Buying abroad,

[honwal]

anyone bought a heli on holiday and brought it home, if so was it hassle, did you have to pay extra ie: duty, was it ok as hand luggage, i'm thinking of small CP
thanks

[bigpops]

https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods/a...outside-the-eu

You can bring £390 through customs without having to declare it. £270 if you're arriving by private plane / boat.

Don't even get me started on the postal limit of £15. It's a joke. In the USA/Australia they can import about $1000 worth of stuff. Hell, they can buy a Trex 700 from Fast Lad, have it delivered to their door on the other side of the world cheaper than I can walk in and buy it over the counter, because they don't even have to pay our VAT!

[pgkevet]

Batteries might be an issue even when legal in size. You'ld have less potential for grief if it's in your suitcase than hand luggage (specially if there's a tx too). And then it comes down to simply whether you plan to smuggle through the green route and hope to get away with it or are honest and declare. You have every chance of lying your way through a search if it's been used while on holiday and has some mud on it and it's box is scuffed.
Yeah, I'm not preaching conscience 'cos i buy stuff from china too and i don't ring up HM customs if it gets through without duty. But i don't whinge if i get a bill either.

I stand corrected on the value of goods.. it was a suprise to me.

[Mark_T]

anyone bought a heli on holiday and brought it home, if so was it hassle, did you have to pay extra ie: duty, was it ok as hand luggage, i'm thinking of small CP
thanks

No problems at all, I do it quite frequently.

I generally don't carry them as hand luggage, better to be well packed in my suitcase, but if you mean something like a Blade 200SR or smaller then yes, I'd happily carry something like that on-board.

If it comes with any batteries then do take those as carry-on, they must not be checked in to the hold.

[Mark_T]

Don't even get me started on the postal limit of £15. It's a joke. In the USA/Australia they can import about $1000 worth of stuff. Hell, they can buy a Trex 700 from Fast Lad, have it delivered to their door on the other side of the world cheaper than I can walk in and buy it over the counter, because they don't even have to pay our VAT!

You are not wrong.

If I buying anything from Japan I have it shipped to my US address and carry it back from there. A lot cheaper than having it delivered to me in the UK just due to VAT, handling etc.

I've not gone as far as having Fast Lad ship my stuff to the USA though... Usually cheaper to just buy from their USA based company, Progressive RC

[honwal]

https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods/a...outside-the-eu

You can bring £390 through customs without having to declare it. £270 if you're arriving by private plane / boat.

Don't even get me started on the postal limit of £15. It's a joke. In the USA/Australia they can import about $1000 worth of stuff. Hell, they can buy a Trex 700 from Fast Lad, have it delivered to their door on the other side of the world cheaper than I can walk in and buy it over the counter, because they don't even have to pay our VAT!

cheers BP for the link, interesting read, it be well within the limit.

does seem a bit strange that the same heli can be shipped half way around the world, cheaper than bought in own country, good ole VAT a

[honwal]

No problems at all, I do it quite frequently.

I generally don't carry them as hand luggage, better to be well packed in my suitcase, but if you mean something like a Blade 200SR or smaller then yes, I'd happily carry something like that on-board.

If it comes with any batteries then do take those as carry-on, they must not be checked in to the hold.

good to hear, so if I buy small CP just carry on as hand luggage, just take out battery put in clear plastic bag,

[Mark_T]

Only other thing is check in the box for any tools, screwdrivers etc. and put those into your checked bags.

If it comes with a tx then make sure you are able to turn it on if asked to do so, so ensure battery is charged or AA cells etc. are installed.

[honwal]

Only other thing is check in the box for any tools, screwdrivers etc. and put those into your checked bags.

If it comes with a tx then make sure you are able to turn it on if asked to do so, so ensure battery is charged or AA cells etc. are installed.

Will do mate, i feel another heli coming on lol

[tomatwalden]

Will do mate, i feel another heli coming on lol

Anything in particular in mind?

[honwal]

Anything in particular in mind?

Not sure yet Tom, something I can fly in and outdoors a small cp

[tomatwalden]

If by indoors you mean, in a house, there is only one .. the nano CPX. If you mean sports hall type indoors - the mCPX or 180CFX

[honwal]

If by indoors you mean, in a house, there is only one .. the nano CPX. If you mean sports hall type indoors - the mCPX or 180CFX

cheers for that tom, I think I will decide when in the shop make it a bit more exciting for myself,

[Chrisrw]

Hi honwal,
How are you finding the 450x?
It's a great step up from the smaller micros. Mine unfortunately is on the shelf for now (random brownouts - ending in a uncontrolled tail spin, luckily hit TH in time so no damage but not flying it untill problem sorted!)
i am still popping over to the Ashford indoor club (although not so often) trying to concentrate on flying outdoors on my 550 for now.
just thought I'd send you a message to see how you are doing.
chris

[honwal]

Hi honwal,
How are you finding the 450x?
It's a great step up from the smaller micros. Mine unfortunately is on the shelf for now (random brownouts - ending in a uncontrolled tail spin, luckily hit TH in time so no damage but not flying it untill problem sorted!)
i am still popping over to the Ashford indoor club (although not so often) trying to concentrate on flying outdoors on my 550 for now.
just thought I'd send you a message to see how you are doing.
chris

hi chris, getting on ok with 450x, doing left right runs, slow circuits, need more batteries for more airtime, really enjoying the 450x easier to hover than I imagined, so much to learn, I have taken half a step back after my first crash with 450, need more open space, sheds, poles, keep jumping out,,,lol