer operating, at least in the UK.

A big Thank You then to Rupert for many years of dedicated service to this hobby of ours.

[Santi Pérez]

...With Andy Harfield (Harfields) shutting up shop a few years ago and Drum and Flag now closing, I fear that we no longer have a specialist 1/72 figure dealer/retailer operating, at least in the UK...

Certainly, it's always very sad to see a model shop close down, both on the street and on the Internet, a phenomenon that unfortunately is happening more and more frequently.

When I was young in Madrid, my city, there were several tens of shops that, although not specifically model shops, did sell 1/72 scale plastic figures. Right now, as far as I know, there are hardly 3 left.

I think I have only bought from Drums & Flags on one or two occasions and none from Harfields or Arcane Scenery. However, I have bought many times from The Lucky Soldier online shop in Italy (owner Fausto Mancin) and am very happy with both their offer and their service. Here is their link:

https://www.theluckysoldier.it/en-us/

Santi.

[blacksmith]

...
With Andy Harfield (Harfields) shutting up shop a few years ago and Drum and Flag now closing, I fear that we no longer have a specialist 1/72 figure dealer/retailer operating, at least in the UK.

A big Thank You then to Rupert for many years of dedicated service to this hobby of ours.

Well, there is still Hannants: https://www.hannants.co.uk/

[blacksmith]

...
A lot of the remaining sets are now being sold off at cheap prices so well worth a look before they sell out...

I've just ordered five boxes

[Minuteman]

Well, there is still Hannants: https://www.hannants.co.uk/

Yes, we are fortunate to have Hannants and also quite a lot of other on-line retailers, including Kingkit and Models2U. There are also still some excellent model shops here in the UK which as well as having a real shop have an on-line sales business, such as Wonderland Models in Scotland.

What I was suggesting in referencing Harfields and now Drum and Flag is that the specialist 1/72 military figures retailer is disappearing from the hobby. End of an era, but not the end of the hobby.

[Susofrick]

It is sad for the hobby. It was a very good shop!

[Rich W]

Yes, we are fortunate to have Hannants and also quite a lot of other on-line retailers, including Kingkit and Models2U. There are also still some excellent model shops here in the UK which as well as having a real shop have an on-line sales business, such as Wonderland Models in Scotland.

What I was suggesting in referencing Harfields and now Drum and Flag is that the specialist 1/72 military figures retailer is disappearing from the hobby. End of an era, but not the end of the hobby.

I have used Kingkit and Emodels, but as you say, Drum and Flag was the specialist and got most of my trade.

I actually visited Wonderland Models in Edinburgh during a recent holiday. A great shop with pretty much everything you'd need! If anyone is visiting Edinburgh (which you should, as it is a beautiful city), then this shop is a must and is only 10 mins walk from the castle.

I'm lucky in that the Hannants warehouse is only 45 mins drive from me. However, if you visit most of the figures are upstairs in a restricted area (or they were when I last visited a couple of years ago). But I have never before seen so many kits in one place!

[Minuteman]

I have used Kingkit and Emodels, but as you say, Drum and Flag was the specialist and got most of my trade.

I actually visited Wonderland Models in Edinburgh during a recent holiday. A great shop with pretty much everything you'd need! If anyone is visiting Edinburgh (which you should, as it is a beautiful city), then this shop is a must and is only 10 mins walk from the castle.

I'm lucky in that the Hannants warehouse is only 45 mins drive from me. However, if you visit most of the figures are upstairs in a restricted area (or they were when I last visited a couple of years ago). But I have never before seen so many kits in one place!

Interesting insights into your shopping visits to Wonderland Models and Hannants Rich. I have not visited either in person, although I did visit the Hannants London shop some years ago and left with a small hold-all bag full of figures, but a mixed feeling as to whether it had been a 'great' shopping experience. I'm sure that visiting the Hannants warehouse in Lowestoft would be a revelation though.

[ADM]

I bought a lot of figures to "Drum and Flag" online shop from France where it's more difficult to find 1/72 figures, but stopped when England went out of Europe, there was suddenly custom charges and the price became too high, not to mention additional shipping time...