| Q. |
Is your website online shop secure? |
| A. |
Our
online shop is protected by a dedicated SSL Certificate,
128 bit encription security, as indicated by the padlock
symbol on your browser and is safe to send Credit/Debit
Card details. Our website was specifically redesigned
in order to offer this protection and replaced our original
website on 19.09.2008 to ensure this enhanced security
level was available to our customers.
We
also offer PayPal,
currently at no
additional cost to our customers, which also gives full
protection for on-line purchasers. |
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|
| Q. |
Where are you? |
| A. |
We are located
in the South side of the City of Glasgow, Scotland about
15 minutes by bus from the city centre and happily welcome
visitors to our office, although it prudent to 'phone
in advance. Bus No.44 stops accross the street from
our office
whilst service
66 stops within view of our premises on Holmlea Road.
Cathcart Railway Station is less than 300 metres away.
If
you would
like more detailed instructions including maps, etc.,
please ask and we will happily send you more information. |
| |
Our office at 9 Rannoch Street, Glasgow G44 4DF (Tel.
0141 633 1400)
|
| Q. |
What scale do you produce your model
kits in? |
| A. |
We produce all of our kits in the original "Small
Scale" size of 1:76 (20mm). These are compatible
with the plastic injection kits of Airfix, Matchbox, Fujimi,
etc. |
| Q. |
Are your kits smaller than 1/72
scale kits? |
| A. |
Sometimes ......Over a 20 foot length, the difference
between 1/76 and 1/72 is 0.17 inches....However that presumes
that the manufacturer has properly scaled the model in
the first place. Many plastic kits that claim to be 1/72
are not! Some are 1/76, like the Airfix range and some
ESCI/Italeri kits, whilst others can be as big as 1/68,
as in some of the Hasegawa kits.
Our kits are built to an accurate and constant scale and
many customers are happy to add them to their collections
which include both 1/76th and 1/72nd scale models. |
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|
| Q. |
Are your kits similar to plastic injected kits,
and why resin? |
| A. |
No. Our models are Multimedia kits. Resin allows us
to produce our kits with a degree of detail that is not
normally available in plastic injected kits. The use of
aluminum, brass rod or brass photo etchings enables us
to maintain the scale accuracy. |
| Q. |
Why are most resin kits usually
more expensive than plastic injected kits? |
| A. |
Each resin kit is made by hand and is a very time consuming
and labour intensive procedure.The Silicone Rubber moulds
are also hand made and have a limited lifespan of approximately
30 to 35 castings. In contrast, injected plastic kits
are produced using automated machinery with metal moulds
that in some cases last for decades producing tens of
thousands of kits! |
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|
| Q. |
Which adhesive should I use? |
| A. |
We recommend "Superglue" types. |
| Q. |
Are the materials you use harmful? |
| A. |
No. Provided you follow the instructions enclosed and
adhere to those of the adhesive manufacturers, there should
be no problem. |
| Q. |
Are there any special techniques
or tools required? |
| A. |
No. if you have built a plastic kit then you should
be able to build these. The usual basic modelling tools
are required: Cutting Mat, Craft Knives, Emery Sticks,
etc., and most importantly a Razor Saw,
but most of us accumulate helpful additional items over
the years.Remember that when using any tools, caution
must be exercised. When using a saw or sanding a face
mask is advisable. |
| |
Cutting
Mat, Razor
Saw, Snips, Tweezers,
Scalpel, Craft Knife,
Heavy Duty Knife, Metal
Ruler
- Everything you would ever need.
|
| |
The
biggest job in most resin kits is removing the casting
blocks from the model; in this instance our Battlefield
Series Early production type M4A1, Kit Ref.
BA03.
As seen, with a Razor Saw, this is a simple task and
takes about 2 minutes, with the complete model cleaned
and built in under 10 minutes!
Premier
Range kits have most of the parts supplied
seperately on sprue blocks to give greater build options
and although the preperation method is similar, the
construction times are naturally greater. |
| |
 
Score
a groove several times between the track section
and the block..then saw into the groove with care.
|
| Q. |
How do you make the Hawsers as seen on the KVI's,
etc., |
| A. |
This is a
fairly simple process once you have done it a few times.
Strip a length of electical cable, removing each of
the copper strands. The end of each (2 or 3) strands
is then attached to a fixed point, with the other ends
attached to a hook in the chuck of a variable dril.
Rotating the bit slowly will entwine the strands to
produce an authentic Hawser Cable. Using the minimum
ammount of "Superglue", rub along the length
of cable to seal it. Cut to desired lengths. Alternatively
if no electric drilll is available, use a simple "Pin
Vice" and turn by hand.
|
| Q. |
What is the difference between Premiere Range
and Battlefield Series kits? |
| A. |
The Battlefield
Series is a simplified range of models which
are usually around 30% cheaper, due mainly to the reduction
in the number of moulds & parts in the kits and
do not have dedicated parts lists.Theyusually have their
suspension system and/or road wheels cast in place,
but when painted, and given the personal touch, are
often difficult to tell apart from most traditional
kits.
The Premiere Range kits by contrast
are produced with model making and diorama
bulding as the priority and come with illustrated
parts lists. They have more parts; seperate doors and
visors, additional weapons and equipment, optional parts
to make different marks, etc., so giving more build
options with some kits even containing aluminium, brass
or etched parts where we believe it is required. Essentially
some models cannot be accurately reproduced in a simplified
form and still retain scale integrity and accuracy.They
will always be Premier kits. |
| Q. |
What do I do if I have any problems
with your kits? |
| A. |
Simply contact us. We take pride in our products and
if you are dissatisfied with the kit then please, do let
us know, and we will do our utmost to resolve the problem. |
| |
|
| Q. |
If I place an order now, how long will it take
to get to me? |
| A. |
Most orders are dispatched within 72 hours and often
sooner. However if we are unable to supply your order
before then, we will contact you to advise of a new estimated
delivery date. Please allow upto 28 days for delivery
unless specifying a Special Delivery/Insured/Tracked option.
|
| |
|
| Q |
Do your kits come with Decals?
|
| A. |
No. Our kits do not have decals supplied with them however
we carry the full ranges of both Aleran and Dan Taylor
Modelworks decal ranges which covers most of our models. |
| |
|
| Q |
If I only want Decals is there a reduction in
the postage?
|
| A. |
If only buying decals then only add 10% P&P for
UK or 20% Elsewhere (Minimum £2..00), or if cheaper
to you, use the usual Milicast Shipping Rates. (Note that
we can only apply this manually. So if using PayPal the
usual Milicast Shipping Rates will automatically apply). |
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|
| Q. |
The AB Figures range have a seperate shipping
Tariff. Why different rates and do I get charged both
the AB Tariff plus the Milicast Shipping Rate when I order
both products together. |
| A. |
AB Figures naturally insist that we adopt their Shipping
Tariff. Being made from metal, they are much heavier and
therefore more expensive to post. However when buying
both AB and Milicast products together, if
the AB shipping tarrif is greater than the Milicast's,
then the only shipping cost applied will be the AB shipping
rate.There will be no additional charge for the Milicast
products also supplied. If however the cost of the Milicast
Shipping Rate is higher, then we wil apply the appropriate
Milicast Shipping Rate to the combined tota. Please note
that we impose a minimum Shipping Rate of £4.00
for all AB orders. Customers paying
by PayPal and not adding the required postage ammount
will have the order ammended to reflect the correct shipping
rate. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Do customers outwith the European Union (EU)
get a reduction in regard to Value Added Tax (VAT)? |
| A. |
I
M P O R T A N T...
Please note that
in January 1st. 2010, the Milicast Model Company was
registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) in compliance with
Customs and Excise regulations in the United Kingdom.
Therefore all prices* have been changed and now include
VAT.
For transactions
outwith the UK and the European Union a new lower Shipping
Tarrif has been introduced to help offset the increase.
*Please
note however that AB Figures, since their prices have
not been increased, even though Milicast must still
pay the VAT due, then the normal published AB shipping
tarrif must apply. Customers paying by PayPal and not
adding the required postage ammount will have the order
ammended to reflect the correct shipping rate. We appreciate
that the shipping cost shown on our on-line order system
does not show the AB rates but they are clearly shown
on all the appropriate pages. |
| Q. |
Who
paints your Display Models? |
| A. |
Many
customers, especially at exhibitions, ask who paints
our Display Models. Most are painted by Michael Tooth
who has now
decided to make his services available to the public.
We recommend his service.
|
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|
| Q. |
What if I have more questions? |
| A. |
Browse the site and if you still have questions, please
contact us by e-mail (milicastmodels@hotmail.com) or by
telephone (0141 633 1400). |
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