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[Colin Bishop]

I have noticed that the cost of modelling materials and associated items such as glues and paints have been increasing a lot lately.

You put in an order for various items to 'stock up' and the total can be surprisingly expensive. It is particularly noticeable with those things that you only buy occasionally.

As an example, not all that long ago I bought 500ml of Deluxe Eze Kote for under £12. Now it is £17.00 upwards. Brass and aluminium tube and styrene extrusions are similarly increasing.

Balsa wood is also up as the Chinese have bought up the market to use it for wind turbine blades.

I suppose that a combination of inflation and Brexit are responsible for most of the increases. Looks like us modellers may be reduced to returning to Blue Peter solutions involving Cornflake packets for hull construction. What goes around, comes around I guess.

At least I still have several rolls of gummed paper strip....

Colin

[ChrisF]

I mentioned on another forum in a thread about the reduction in the number of boat shows that it will be difficult for many modellers when the cost of food and fuel really kicks in and won't be helped by the increasing prices you mention, which will likely lead to a further decrease in those enjoying this hobby.

I did stock up on ESCs and motors for my current and some future builds a few months ago but need some more timber and glues etc. which are probably past their best now as have not been used for awhile.

Chris

[NickelBelter]

It's not Brexit because it's happening worldwide.  Quarter inch birch ply has quadrupled in price.  Epoxy has almost doubled.  The shipping container shortage has not been alleviated, that's one factor, and another is that diesel is almost double the price of gasoline here and everything travels to market in a diesel-powered truck. 

[Tug Fanatic]

I think that it would be truer to say that costs have risen and that brexit caused some of it. The fall in the £/$ exchange rate after Brexit has never been recovered and has contributed to inflation here to which you need to add all the other factors.

[Colin Bishop]

I think that it would be truer to say that costs have risen and that brexit caused some of it.

Yes, plus Brexit has reduced choice and competition. It has been very noticeable that smaller compnies, such as many of those who supply model making related products, are no longer willing to ship between the UK and the EU in either direction because of the increased paperwork involved and customs charges.

Colin

[Tug Fanatic]

After Brexit the way that VAT is charged on imports has changed. Now your overseas supplier need to be VAT registered in the UK and must pay the VAT on your behalf. I think that the same applies to goods sent to the EU by UK suppliers.

Is it any surprise that they are saying NO?!!!

[ChrisF]

And another daft thing I read about the other day is that the UK is introducing it's own certificate of conformity and not using the EU one. Therefore companies exporting to the EU and UK need to have products tested for both and some companies have decided not to bother continuing to export to the UK.

UK companies wanting to export to Europe have to meet EU certification so why not stick with the one? It's madness and just taking things too far since Brexit.

[gingyer]

After Brexit the way that VAT is charged on imports has changed. Now your overseas supplier need to be VAT registered in the UK and must pay the VAT on your behalf. I think that the same applies to goods sent to the EU by UK suppliers.

Is it any surprise that they are saying NO?!!!

Sorry this isn’t a brexit thing this was a pre arranged VAT overhaul the same as reverse VAT for construction 
If I want to buy something from Germany and send it to my in-laws in Hungary then the German company needs to have an account with the Hungarian tax people too.


The only thing brexit affected on this was that Britain implemented sooner as they didn’t want businesses doing things one way then another if you check it was implemented across the EU last year.

[Colin Bishop]

But presumably trading within the EU still doesn't involve customs clearance?

Colin

[Tug Fanatic]

Germany (certainly) & Hungary (I think) are both in the EU so what happened to the single market?

[gingyer]

Germany (certainly) & Hungary (I think) are both in the EU so what happened to the single market?

Both EU and in the shengzen zone
It’s all about VAT it’s to be paid at the rate where the purchaser stays if buying for something being delivered. 
It’s all weird but my understanding was so companies didn’t loose out to sale’s online if another country had a lower vat rate.


Colin, I’m only referring to VAT

[SteamboatPhil]

Humm, I am on the Hornby user group, and sadly they will not sell to France.....my train set is suffering. However our local version (of your Wicks) has now finally got a huge supply of balsa wood (not that I use it much) but I might just have a go at a GG design to keep me sane.

[TheLongBuild]

So Hornby where most of the rolling stock is made in China and India will not ship to France 

[Colin Bishop]

Phil, you may need an ESTA and your fingerprints taken to re enter the UK from later next year.

Colin

[tigertiger]

Humm, I am on the Hornby user group, and sadly they will not sell to France.....

 

Phil.
Will not ship to France, or will not ship to EU? I have the same problem trying to buy stuff from Hong Kong, but they will not ship to Mainland China. The problem is with Agents.
If it is only France, it may be because some agent has exclusive rights to sell Hornby in France. If that is the case, you need to find out who the agent is in France. The other alternative is if there is a Hornby seller in Germany who will supply you. I say Germany, because I know they are nuts about model trains, and although Germany has its own manufacturers, there may be a Hornby niche.

[phil_parker]

So Hornby where most of the rolling stock is made in China and India will not ship to France 

But it all comes into the UK and then has to be re-exported. At which point, the paperwork becomes (I'm told) and nightmare. It's a Brexit bonus.

[Mike S]

As in all other areas of life we are taking an inflation hit, and various shortages in obtaining modelling materials.


But, as in all other areas of life we should not use Brexit as an all-purpose excuse. After all we are modellers, and building model boats should be a haven from real life. The title of this thread is 'Modelling Costs', and we should not stray into the dangerous shoal waters of politician discussions.


Being an old school modeller I believe in the maxim of re-cycle, re-use, and re-purpose.




Just my thoughts.




Mike