The Model Centre
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersBeck Hole, Whitby, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
The Model Centre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Model Centre
- Legal name
- The Model Centre
- Website
- https://themodelcentre.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Model Centre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hobby & Scale Model Retail
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- RC Model Kits & Parts (Cars, Drones, Boats, Planes) (CRALAKAI)
Keywords
Where The Model Centre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beck Hole, Whitby
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Model Centre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- New model railway products: Sales of brand new model railway locos, rolling stock, scenery, figures, buildings, electrics, modelling tools, paints, and effects across all major brands (Hornby, Bachmann, Graham Farish, Dapol, Peco, Heljan, Woodland Scenics, Scenecraft) at competitive discounted prices (typically ~15% below RRP). Also stocks plastic kits, slot cars, diecast models, and aviation models. Revenue is one-time transaction-based.
- Customisation services: Professional custom finish services including weathering (Value, Standard, Deluxe), DCC & DCC Sound fitting, renumbering & renaming, graffiti effects, high gloss finish, and finishing touches (crew, real coal, cab tarpaulin, etc.). Services are priced per job and added to product orders or applied to customer-supplied models. Lead times range from 2 weeks to 8 weeks depending on service.
- Pre-owned models: Carefully selected pre-owned models checked, tested, serviced, and sold with TMC's own warranty. The company also buys pre-owned collections from customers.
- Servicing and repairs: Servicing and repair services for customer models, typically completed within two weeks.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | New models at ~15% below RRP |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free shipping for UK orders over £100 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | UK Standard Delivery from £4.00 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Customisation services priced per service option |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Model Centre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Model Centre is a UK mail-order and showroom retailer of model railways, diecast vehicles, plastic kits, slot cars and aviation models from leading manufacturers, sold new or pre-owned with warranties and pricing set roughly 15% below RRP. The company complements this retail activity with fee-based in-house hand customisation services — weathering, graffiti effects, renaming/renumbering, DCC and DCC sound fitting, finishing touches and servicing/repairs — applied by its own staff.
Product overview
The Model Centre (TMC) operates as a mail-order model railway retailer and customisation specialist, offering a comprehensive product portfolio across multiple scales (OO, N, and O gauge) alongside complementary hobby products. The core offering combines branded model railways from Hornby, Bachmann, Graham Farish, Dapol, Heljan, and Peco with an extensive professional customisation workshop established since 1998. Customers can purchase ready-weathered models, specify custom options (weathering, DCC sound, renaming) on new purchases, or send existing models for customisation. The company also operates a pre-owned department for buying and selling second-hand models, and provides a free Trunk Service for consolidating multiple orders. Key differentiators include in-house weathering services (Value/Standard/Deluxe grades), bespoke graffiti customisation, professional DCC/sound fitting, and comprehensive renaming/renumbering using etched nameplates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Model Railways
Companies that use The Model Centre
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Model Centre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
The Model Centre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HornbycoreTMC stocks the full Hornby range of model railway products, including locomotives, rolling stock, and accessories. TMC offers Hornby products in weathered condition as part of its ready-customised ready-to-ship range.
- BachmanncoreTMC stocks the full Bachmann range and offers ready-customised weathered models in both OO Gauge and N Gauge. TMC also stocks Bachmann products with TMC-exclusive customisations.
- Graham FarishcoreTMC stocks the full Graham Farish (Bachmann) N Gauge range, including weathered and ready-customised models.
- DapolminorTMC stocks Dapol model railway products, including an increasing range of pre-weathered Dapol models.
- PecominorTMC stocks Peco track, scenery, and modelling products including track, points, and the 'Shows You How' instructional pamphlet series.
- HeljanminorTMC stocks Heljan models and offers an increasing range of weathered Heljan locomotives.
- Woodland ScenicsminorTMC stocks Woodland Scenics scenery and landscaping products for model railway layouts.
- ScenecraftminorTMC stocks Scenecraft model railway products.
- DCC Sound Suppliers (YouChoos, LegomanBiffo, Howes, Digitrains, SWD, Mr Soundguy, Locomansounds)coreTMC sources DCC sound files and decoders from a curated list of specialist suppliers for its in-house DCC and DCC Sound fitting service. Customers choose their preferred sound file directly from suppliers' websites and TMC installs it.
- WorldPaycoreWorldPay is used as TMC's primary payment gateway, providing 24/7 transaction monitoring, next-level encryption, and fraud prevention for all card payments.
- PayPalcorePayPal is offered as an alternative payment method at checkout, securing customer financial information and allowing payment via email address and password without sharing financial details with TMC.
- Royal MailcoreRoyal Mail is used for standard UK and international deliveries, including the free shipping threshold service and Trunk service accumulator shipments.
- DPD LocalcoreDPD Local is used for UK standard and express deliveries. TMC also uses DPD Local for international shipments as it can often provide competitive postage rates.
- FedExminorFedEx is used for international deliveries outside the UK, often providing competitive rates compared to other carriers.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Model Centre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Digitrains: UK specialist retailer focused on DCC and digital control equipment for model railways with an in-house DCC fitting service. Comparable to TMC's DCC Sound and DCC fitting offering, overlapping in technical customisation and electronics focus.
- Kernow Model Rail Centre: UK-based mail-order model railway retailer offering new and pre-owned models across major brands with customisation services. Directly comparable to TMC in product range, target customer (UK modellers), and e-commerce-led GTM.
- Rails of Sheffield: Long-established UK model railway retailer carrying Hornby, Bachmann, Dapol, and Heljan products via mail order and physical store. Closely comparable to TMC in brand portfolio, hobbyist customer base, and UK geographic focus.
- Wickness Models: Small UK-based mail-order model railway retailer offering discounted new products and pre-owned models. Comparable to TMC in niche mail-order positioning within the UK hobbyist market.
- Ellis Clark Trains: UK mail-order model railway retailer specialising in OO gauge products with custom weathering and DCC fitting services. Directly comparable in customisation services, OO-gauge focus, and DTC/mail-order model.
Broad incumbents
- Hornby Hobbies: UK-listed manufacturer of Hornby model railways, Scalextric, Airfix, and Corgi brands. Both a key TMC supplier and a broad incumbent competing across multiple hobby categories including directly in model railways.
- Bachmann Europe: UK distributor for Bachmann, Graham Farish, and SoundTraxx products. A core TMC supplier and broad incumbent with overlapping product portfolio in OO and N gauge.
Emerging players
- Petite Properties: UK-based niche model retailer and custom builder of miniature buildings and scenery for model railways. Adjacent peer offering complementary layout products and bespoke services similar to TMC's scenery range.
- Dapol: UK-based manufacturer of model railway products (OO, N, O gauge) with an increasing own-brand range of pre-weathered models. Both supplier to TMC and an emerging competitor offering ready-weathered products that compete with TMC's customisation service.
Regional players
- ModelRailroadDirect: US-based online retailer of model railways carrying the same major brands (Hornby, Bachmann, Atlas). Comparable product catalogue to TMC but serving North American customers rather than the UK market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Model Centre social profiles
Digital presenceThe Model Centre compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Model Centre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Model Centre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Model Centre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Model Centre 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 The Model Centre
What does The Model Centre do?
The Model Centre is a UK mail-order and showroom retailer of model railways, diecast vehicles, plastic kits, slot cars and aviation models from leading manufacturers, sold new or pre-owned with warranties and pricing set roughly 15% below RRP. The company complements this retail activity with fee-based in-house hand customisation services — weathering, graffiti effects, renaming/renumbering, DCC and DCC sound fitting, finishing touches and servicing/repairs — applied by its own staff.
Is The Model Centre a public or private company?
The Model Centre is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was The Model Centre founded?
The Model Centre was founded in 1998. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Model Centre based?
The Model Centre is headquartered in Beck Hole, Whitby, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Model Centre make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. New model railway products are the primary driver. The others are customisation services, pre-owned models and servicing and repairs.
Who are The Model Centre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Digitrains, Kernow Model Rail Centre, Rails of Sheffield, Wickness Models and Ellis Clark Trains. Broad incumbents are Hornby Hobbies and Bachmann Europe. Emerging players are Petite Properties and Dapol. ModelRailroadDirect is listed as a regional player.
Does The Model Centre have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Model Centre.
What industry is The Model Centre in?
The Model Centre's product category is Hobby & Scale Model Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAKAI, RC Model Kits & Parts (Cars, Drones, Boats, Planes). Its SIC code is 5945.