ROSS MANSELL 1

I often buy from a German firm. They charge German VAT on goods at 19% at buying source..and I pay for DHL mailing. I have bought goods valued at £70 and over ..no other charges other than the mailing cost (usually around Eoro 9.00 and delivery in 3 to 4 days.) I have queried one carrier charging me extra for handling some goods imported and chanllenged them that the goods had been paid for delivery to destination and I was not prepared to pay anything else. I paid the vat and that was it... They are charging illegally for handling as far as I and others are concerned. as delivery has already been paid to them .

It seems that the plastic needs to droop about 12mm (half an inch old money) and then draw down. (According to the experts on various forums

TYGON appears to be the scientific tube that is impervious to fuels/oils etc...expensive.. Its yellow in colour and has the name every 300mm down the tube to show its genuine.

THAT is not nice at all..my sympathy!. Perhaps a Tranny tray (neck strap/tray type) will help..save using the teeth on the throttle !! The electric jobs ..they don't stop running when they hit a hand like the old days of diesel or petrol. Edited By ROSS MANSELL 1 on 08/08/2019 09:25:01

If flying to OZ then contact the airline (I think lipos MAY be ok in hold luggage).. Trouble is you can't tell with lipos whether they WILL remain safe! and of course if the worst happens in the container its a case of a bad start down under having to buy new furniture.. Play safe..sell or give em away or ditch them.

Thought it was illegal to drop anthring from a model??? ANO??

RE HOBBYKING. I believe it is owned and run by Australian(s).....CEO owner being Anthony Howland.......and many of the senior posts are Aussie......not that it affects their gear or prices!!

Posted by David Mellor on 24/07/2018 13:47:59: That is a good point, Supertigrefan, but personally I wouldn't attach very much weight to it for the following reason. Before the internet, I imagine Mick Charles faced only modest competition as most customers would rarely visit many other model shops (the idea of a Local Model Shop is that it is..... local). As internet buying accelerated, competition between otherwise isolated LMSs also accelerated. Ergo, each model shop was faced with the same decision on a daily basis - do I compete head to head and sell on the internet, or do I continue to be a footfall-dependant local trading business? Who helps each LMS to decide that daily conundrum? We do. We engage in discussion - literally on the shop floor - and ask why they don't sell more products on the internet. Also, we tell them of the strong reasons why we buy cheap Chinese products from HK - they know already, of course, but we support them anyway. In the end, it is true that each LMS is under harsh competitive pressure via the internet. But it is still us (customers) who decide whose "buy" button we press.....and who we talk to.     Edited By David Mellor on 24/07/2018 13:49:20     Well said. Edited By ROSS MANSELL 1 on 24/07/2018 13:50:48

Afraid the UK is not the only place to suffer the closure of local model shops.....and there are a few in the US AND well knoiwn manufacturers (50 yrs o more in business) also in the US have packed in, in the last year or so. A lot of it I am sure us due to the owners retiring..some keep going well past retirement age..but eventally..one has to give in. and there are few takers for the business........... On the other hand. young people seem to be more enthusiastic about putting something together in an hour or two rather than scratch building or building from plans.. Easier to buy a box from the INT. Sign of the times I suppose...and council business rates have a lot to answer for! So then chaps.....keep buying the balsa, (where you can) scalpels & Elastoplasters..the hobby aint doomed to extinction yet!!     Edited By ROSS MANSELL 1 on 24/07/2018 13:49:14

Posted by onetenor on 14/03/2018 21:30:06: I've problem with customs charge £12.10 for items charged at 2p. Try and get through to right person .No chance. Anyone ideas ? ....and yet oddly..model railway stuff does not attract duty only VAT as customs describe it as Toy Railway!! so a £1k model locomotive (1:22.5 scale) gets in by paying VAT only (plus of course the airmail charge ex USA by UPS or DHL...around £50 and three days delivery.)

A recently viewed a  video on YOUTUBE   which showed   simple vac forming using plastic picnic plates obtainable usually from supermarkets  ( I have seen some in a UK supermarket).... Quite thin and cheap. Might be worth a punt. They may need a rim cut off but they appear ok for small size moldings. Go here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJVFxK5pseA&feature=youtu.be This video is 1 of a series of 3 also shows a small vac forming box , made very cheaply.....details of which are mentioned in the US Model Airplane News website (search) and also the video mentions a couple of sites showing the plans for the box.  (a small version of the plans  is shown on the MAN article,....) By the way..ref my earlier re plastic sheets. RAPID  have some white sheets ( Plasticard).. 457mm x 254 @ £10 for 10 sheets  at this price I snapped up 20 sheets for stock!     p&p £2.99. delivered next day by courier!   Other colours ( inc clear)  different price s. Edited By ROSS MANSELL 1 on 15/02/2018 10:11:21 Edited By ROSS MANSELL 1 on 15/02/2018 10:25:20 Edited By ROSS MANSELL 1 on 15/02/2018 10:27:38

As of 14 FEB 2017 . A4 PET 1mm thick TRENT PLASTICS (uk..CHECK Google). 0.64p for an A4 size inc vat. 10 sheets postage was £2.99. 1.5mm thixk A4 is 0.96p both prices inc vat. As I use a dental vac I buy 5" x 5" plastic from Aliexpress..free postage but prices vary with thickness and number of sheets per box (some have 20 sheets others 30). so be careful! (The dental vac does a good job). Prices vary and they can occasionally be picked up less than half price (I paid £38 for mine ex Amazon returned item!!! bargain of the centruy!! ..Check their Open Box section for anything.... Both worth checking out.