belcherbits

Re: Raising the missile launch pad The author says that because the support arm rubbed along the ground, he had to raise the bottom of the launch supports. In fact, the launch supports sat on 48 inch concrete columns over a 6 foot deep pit at the launch silo, and the arm DID go below grade when being raised. Rather than add some height to the launch supports. it may have been more accurate to simply sit the structure on four rectangular blocks at the four corners. Mike Belcher

Seemingly unobtainable? C'mon, man. You didn't bother asking the source, did you? I will admit it is more difficult to sell to the UK now, but that is your stupid government's decision to force me to collect VAT at source here in Canada, and forward the cash to the UK.. It has forced me to sell through eBay which has the infrastructure to handle this hassle. It means Belcher Bits products cost more for UK customers, since they now have to cover the cost of eBay selling, and they have to have expensive international tracking for their postage which eBay insists on. BTW, no one else in the world requires VAT to be collected at source for small orders like this. A lot of people have to pay their sales tax when it shows up at their door or local post office, but often this simply comes through free. I have taken the liberty of listing these tanks on my eBay selling site (https://www.ebay.com/itm/176098646565) for those who might be interested. Mike Belcher, Belcher Bits

Very nice job on that aircraft. Thanks for the kind words on the Belcher Bits tail as well. It doesn't exactly make the aircraft look slender and graceful, but it is an improvement over the kit, I think. I also concur with your conclusions on the waist windows, which has been pointed out to me before as well. They are too close together, maybe too wide themselves and it's more or less impossible to fix!

Yes, Jennings Heilig contacted me and confirmed the B did not carry any external tanks. The Zvezda kit also includes both long and short sponson noses, so following Jim Craik's helpful photo, all you need to do is scribe in the forward cargo doors. The nose wheel difference is, in my opinion, relatively minor and not worth stressing about.

Scott I am interested in any discussion on this topic as well Mike Belcher

Re: Postage Don't be so sure:) My experience has been that it is cheaper to mail parcels to the US than to anywhere in Canada, and cheaper still to mail them overseas. This goes against all logic, but it has more to do with certain parcel rates which are not available for internal (within Canada) mail. On the other hand, this will be a large and heavy conversion , so the preceding will probably not apply. We'll see. Mike Belcher

I agree. Mike

An interesting bit of trivia here. Apparently, our attempt at bilingualism with RCAF on one side and FAC on the other contravened some sort of ICAO regulation that military aircraft could not be differently marked on either side. Hence the development of the famous Roundel Ident which had English and French flanking the roundel.

Well, Bob, I have been sending decals and parcels to the UK for 27 years as Belcher Bits, so I do know what I'm doing. What's happened this year is that as of 1 January, things changed on the UK end. While it may still be possible to send ONE decal in a mailer and disguise it as a personal letter, if it goes out as a commercial mailing (i.e. with your business name on the return address) it theoretically requires some form of customs declaration and falls under the new VAT collection at source rules. Now if the UK chooses to let that slide in, great. You can't depend on that. I have stated that I will not send packages (letters or parcels) falsely declaring them as gifts or non-commercial products. Its a great annoyance to me, as I have many good UK customers. As I get my ebay store up and running, most of my products will be available again to them, although only through eBay and at an increased price.

Best bet is the Ultracast eBay store. They carry my line of products, they ship to the UK, Looked here and https://www.ebay.com/str/ueloyalist/1-48-Scale/_i.html?_storecat=11704558012&_bkw=voodo found this. Mike Belcher, Belcher Bits

As I understand it, the difference is that the EU system will be (for me as a retailer from Canada) non-mandatory. I will be able to continue to ship to EU customers and they will have to pay the VAT on delivery. In the UK, this is not an option; the UK insists that out-of-country vendors collect VAT on all sales and forward it to the UK. Mike Belcher, Belcher Bits

John I don't know the reason for the split, but even though topside photos are rare, I found there was a relatively small photo on p.23 of 'Wheels and Tracks No.60' where David Fletcher covers the development of the Charioteer. This photo shows a line in that location, and I suppose that is why I made the master that way. The exact details are lost in history, I guess.

The rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. Belcher Bits is still alive and kicking. Go to www.belcherbits.com. Oh, and by the way, when you are announcing to the world that some business is 'long gone', check your facts first. Belcher Bits has never done a generic marking sheet as you describe.

I believe they are shipping to UK if you buy through their eBay store Here is a linkhttps://www.ebay.ca/itm/CF-5-Update-and-Weapons-Set-Belcher-Bits-BB18-1-48-scale/154220610650?hash=item23e843c45a:g:j7kAAOSwhodfxUz5 Mike Belcher

John As far as I know, they were built on standard Cromwell hulls, with a slightly larger turret ring added to the hull top. I'm not sure what extra panel you are referring to, unless its the spacer added underneath the ring on both sides? Mike B