Robert_N-Nm

Well got my answer. They charge the full whack at the previously mentioned shop to cover the 'additional' costs of shipping to the UK. Why does that feel like like a rip off (e.g. a loco of say €260 would normally have €41.51 in VAT in it + €12.99 for shipping. So now they charge me €54.50 for shipping )??? Yikes. I guess if I'm desperate I have family in the EU that could 'receive' the package for me. Kind Regards Robert

Hi there, Just a quick one? Has anyone managed to order items from that big N-gauge shop in Issum, Germany without the German VAT?? Whenever I throw something in the basket it remains at the same price as the German price (only the note 'incl. 19% VAT' gets removed) so I'm very reluctant to order with them as I think I end up paying VAT in Germany, postage and then import duty/VAT in the UK as well (happened before with them but then it was just around the old Brexit date). Anyone managed to order without the German VAT or just best avoided...... Kind Regards Robert

I think understanding remains a massive problem, even in HMRC. If its not the taxing itself then its the import duty (which is 0% on model trains) I ordered two very similarly priced items (goods wagons in 1 gauge) in Germany from two different shops. Given the price I was expecting VAT (which was correctly charged) but on one also got lumbered with import duty charges which (given the documents had 95 03 00 3000 on them) had all the correct codes etc on. Just some customs officer deciding this needed not only VAT.....what do you do. Parcelforce just sits there and takes the payment, you can't talk to them about it and you either pay (which in this case was an extra £40,- odd) and try and claim it back from HMRC (forms galore) or Parcelforce sends the item back. Lets hope I have better luck with an Item from Spain. Kind Regards Robert

Hi all, sorry for the late reply. I have had a look. There is a disbursement-fee and a VAT charge on the UPS invoice. So two components and the math behind it makes sense as well (I can work out how they came to the figures of the VAT charged give or take a couple of pounds, which is probably shipping costs). I think the problem is my German invoice didn't show any VAT and the confusion it caused was complete (It spend 2 weeks going between the UPS warehouse and HMRC before delivery). And of course the retailer said all was right and shows no interest....why should they, they don't have to pay the bill. Kind Regards Robert

Hi all, What are the experiences with a shipment from Germany at the moment?? I ordered something in February from a big online retailer for N-gauge, and with all the items together it was a bigger order so in terms of total value over the level they would have to raise the tax for HMRC (I think, unless this is done per item, as they are all below the value individually) They send it out via UPS and after a bit of too and throwing with UPS/HMRC it got released. Now UPS was struggling with the paperwork I think and to my surprise they (as in UPS) send me an invoice to levy taxes and customs-charges about 1.5 months after it was delivered. I guess the problem here was the invoice send with as its not showing any VAT, just a total sum....which unfortunately includes German MwST... Did try and contact them, but they just bluntly answered - costums charges, not our problem. Kind Regards Robert

Hi Paul, I would have a look at https://www.modelrail.li, they produce little kits of these 45-055, 145-042 which are not too unreasonable in price (considering its coming from Liechtenstein/Switzerland). Kind Regards Robert

After a bit of building we don’t only have a one point/switch we now have a mini diorama. Still need to hardwire some bits together so it actually runs properly but the track work has been done. Kind regards, Robert

Weichenbau teil 4 by RCW1810, on Flickr Weichenbau teil 5 by RCW1810, on Flickr Majority of the soldering done. Next up is a clean up, expensive kit to build but good fun. Yes indeed its not one to build a complex multi switch layout with that fills a room because the costs but a small diorama should be fine.

Weichenbau teil 3 by RCW1810, on Flickr Bit further - Dark brown stain on the sleepers and first soldering. Now awaiting a new track cutter as I have managed to misplace that somewhere. Kind Regards, Robert

Very true, but I've tried some others and so far this seems more of a success then the others (N-tram, Finescale-und-mehr). That said, I obviously haven't done any soldering yet so that might change. Luckily the ground area would be limited to 60 by 15cm at the most, so its quickly filled with these long switches. Kind Regards, Robert

Weichenbau in 1:160 by RCW1810, on Flickr Weichenbau in 1:160 by RCW1810, on Flickr Weichen-bau teil 2 by RCW1810, on Flickr Not quite 2mm fine but close to I guess, a first attempt at rail building with code 40 on 9mm for a European (possibly Swiss or maybe Tsjech diorama). Next up is staining the wooden sleepers before starting the process of soldering (which is going to be a challenge for me). Any tip wil be welcome for soldering the track onto the cast bases. Kind Regards Robert