Is scale 1;500 now defunct ?

[Brusselsairlines]

EDIT: The model you are talking about is not Herpa but netmodels which is defunct. You can always try to contact Herpa to see if you can PURCHASE a 747 engine and they will probably send you one for free (of available, of course)

[Brusselsairlines]

My dear friend. Many thanks for you long and uplifting message. I shall of course take my time to digest all that you've said. It's nice to know that someone cares enough, and can be bothered to drop me a line. It has encouraged me to stay here on this website. I do get very despondent when no-one to whom I send a cry for help bothers to respond, but I take on board your thoughts re being blamed for any damage to ones models. I do ,however get annoyed when goods I've bought in good faith do not turn out to be what I expected, my Boeing 747-200 of Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 test bed turns out to be just an ordinary plane and not have the larger number 2 engine as shown on the box, though I understand the second version has got the right combination on it, getting hold of it is another story however, and search as I might, no joy so far .Kind regards,Geoff

Herpa has a very good custumer service, if you have a broken model or need a replacement part (for 1:500 models) they will simply send you for free a new model (and you can keep the old one). I once contacted Herpa to find out how to avoid a particular model of standing a little bit to high and two days later, I found out the models in my post box.

[Geoff]

I've made a good number of my purchases on e-bay and must admit that I've not had too many problems with any of the sellers I've dealt with. There has only been one seller who's caused me any problems over the purchase I made and left feedback accordingly. The final shot from him was to call me a "dickhead", and that, only because I think I'd caught him out in that he tried to sell the same item twice.If the buyer based in Spain wishes to make any other purchase may I with respect suggest he enquires about postal charges before he buys. I've noted, as have most people, that the cheaper the item, the more the postal charges will be. I've only bought one item so far from America but will be making more as I find the things I'm looking for.

[fleetlordatvar]

Very interesting Fleetlord.

This hobby is not known for customer service. I've had at least one retailer in the US tell me to buzz off because HE made a mistake.. No apologies whatsoever. The guy is pretty popular on another forum too.. I have no idea why.

I'm a pretty low maintenance customer.. As in: I will actually *fix* models that arrive in broken condition. I don't complain. I read and follow directions.

Maybe people are just tired of dealing with all the kids/non-serious buyers. However to treat everyone like a booger eating 12 year old is not cool.

Ditto, don't be shy about naming names The one that got all emo on me & banned me from his business for 'insulting' his "friend" on DA.C for being a hypocrite is the owner of jetwaymodels.

I can understand the guy being a jerk because he's private & doesn't rely on not being one for his business...hmm I just notice my collection numbers...they might be a little unhealthy?

[JAL1628]

Very interesting Fleetlord.

This hobby is not known for customer service. I've had at least one retailer in the US tell me to buzz off because HE made a mistake.. No apologies whatsoever. The guy is pretty popular on another forum too.. I have no idea why.

I'm a pretty low maintenance customer.. As in: I will actually *fix* models that arrive in broken condition. I don't complain. I read and follow directions.

Maybe people are just tired of dealing with all the kids/non-serious buyers. However to treat everyone like a booger eating 12 year old is not cool.

[fleetlordatvar]

.....Amen

You'll find if you ever ask a "real" question (e.g., how do I do 'X', or, where can I find 'Y', etc.) that scarcely anyone will answer you. When I was new to the hobby I had lots of good questions and most of them were never answered to my satisfaction. So that's what I think about the 'experts'...

At least DIMA is still fairly cooperative and peaceable, unlike some of the other forums.

true for now, but w/ time & membership increase this one will be poisoned as well...that is what the ignore & friend lists will be used. I actually had to use one for a new guy already.

• I asked about a model, he then told me to look up the cost of shipment @ the Spain postal site.
• The site was working!!
• i replied it wasn't working & gave screenshot
• he replied he didn't care & to try later

WOW, really...for a seller to put all the responsibility on the buyer & gave me a 30-40 € estimate for a 747 I've purchased a 747 from Germany for > 30€ easy. I don't remember him posting much, but he did have a sell list & that is how i found him...anyway always use your lists to reduce the angst.

[JAL1628]

Geoff,

...people are more interested in pointing out the problems of a particular model when someone posts a thread of their newest arrivals (which they obviously are proud of and have spend hard earned cash on).I find this in very poor taste.

.....Amen

You'll find if you ever ask a "real" question (e.g., how do I do 'X', or, where can I find 'Y', etc.) that scarcely anyone will answer you. When I was new to the hobby I had lots of good questions and most of them were never answered to my satisfaction. So that's what I think about the 'experts'...

At least DIMA is still fairly cooperative and peaceable, unlike some of the other forums.

[Geoff]

Thanks for the info. I ferret about and see if I have any luck.

[Siegerflieger]

Therein lays my problem. It's not made by Herpa but I think by Phoenix models. If I knew where they're based I'd get in touch with them, but alas I can find no information about them, hence my seeking help on DiMA, but so far, no response from anyone.

It's made by Sky500. I think only retailers know how to contact them, there's no contact info on the web (or even a website), I'm afraid.

[Geoff]

Therein lays my problem. It's not made by Herpa but I think by Phoenix models. If I knew where they're based I'd get in touch with them, but alas I can find no information about them, hence my seeking help on DiMA, but so far, no response from anyone.

[eugenevh]

I still don't understand why they do that.
Maybe go onto the Herpa website and send them a query on why you paid for a model that doesn't have the right engine?
www.herpa.de
Or more specifically: Contact their Customer Care Centre:
http://www.herpa.de/herpa_cms/%28S%2...218,0,1,0.aspx

Maybe they can surprise you?

[Geoff]

My dear friend. Many thanks for you long and uplifting message. I shall of course take my time to digest all that you've said. It's nice to know that someone cares enough, and can be bothered to drop me a line. It has encouraged me to stay here on this website. I do get very despondent when no-one to whom I send a cry for help bothers to respond, but I take on board your thoughts re being blamed for any damage to ones models. I do ,however get annoyed when goods I've bought in good faith do not turn out to be what I expected, my Boeing 747-200 of Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 test bed turns out to be just an ordinary plane and not have the larger number 2 engine as shown on the box, though I understand the second version has got the right combination on it, getting hold of it is another story however, and search as I might, no joy so far .Kind regards,Geoff

[eugenevh]

Geoff,

Keep in mind that DiMA is still a fairly young forum, so there might not be a lot of people on here.... yet!.
The thing is ... there are other forums out there, but they seem to be going downhill with regards to moderation and toleration.
There is a particular forum I see where people are more interested in pointing out the problems of a particular model when someone posts a thread of their newest arrivals (which they obviously are proud of and have spend hard earned cash on).
I find this in very poor taste. If a model is no good then they should start their own thread - A comparison thread or something where they can point out the problems. But to put down a model for which someone took time to photograph to share with others is very bad manners in my opinion.

Other forums also have those who belittle other's collections by posting THEIR 'superior number of planes' compared to the poor dude who just wanted to share his current 'smallish' collection.

Granted, the same COULD happen here, but so far DiMA seems a lot more 'civilized' to me.

So you have an opportunity now be in the vanguard to get more 1:500 collectors onto DiMA in order to grow that section. You can even then aggitate to have a dedicated 1:500 section and the Administrators might grant that wish. But even if they don't, I still think DiMA has a lot of untapped potential.

It will only get much better if more people join DiMA to make it better. You can be part of that. I understand that people want instant answers and a million people who can answer a question, but it takes time for a forum to reach that goal and the only way to reach that is if people stay to contribute.

Onto this particular topic. I did read your request, but as I don't do modifications myself as I would most likely mess it up completely, I didn't respond. My personal philosophy is to contribute when I have something worthwhile to contribute, or something which I think should be heard, otherwise I tend to SHUT UP. So don't feel you are ignored. People are also quite hesitant to provide advise in case the advise leads to the ruining of a model and they get blamed.

Here in Cape Town South Africa we don't even have a shop where we can buy models. The closest I can get is a shop in Johannesburg (about 2 hours away by commerial airliner).
There are a couple of collectors I know of in Cape Town, but we have different tastes (military collections) so we don't really mix.
So my fellow collectorate you all on these forums.

I thus do hope you stay here an help build from your side. :-)

[Geoff]

I agree with you that this is a very good site to find kindred spirits on. They all seem to be very enthusiastic about their hobby which makes me feel less of an idiot.

[fleetlordatvar]

Since this website is much nicer you can ask others to check it out & get something going on here?