Cal123 Posted March 10, 2021 Share #1 Posted March 10, 2021 Does anyone know where I can buy a 1/200 scale Mikasa upgrade kit for the Hobbyboss, Merit or Trumpetter model? My research shows that Mk1 Design made it and maybe some other manufacturers such as Pontos. The upgrade I’m after has all the PE and turned gun barrels as well as the wooden deck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Black Posted March 10, 2021 Share #2 Posted March 10, 2021 Cal, is his what you're looking for? https://freetimehobbies.com/1-200-pontos-ijn-mikasa-1905-detail-up-set-for-merit-wave-hobby-boss/ Archi, mtaylor, Baker and 1 other 4 Quote Current Builds: Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia Completed: Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal123 Posted March 11, 2021 Author Share #3 Posted March 11, 2021 Hi Keith, thanks for sending this. That’s exactly what I need and my interweb searching hadn’t found this source. I live in UK so I’ve mailed them if they can send to me, which I’m sure they’ll be able to. again, thank you and for your swift reply! 😉 mtaylor, Keith Black and Canute 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Black Posted March 11, 2021 Share #4 Posted March 11, 2021 (edited) Cal, I hope it works out and I'm glad I was able to help. Edited March 11, 2021 by Keith Black Canute and mtaylor 2 Quote Current Builds: Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia Completed: Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal123 Posted May 18, 2021 Author Share #5 Posted May 18, 2021 Just an update about the ten week saga of trying to get hold of the Pontos Mikasa upgrade kit, in case anyone else should need one or be attempting to buy from Freetime Hobbies as an international purchaser. Having accepted my order and taken about $300 from me early in March, I then waited a little over a month before I was told the kit was in stock. After a further week or so as they emailed it to say they had cancelled my order and refunded the money. When I asked them why I was told “there were customs issues“. I asked to speak to the manager or owner because they had told me that they could ship internationally but he never replied to my email or my request for a phone call. In the end I found that I could order the kit from a company called Hobby Decal in South Korea for less money is then Freetime was charging and although it took a further month for the kit to arrive it has done so today. There were no customs issues and there were no value added tax charges. Hobby Decal’s website clearly explained the purchase process, shipping process and provided tracking details. I would certainly purchase from them again but as an international customer I certainly wouldn’t ever buy anything from Freetime Hobbies ccoyle, mtaylor, Canute and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Black Posted May 18, 2021 Share #6 Posted May 18, 2021 Cal, my apologies. Had I know about the poor business practices of Freetime Hobbies I obviously would never have provided the link. I'm very glad you were able to source your upgrade kit elsewhere. Hopefully one of the NRG staff will see this and add Freetime Hobbies to the bad source list. mtaylor and Canute 2 Quote Current Builds: Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia Completed: Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal123 Posted May 18, 2021 Author Share #7 Posted May 18, 2021 Keith in no way should you apologise - you had no idea that Freetime would have let me down and I’m grateful that you came back to me in the first place because your reply ultimately provided a successful source for the upgrade Kit. I did just want to flag up the problems with Freetime Hobbies so that others don’t fall into the same trap that I did. I have to say the Pontos upgrade is a most impressive package and I’m looking forward to getting underway now with the kit. I’ll post some further details once I get started Canute and Keith Black 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryland Craze Posted May 18, 2021 Share #8 Posted May 18, 2021 Cal, I am sorry to hear of the problems you had with Freetime Hobbies with your international order. There was definitely a communication problem from them regarding your order. Several members of my ship modeling Club build plastic models and they deal with Freetime and I have never heard of any problems ordering from them. They are a supporter of the IPMS and they were a vendor at an IPMS National Convention in Virginia several years ago. I am glad that you got your funds back from them and were able to find another source for your upgrade kit. I hope you start a build log on your Mikasa when you start building it because it is one of my favorite ships of that era. Keith Black, Canute and mtaylor 3 Quote Ryland Member - Hampton Roads Ship Model Society - Ship Model Society of New Jersey - Nautical Research Guild Current Build - Armed Virginia Sloop, 18th Century Longboat Completed Build - Medway Longboat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azzoun Posted May 18, 2021 Share #9 Posted May 18, 2021 I've really been happy with purchases with BNAModelWorld.com. MK1 Design - 1/200 IJN Battleship Mikasa Value Pack Detail Set with Wooden Deck (bnamodelworld.com) Joshua mtaylor, Keith Black, Ryland Craze and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landlubber Mike Posted May 18, 2021 Share #10 Posted May 18, 2021 (edited) I've ordered more than a few times from Freetime Hobbies and never had an issue. With the postal issues from Covid, etc., I'm not surprised that international orders are having issues (likely not a Freetime issue). Edited May 18, 2021 by Landlubber Mike Canute, Ryland Craze and mtaylor 3 Quote Mike Current Wooden builds: Amati/Victory Pegasus MS Charles W. Morgan Euromodel La Renommèe Plastic builds: SB2U-1 Vindicator 1/48 Five Star Yaeyama 1/700 Pit Road Asashio and Akashi 1/700 diorama Walrus 1/48 and Albatross 1/700 Special Hobby Buffalo 1/32 Eduard Sikorsky JRS-1 1/72 IJN Notoro 1/700 Akitsu Maru 1/700 Completed builds : Caldercraft Brig Badger Amati Hannah - Ship in Bottle Pit Road Hatsuzakura 1/700 Hasegawa Shimakaze 1:350 F4B-4 and P-6E 1/72 Accurate Miniatures F3F-1/F3F-2 1/48 Tamiya F4F-4 Wildcat built as FM-1 1/48 Special Hobby Buffalo 1/48 Citroen 2CV 1/24 - Airfix and Tamiya Entex Morgan 3-wheeler 1/16 Terminated build: HMS Lyme (based on Corel Unicorn) On the shelf: Euromodel Friedrich Wilhelm zu Pferde; Caldercraft Victory; too many plastic ship, plane and car kits Future potential scratch builds: HMS Lyme (from NMM plans); Le Gros Ventre (from Ancre monographs), Dutch ship from Ab Hoving book, HMS Sussex from McCardle book, Philadelphia gunboat (Smithsonian plans) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal123 Posted May 18, 2021 Author Share #11 Posted May 18, 2021 I think you’re all missing the point. I live in the United Kingdom, you all live in the US. I’m talking about an international purchase which they couldn’t complete. I’m sure they have no problems sending stuff within the US. I’m only warning international customers to be careful because they let me down big time. I shan’t be posting any more on this topic - it’s up to everyone else to decide where they want to make purchases. Canute, Roger Pellett, Ryland Craze and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canute Posted May 20, 2021 Share #12 Posted May 20, 2021 I know there are new owners there at Freetime. They may not be well versed with shipping international. lmagna, Keith Black and mtaylor 3 Quote Ken Started: MS Bounty Longboat, On Hold: Heinkel USS Choctaw paper Down the road: Shipyard HMC Alert 1/96 paper, Mamoli Constitution Cross, MS USN Picket Boat #1 Scratchbuild: Echo Cross Section Member Nautical Research Guild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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