May 2023

Tales of Transparency: The Free Shipping Option

Recently we had an issue with a customer concerning our free shipping option. Several months ago, said customer placed an order calling for three Panzerkampf MiG-19s, none of which were in-stock and clearly marked as pre-order merchandise. The order was submitted to us late at night so we could not review it to see if we could accept it as it stood. When the first MiG arrived, we shipped it to him at a considerably reduced price to console him. But when the next MiG arrived, and we attempted to adjust the price he became indignant, basically accusing us of everything in the book because he wasn’t getting his way. Needless to say the customer misinterpreted the offer when we would not fulfill his order as he saw fit. There’s some other things that occurred that I won’t comment on publicly that raised an eyebrow so we blocked him from making any further purchases from us. Clearly no amount of explaining was going to correct the situation

So let’s back track for a moment and do our best to explain how the offer works. Our free shipping promotion clearly states that all of the merchandise on your order must be in-stock and ready for immediate shipment. It does not mean that any order of $250 or more qualifies for the discount nor does it mean we will break up an order calling for multiple items to be shipped out over an extended period of time since our shipping costs will go up exponentially, quite possibly wiping out whatever profit we are making on the order. We’ve gone back and edited the Free Shipping option so that it clearly states “All Items Must be In-Stock” to qualify for the discount. I’m certain we will still get orders submitted to us that fails to abide by the terms of sale but at least we made a yeoman effort attempting to make things as clear as possible.

We appreciate your consideration in this matter and hope we have made the matter as clear, concise and understandable to avoid further confusion. Thank you.

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Product Spotlight: Der Wunderwaffe

Luft-X’s 1:72 scale German Lippisch P.13a Ramjet-Powered Interceptor

Its been awhile since Luft-X added some new warbirds to their highly successful range of vengeance weapons Hitler oft touted as saving the Third Reich from disaster. Although the Ho 229 flying wing was resurrected and expected to return to stock this month, we were beginning to wonder if any newer projects were kicking about that would help extend the life and interest in this all-important line. Well, wonder no more because two new models were announced today, both designed to reinvigorate the range and breathe new life into a rather dormant series.

The Lippisch P.12, P.13a and P.13b were related design projects for a ramjet-powered delta wing interceptor aircraft studied in 1944 by German designer Alexander Lippisch. The P.12 and P.13a were unarmed, relying on reinforced wings to ram its opponent. The P.13a and b were to be powered by powdered coal. The DM-1 was a full-size glider, flown to test the P.12/13a low-speed aerodynamics. The design series were unrelated to the earlier P.13 produced by Messerschmitt’s Lippisch design office.

The solid-fuel powered P.13 was one of several distinct Lippisch design studies to be so designated and became identified as the P/13a. It underwent much the same variations of form as the P.12, being presented in a brochure with the large fin and integral raised cockpit, and with an articulated, double-hinged landing skid. The wing trailing edge is angled slightly forwards and the downturned tip surfaces have been discarded. The outer wing sections could be folded upwards for transportation by rail.

A variant with a rectangular canard foreplane was wind-tunnel tested. This was not really consistent with ramming and there are other indications that conventional gun armament was being considered.

Meanwhile, the Heinkel Wespe (English: Wasp) was a project study by the German company Heinkel for a tail-sitting, vertical take off and landing-interceptor aircraft. The aircraft did not have conventional wings, but instead featured a large rotor. Completed in 1945, it remained untested due to a lack of material at the end of the Second World War. A related project was the Heinkel Lerche.

The aircraft was to be powered by a turboprop in the center of the airframe which was unusual for having a circular wing and would have had a small frontal area, making it a good platform for attacking bombers. It may have been designed for point defense, but due to the situation in Germany at the time, the engine was not completed and none were ever built.

Both new models are slated to take to the skies this September.

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