Global Scale Modeller

TommyKillander wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2018 6:44 am I haven't tested the Squadron sanding sticks though... what grit are they?


Tommy

Jens wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2018 8:59 am If someone are using both, or have been, I'd like to hear a comparison and your opinion.

How well can you clean the Ultimate sanding sticks? (i.e. can you use lacquer thinner to remove the styrene without ruining the sanding stick?)

Many thanks in advance!

Paul wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2018 11:35 am We use the uk system on grit per cm, the us use grit per inch i believe

As for Postage costs, if you live halfway around the world then yes sadly the costs will be high, but we only charge the postage rate.

Cleaning, wipe then on your trouser leg or a cloth and they are like new again.

Best way to test them is buy a starter pack and find which ones you like myself i use all the sticks 240, 400, 800, 1200 we post worldwide and like i say only charge the postage costs, which you can work out using our website before paying for your order.

AlexBB wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2018 1:36 pm Hi Jens,
The Ultimate Postage rate is fair & reasonable for shipping to Europe (Sweden Included).

I have had to ship various items to Sweden, Germany & France and our Post Office have basically 2 charges for International Shipping (I think up to 2kg)
International Tracked (£12.12)
Ideal for sending important or valuable goods, offering tracking at five points after dispatch as well as an online confirmation of delivery.

and International Tracked and Signed (£10.10).
Tracked & Signed is a combination service offering full end-to-end tracking, signature on delivery and an online delivery confirmation.

To be honest I do not understand the real difference between them as both actually get a POD, though on one it is supposed to be a signature, but TBH ones I have tracked & seen are often just a scribble because of these electronic delivery devices and people writing on a screen!!
German ones have all been a proper scanned signature so think their postal service is still old school...
Both of these have compensation up to £50, over that it costs a couple of quid extra up to £250..

Now I only use International Tracked & Signed as I can do this online and then just drop the parcel into the PO to be scanned and don't have to wait inline and for them to do it at the counter.

There is a cheaper option on International up to 2kg at £5.75 (International Standard) but no one will use it due to the risk of getting a claim of no delivery as there is only compensation available up to £20 on that service.

Most companies in the UK add on a little (£1 to £3) depending on the size of the order for the packing materials, and this is normal practice and I would say is very fair as I would rather have things arrive safe than damaged.

TommyKillander wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2018 6:44 am Lately I have become a big fan of the Ultimate Thinny Sponge (220 grit) and Thinny Sticks (1200 grit), depending on if I want a hard or a soft core.

I mostly build small stuff (like 1/72) so many larger sanding sticks are too big and clumsy.

I haven't tested the Squadron sanding sticks though... what grit are they?


Tommy

Jens wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2018 11:57 am

Paul wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2018 11:35 am We use the uk system on grit per cm, the us use grit per inch i believe

As for Postage costs, if you live halfway around the world then yes sadly the costs will be high, but we only charge the postage rate.

Cleaning, wipe then on your trouser leg or a cloth and they are like new again.

Best way to test them is buy a starter pack and find which ones you like myself i use all the sticks 240, 400, 800, 1200 we post worldwide and like i say only charge the postage costs, which you can work out using our website before paying for your order.

Cheers Paul. I wasn't sure if they were an American made product or not but now I know

I've posted tons of stuff back and forth from UK but recently it's become more expensive, especially when some add "fees" on top of the actual p&p costs.
I'll buy a couple different ones, or starter packs and see what they're like? I much rather use something that's made closer to me anyway!

digger303 wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2018 11:57 pm
If you have some friends that are travelling...then ask for a favour. They won't weigh much.

Jens wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2018 6:54 am

digger303 wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2018 11:57 pm
If you have some friends that are travelling...then ask for a favour. They won't weigh much.

I've been bedridden for more or less the last 7 years (9 depending how you define "bedridden") so the postman is the way I do my shopping nowadays.
It used to work really well but the last two years have been miserable when the Danish post bought the Swedish post and sunk it like a broken ship.

It took them three months just to process the incoming overseas packages from October so Christmas was ruined for many so I only order what I must from overseas now. Luckily I've found a Swedish model store who's got the Ultimate sanding sticks so I'm sorted!

I haven't got so many friends travelling today. I've lost contact with most of my former colleagues after my accident so it's up to the postman and the postal service to bring everything to me instead!
Luckily I'm in no rush...

Cheers!

digger303 wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2018 7:14 am
good that you found a supply....postie's my best friend too as I live in a country area and friends never go where you want them too...
Sorry to hear about your bad luck. How did it happen if I may ask. Sporting accident or Automobile ?

Jens wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2018 7:32 am

digger303 wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2018 7:14 am
good that you found a supply....postie's my best friend too as I live in a country area and friends never go where you want them too...
Sorry to hear about your bad luck. How did it happen if I may ask. Sporting accident or Automobile ?

Nothing fashionable or manly like that, just slipped down some stairs and landed on the last step which resulted in a fractured pelvic and a handful of mangled discs... Initially I was only worried that someone had seen me, as you do, but after crawling up and got into bed I started realising a few days later that I wasn't just going to shake this off and I got gradually worse and worse the next year or so until I ended up in a wheelchair.

I've had some very painful surgeries but they've done what they can now. Nerve damage isn't fixable so I'm going to be like this for the rest of my life.
At least I'm walking again, just not very far. It could've been worse. That's what I'm telling myself anyway...

I'm roughly 7 cm shorter today so it's safe to say the spine took a hit.

Finding modelling again is what makes me tick at the moment!

I've been through all stages and I've come to terms (mostly) with my situation today but it's hard not being able to do most things with the kids...

Right now I've got some kind of crap in the system and it's made me swollen somewhere so I've not been able to walk properly for the last week. Nerves are being squashed. Lots of morphine and planning ahead is all I can do and hope it settles soon!

So ladies and gents - be careful when you walk down stairs! It only takes a split second to ruin your life.

I hope to become prolific enough to model me a new spine one day but I'm not sure all the German armour I build is going to help...?

digger303 wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2018 8:18 am
Well ya never know there are some really good medicals fixes coming down the research pipeline in all sorts of area's. So hang in there.

Jens wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2018 9:15 am

digger303 wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2018 8:18 am
Well ya never know there are some really good medicals fixes coming down the research pipeline in all sorts of area's. So hang in there.

Cheers!

Sadly there's no way to fix me since nerves develop "memory" after a few years and mine basically only signal pain 24/7 even when not trapped or squashed, but I have mostly "ok" days whenever the rest of the body is ok and I don't do anything stupid.

I was going to have a major op after Christmas to bolt all the disks together with titanium fixtures and bone grafts but we decided to abort because it would put me out of commission for 1-2 years and being a single parent with two autistic boys, and a house/estate/farm that needs maintenance, the equation just didn't add up. My spine will fuse together naturally in 10-15 years regardless rendering this surgery obsolete, in a way, so I decided to suck it up. I'm just a hair away from having to do this surgery so there was a choice, but if things gets worse (like they are now) and stay so then I no longer have a say in the matter, but I hope it's just a flu or something that's causing the current problem.

Life's never easy but it's all about finding the things that do work and ignore the rest!
Scale modelling has been a hell of a therapy and I feel creative again - and it makes me a happier person which means I'm a better dad and happy dads have less pain!

So these sanding sticks can be viewed as medicine I need to get better!

Thank you for your kind words!