Another Draken trainer, but a multirole one: the Sk35M

[PR19_Kit]

I wonder how much the postage would be from Japan though, let alone the Customs fees, and the Border Force clearance fees too! 

[Pellson]

Despite lovely weather - some progress.

The Heller parts does indeed work rather well, and I've also sorted a stick for the teacher.

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Further, I've built an instrument panel for him, and everything does fit under the canopy. Note that there's a notch in the panel where the periscope will go. 

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Having also built that periscope, attached it to the canopy, it's time to close the cockpit up.

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At this time, I also added the intakes, the exhaust and last but not least (well, it is the smallest, but..) the raised fin tip.
Looking good, methinks, and you can see the close relationship to the one seater.

Aiming to perhaps close up the landing gear wells and add the pylons under the fuselage and intakes tomorrow, I'll have to wait for the donor Gripen kit to arrive in order to get my hands on the wings for this aircraft. Looking forward to that!

[PR19_Kit]

That's looking magnificent Mr. Pellson! 

[NARSES2]

I wonder how much the postage would be from Japan though, let alone the Customs fees, and the Border Force clearance fees too! 

Providing the value is below a certain amount (can't remember off the top of my head) then you won't get charged tariff fees, or shouldn't anyway. The issue is the paperwork. A lot of retailers both overseas and here in the UK can't be bothered with it 

[zenrat]

I wonder how much the postage would be from Japan though, let alone the Customs fees, and the Border Force clearance fees too! 

Providing the value is below a certain amount (can't remember off the top of my head) then you won't get charged tariff fees, or shouldn't anyway. The issue is the paperwork. A lot of retailers both overseas and here in the UK can't be bothered with it 

We are told that figure is thirty eight pounds.

[PR19_Kit]

We are told that figure is thirty eight pounds.

Indeed so, and those Drakens will all exceed that by the time they'd added on the postage, VAT, 'extra charges', etc. etc.

'Corporate Greed Rules OK' in Government agencies as well as it does in Big Business.

[Charlie_c67]

Have to say I've never really had any issues ordering from Japan. Tend to get multiple models at once to make it worth it (all much cheaper than buying from UK stores!) but shipping and tax has tended to only be £20 or there abouts.

[PR19_Kit]

I once bought a special build version of the Hasegawa RC-101C Voodoo, with two kits in one box with a special decal sheet.

It cost about £14 back then, and the UK Border Force wanted to charge me over £30 for customs fees and duty, and the Post Office want an extra £13 for 'handling fees'! I got so mad I wrote to  my MP and complained, and he leant on someone and got the PO charge cancelled and the duty cut by 60%. It took about 2 months before I got the kits!

But it shouldn't have to be like that, these agencies just try and break their own rules, and I think it's deliberate!

[NARSES2]

I wonder how much the postage would be from Japan though, let alone the Customs fees, and the Border Force clearance fees too! 

Providing the value is below a certain amount (can't remember off the top of my head) then you won't get charged tariff fees, or shouldn't anyway. The issue is the paperwork. A lot of retailers both overseas and here in the UK can't be bothered with it 

We are told that figure is thirty eight pounds.

Right. I was obviously in full idiot mode yesterday and didn't realise it would vary between countries 

I've not ordered from overseas since we left the EU, but have posted stuff, and even though I put "gift" on the declaration different countries authorities each seem to treat the package differently.

[zenrat]

When someone is lodging a parcel to the UK with me at the Post Office I will usually* inform them of the 38 pound figure.  This sometimes causes the declared value of the contents to drop radically.
Of course your Border Farce are not stupid and will be well aware of this which is why they make their own valuations.
Writing "THIS IS A GIFT, DUTY WAS PAID IN AUSTRALIA" makes no difference.  If they decide to stop something and charge, they will.
Every international parcel now (for a couple of years) has "Electronic Advance Data" sent ahead of it enabling parcels to be flagged for inspection should they meet pre-specified criteria.  We were told this was to help in the war against drug manufacturing but obviously its real purpose is to stop Kit, Chris and Pellson buying kits from overseas.  If the EAD isn't sent the parcels don't travel.


*I say usually because if they are rude or arrogant I won't bother.

[PR19_Kit]

.......... but obviously its real purpose is to stop Kit, Chris and Pelson buying kits from overseas. 

EXACTLY as I suspected! 

[Pellson]

.......... but obviously its real purpose is to stop Kit, Chris and Pelson buying kits from overseas. 

EXACTLY as I suspected! 

Me too.

(And I still see Brexit as the dumbest decision in politics since the Trojans accepted that damned horse)..

[Pellson]

As said, not the most productive of days, but in the evening, some mojo arrived, and it was enough to not only sort the IRST issues on the two short Revell Drakens, but also to dig out that old Revell Gripen kit, assembling the wings and while they were drying, also glue up some of the pods and missiles it's furnished with. As the wings were dry, I even proceeded with straightening the join (it's curved towards the Gripen fuselage whereas the Draken mid wing joint is straight) and once happy with that, also thinned them quite a bit to match the Hasegawa wing joint. And then, obviously, I just had to attach them, didn't I? After all, the having the main shape of the aircraft completed is a pretty significant milestone in itself, isn't it?

Once here, but before the various pylons and other extras are on, the difference between the Mod 4 wing and the regular Draken is quite evident, so I had to take a shot to document.

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Also rather evident are the longer intakes and exhaust of the later Drakens compared to the older ones.

Well, I think this is where things will halt for today, though. Now, there's prepping for the forthcoming work and school seasons, so with this, I bid thee a good night. 

[Old Wombat]

  

[NARSES2]

And then, obviously, I just had to attach them, didn't I? After all, the having the main shape of the aircraft completed is a pretty significant milestone in itself, isn't it?

Indeed it is