Cornwallmodelboats Reviews 71

Sent email enquiry for a speed controller and other equipment for my rc boat and despite sending it 4 times (different days) and even being told they would deal with later on the 4th day still no reply.
Clearly only deal with people who know what they want.

I needed a transmitter to go with an old rc yacht I was given. These guys were really helpful, and my new (perfect for the job!) transmitter arrived in 3 days. Great stuff!

I have been a customer for some 17yrs and they have NEVER let me down in any aspect of service
Absolutely outstanding and very knowledgeable staff

I found Cornwall Model Boats very helpful as I was after two add kits for the Billings HMS Victory which had been out of stock for sometime as they were waiting for a delivery.
They contacted me by phone as soon as their delivery arrived and placed on order there and then and my order was packed and shipped that day and I received the following day well packaged.
This is the second time I have used them with no problems.
I am already planning my next order of multiple items which I need for my current build and next.

When you order a specific number of cannons, it is unlikely that you will receive the required amount. Unlikely that I would buy from again..

I purchased from Cornwall Model Boats (CMB) a Carson Reflex Stick PRO 3.1 radio control system comprising a transmitter, receiver and servo together with drive battery and charger and transmitter batteries as described on the company’s website.

When the system was received, I found that the servo was faulty and the transmitter batteries were omitted. I reported the issue to the company by e-mail and I left a telephone message. The following is a summary of subsequent e-mail communications.

3 February 2025 - E-mail to the CMB
CMB informed of the faulty servo and omitted batteries

6 February 2025 – E-mail to CMB
Request for a response to my telephone message and e-mail.

6 February 2025 – E-mail from CMB
Apology received from CMB for the late reply and undertaking given to provide a replacement servo and omitted batteries.

17 February 2025 – E-mail to CMB
CMB informed that the items had not been received and asked to expedite their supply.

18 February 2025 – E-mail from CMB
CMB stated that the items had been sent and they would “chase it up”.

26 February 2025 – E-mail to CBM
Informed CM that the items had still not been received and asked which carrier had been used.

7 March 2025 – E-mail to CBM
Ultimatum given to CMB informing of action to be taken if not resolved quickly.

7 March 2025 – E-mail from CMB
CMB stated that they would re-send the items by APC.

14 March 2025 – E-mail to CBM
Informed CMB that the servo had been received but not the batteries.

14 March 2025 – E-mail from CMB
CMB stated that they had e-mailed to say that they would provide partial refund as they had no batteries, but this e-mail had not been received.

15 March 2025 – E-mail to CBM
Informed CMB that the partial refund had not been received.

29 March 2025 – E-mail to CBM
Informed CMB that credit card account for March did not show a partial refund.

Statements received from CMB have not been reliable and, to date, the matter has not been resolved fully.

I have never before received such bad after sales service from a supplier.

Good products, and they fill orders and ship promptly. I have only ordered twice and both times they have shipped fewer parts than ordered. This is a problem if a certain number of matching parts are required for a model. This time I ordered 2 anchors and they shipped 1. Previously I ordered portholes and received much fewer than required. When I received an invoice showing 1 anchor shipped and one cancelled, I sent an email asking if the order had actually been shipped yet, but received no reply. Recently I sent an email suggesting that customers be informed if the full quantity wasn't available so they could decide if they wanted a lesser amount. Again no reply. I can't help but notice that this lack of responsiveness is a common complaint.

Glenn at Cornwall model boats has been extremely helpful with my queries regarding a Titanic model which I purchased from them
Andy B
Isle of Wight

Today we had our second visit to Cornwall model boats and again the service was amazing. Called ahead to check it was this ok to visit in person again and take along my old man who has been building plastic kits for the last 55 years. To say he was like a kid in a sweet shop is an understatement!. He pulled out several models asking prices as he went along and after choosing several models he changed his mind!. He came across two dioramas which he hadn’t seen before and was over the moon with them. When we left he commented on how he couldn’t believe on what they had to offer and how much was in stock. He said it was his best day out in a long time lol. The staff have been amazing again and very accommodating and friendly. I think as a family we have found our favourite model supplier. Forgot to add that my partner found some small wooded model kits and has had great fun making them.

OMG! What an absolutely fantastic person Glenn is, he took the time to listen to me and explain things. I am new to boat building and he's knowledge was invaluable. I asked him about items I required which turned out to be a special order, and he sorted my order out promptly and took the time to keep me up to date with the whole process from start to finish. I found Glenn to be extremely helpful, very friendly, approachable, and totally professional.
I have completely no hesitation to recommend Cornwallmodelboats , and most definitely be shopping there again.

Order not delivered. Company even provided proof from Royal Mail that items not delivered after 2 weeks yet repeatedly ignored requests for refund. Have had to request recovery of funds through cardholder. UPDATE partial refund only received. Have requested full balance. Have never dealt with such a deliberately difficult supplier

I found my dealings with CMB to be an absolute delight. I had a very friendly chat with the owner who spent a great deal of time answering my questions and giving me excellent advice.
The item I ordered arrived within the week and CMB had put in additional items to help me with my build; completely free of charge and immensely useful.
Highly recommended.

After hunting in model shops for a specific size/type of wood I gave up and went on line. Found exactly what I wanted here. Ordered on the Thursday afternoon and couldn’t believe it when the items arrived in the post Friday lunchtime. No more trudging around the shops for me, this is my go-to-first-stop for all modelling needs from now on.

Reviews regarding CMB seem to be either glowing or growling according to Trustpilot. In my own experience, yes, items are dispatched promptly. Sometimes the wrong item, as I have had wrong parts supplied and wrong woods. On emailing re the wood my message was first ignored, then the chap tried to tell me the wood I had was just a lighter shade of walnut, when the grain structure as well as the colour, to me, was nothing like walnut. Email correspondence does seem to alternate between very prompt help and being ignored. Therefore, due to this hit-and-miss service I will not be using CMB again I'm afraid.
As for the reply below, why are woods supplied which bear no relation to that supplied in kits? Using such woods would result in a complete mess of a model. Also, not only is the colour miles out, the grain is totally different too. Just nonsense to expect modellers to use such in a model.

Nov2023 purchase African Queen boat,parts missing, from Billingboats kit. 13 E-mails to CORNWALLMODELBOATS and a few calls and still not missing parts as stated to be delivered?
So finally contact Bilingboats myself and get instant response ! missing parts on the way and this is Now March 2024

This company has to be the go to place for all your model boat needs. Have spoken to them on numerous occasions and always found them to be extremely helpful.

The stock range is one of the best around amd delivery is usually very quick.

I will keep returning here for all.my modeling needs

Excellent Service, Excellent High Quality Products. My go to for hard to find parts for a wonderful hobby of model ships and boats.
Precise order handling and fair prices. I receive packages from them quickly and well packed. I highly recommend this business for your modeling needs.

A very friendly and helpful service. My first time using this company I was impressed with the speed of delivery as well as the good packaging, my item arrived in 3 days from order. Now happily following the instructions and slowly putting my boat together. I found this company to be the cheapest for the kit I ordered, I was impressed by the availability of spares and good aftercare.

Do not buy anything from them!
0 response to phone calls, emails or even messenger!
Too many red flags!

In May 2023 i purchased £900 large scale model boat from them and it was all good, BUT box wasn't sealed!
4 months later I noticed all walnut strips are missing, to be exact 100 walnut strips. This has been replaced with cheap 100 balsa strips. Bare in mind Cornwall model boats had loads of walnut strips in stock.
I contacted Cornwall model boats and of course 0 response so left voicemail that I am missing lots of wood.
I got call back asking what's wrong. I explained the issue and in less than 2 minutes I received email saying I contacted supplier and they said there is an issue with walnut strips, but no apology!
I said you sold an item which is not as described knowing it is missing something, while claiming on your website it has that item. Anyway. no apology, no nothing and it was over 3 months since purchase otherwise I would have opened a case on PayPal for being scammed quite frankly and lied to!
Let's be honest you didn't contact supplier, they get back to you and you write me an email all within 2 minutes!!
I have contacted supplier myself about this "issue" and supplier confirmed that actually there is no issue with walnut strips! So this tells me Cornwall model boats is taking stuff out of the boxes and replacing it with cheaper alternatives and then pretending nothing happened and then later lying about it.

Anyway, fast forward to January 2024.
I am still working on the model and noticed I am missing about 60 rigging blocks to be able to finish my boat. Not a big deal but annoying these are like £15 for 100 blocks.
I ordered rigging blocks early on Monday morning from Cornwall model boats and paid for UPS to get next day! How wrong was I!
Following day with 0 email about confirmation of the item being shipped or UPS tracking!
I called and left voicemail 3 x on Tuesday.
No response!
I left message on messenger on Tuesday.
No response!
I called on Wednesday 3 x morning afternoon and late afternoon and left voicemails.
No response!
On Friday I was going to cancel transaction as at this point I felt scammed by Cornwall model boats!
I couldn't cancel the transaction as it was pending!
I had to call PayPal to cancel it manually!
Few hours later after I cancelled the transaction I got message from Cornwall model boats saying
"we were gonna send your item today but you cancelled transaction"
Sure you were!!!

Do not buy because 0 customer service, 0 response to phone calls, voicemails, emails or even messenger!
They are rude and never apologise!
Too many red flags!
Taking original items from the sealed box and replacing it with cheaper stuff while still claiming it has original items in it!
If you do buy from Cornwall model boats, only pay with PayPal and thoroughly check whole box against the inventory item list!

I would strongly advise you pay more money and buy from someone else!

no stars from me

I can see all reviews saying basically same thing about no contact

P.S.

I've seen your original reply and I took screenshot and will be posting it everywhere for people to see how your treat your customers!

Extremely unprofessional, extremely rude, name dropping, swearing at me!!
Can't handle the truth so swearing at me and calling my review fake and utter non sense...

Extremely unprofesional

The model I paid for remained "unshipped" for over a week. No response on FB Messenger or email. Finally called and the person answering the phone was clueless. He claimed they were still "looking for it in the warehouse". I asked for a refund, which was given, and called it a day.