4D modelshop
4D modelshop was a UK specialist retailer and workshop service provider serving model makers, design professionals, and students with craft supplies and bespoke fabrication; its London shop closed in July 2025 and online operations transferred to supplier J Perkins.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What 4D modelshop does
4D modelshop was a London-based specialist retailer of model-making, craft, and design supplies, operating a physical shop on Leman Street for approximately 30 years from its founding in 1995 until the shop's closure in July 2025. The company's core offering was a curated inventory of niche materials — glues, card stock, foam, tools, and photo-etch components — sold alongside bespoke workshop services including custom trees, laser cutting, 3D printing, vinyl cutting, photo etching, and mould making. It served three primary customer groups: individual model makers and hobbyists, design professionals and studios requiring professional-grade materials and fabrication, and design students connecting to industry through the Newblades annual showcase (in its 32nd year).
The business operated a self-serve e-commerce model (modelshop.co.uk, later rebranded as 4d.shop) for direct online purchasing of supplies, supplemented by model.shop as a community platform offering a jobs board and how-to guides. Revenue was generated through one-time product sales and professional services for custom fabrication projects, with no disclosed subscription or recurring revenue model. No proprietary technology platform, patents, or AI/ML capabilities were disclosed.
In July 2025, the physical shop closed and the online operations were taken over by J Perkins, a long-standing supplier, which relaunched the ecommerce site at 4d.shop and community resources at model.shop. Workshop services were transitioned to Arch60 as a referral partner. The company is now effectively operated as part of J Perkins' distribution portfolio, with no disclosed venture, private equity, or institutional funding.
4D modelshop firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 4D modelshop
- Legal name
- 4D modelshop
- Website
- https://modelshop.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 4D modelshop was a UK specialist retailer and workshop service provider serving model makers, design professionals, and students with craft supplies and bespoke fabrication; its London shop closed in July 2025 and online operations transferred to supplier J Perkins.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
4D modelshop industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Model Making Supplies
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scale Model Kits (Aircraft, Armor, Ships, Cars) (CRALAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Crafting Machines & Accessories Retail (Die-Cut, Cricut/Silhouette, 3D Pens) (CRALACAK), 3D Printing Parts & Electronics Integration Retail (CRACAKAK)
Keywords
Where 4D modelshop is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
4D modelshop business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- E-commerce product sales: Online sales of model making, craft and design supplies including glues, card stock, foam, tools and more through the 4D.shop e-commerce platform.
- Workshop services: Custom workshop services including custom trees, laser cutting, 3D printing, vinyl cutting, photo etching, and mould making offered through Arch60.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
4D modelshop product offering
Product offeringCore offering
4D modelshop is an online retailer of model making, craft, and design supplies, offering glues, card stock, foam, tools, and other materials through its 4D.shop e-commerce platform. It complements this retail offering with workshop fabrication services (laser cutting, 3D printing, vinyl cutting, photo etching, mould making) delivered via its Arch60 partner. It also runs community resources through model.shop (jobs board, how-to guides) and the annual NewBlades modelmaking showcase.
Product overview
4D modelshop operates as a multi-platform portfolio of model making and creative supplies businesses. After 30 years of operating a physical shop on Leman Street in London (closed July 2025), operations transitioned to J Perkins. The core offering is 4D.shop, an online ecommerce platform for model making, craft and design supplies. This is supported by model.shop, a community resources platform with jobs and guides, and Arch60, which provides workshop services including laser cutting, 3D printing, and mould making. The NewBlades annual showcase connects emerging talent with industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 4D.shop Online e-commerce platform selling model making, craft and design supplies including glues, card stock, foam, tools and more, aimed at model makers, hobbyists, and design professionals in the UK.
- model.shop Community resources platform offering a jobs board, how-to guides, and community listings for makers and creatives.
- Arch60 Workshop Services Workshop services division providing custom model trees, laser cutting, 3D printing, vinyl cutting, photo etching, and mould making for professional and individual customers needing custom fabrication.
Companies that use 4D modelshop
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
4D modelshop technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
4D modelshop partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- J PerkinscoreJ Perkins, one of 4D's long-standing suppliers, took over the modelshop.co.uk online operations following the closure of the physical shop in July 2025. J Perkins now operates both the 4D.shop e-commerce platform and the model.shop community resources. This represents a strategic business succession where a trusted supplier assumed operational control of the business.
- Arch60coreArch60 now provides workshop services that were previously offered through the 4D physical shop. Services include custom trees, laser cutting, 3D printing, vinyl cutting, photo etching, and mould making. Arch60 operates independently and handles custom fabrication service inquiries.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
4D modelshop competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Hubs: Global on-demand manufacturing platform offering 3D printing, CNC machining, and injection moulding services. Directly comparable to Arch60's custom fabrication offering, with broader scale and international reach.
- i.materialise: Online 3D printing service bureau offering custom prints in plastics, metals, and resins for designers and professionals. Comparable custom fabrication positioning to Arch60, with established digital ordering infrastructure.
Broad incumbents
- Hobbycraft: UK's largest specialist arts, crafts, and hobbies retailer with a national chain of 100+ stores. Carries a broad assortment that overlaps with 4D modelshop's range but is far less specialized in model making.
- The Works: UK value retailer of arts, crafts, toys, and hobby products with extensive national store footprint. Overlaps with 4D modelshop in craft supplies and hobby categories but operates at a fundamentally different price point and scale.
Direct peers
- Brigade Models: UK-based specialist supplier of wargaming, model railway, and scale modelling supplies, with overlapping product categories and a hobbyist/professional maker customer base.
- The Airbrush Company: UK retailer of airbrushes, spray equipment, and related model making consumables serving both professional studios and hobbyist modellers, with significant product category overlap.
- Slaters Plastikard: UK specialist manufacturer and retailer of plasticard, sheet materials, and model making supplies serving architectural model makers, railway modellers, and hobbyists — a directly comparable specialist supplier.
- Green Stuff World: Online retailer specializing in modelling paints, putties, weathering products, and miniature hobby supplies with international shipping. Directly comparable product mix and customer base to 4D modelshop.
- J Perkins Distribution: UK-based distributor of model and hobby products and current operator of 4D modelshop's online operations. Overlapping product categories (glues, tools, hobby supplies) and shared customer base make it the most directly comparable peer.
- Expo Tools: UK supplier of model making tools, airbrushes, and craft equipment for professional and hobbyist model makers. Comparable target customer (design professionals and serious hobbyists) and tool/supply offering.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
4D modelshop social profiles
Digital presence4D modelshop financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
4D modelshop leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
4D modelshop funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
4D modelshop M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 4D modelshop
What does 4D modelshop do?
4D modelshop is an online retailer of model making, craft, and design supplies, offering glues, card stock, foam, tools, and other materials through its 4D.shop e-commerce platform. It complements this retail offering with workshop fabrication services (laser cutting, 3D printing, vinyl cutting, photo etching, mould making) delivered via its Arch60 partner. It also runs community resources through model.shop (jobs board, how-to guides) and the annual NewBlades modelmaking showcase.
Is 4D modelshop a public or private company?
4D modelshop is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was 4D modelshop founded?
4D modelshop was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 4D modelshop based?
4D modelshop is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does 4D modelshop make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. E-commerce product sales are the primary driver. The others are workshop services.
Who are 4D modelshop's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Hubs and i.materialise. Broad incumbents are Hobbycraft and The Works. Direct peers are Brigade Models, The Airbrush Company, Slaters Plastikard, Green Stuff World, J Perkins Distribution and Expo Tools.
Does 4D modelshop have an API?
No public API is recorded for 4D modelshop.
What industry is 4D modelshop in?
4D modelshop's product category is Model Making Supplies. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAKAA, Scale Model Kits (Aircraft, Armor, Ships, Cars), with a secondary code of CRALACAK, Crafting Machines & Accessories Retail (Die-Cut, Cricut/Silhouette, 3D Pens). Its SIC code is 5945.