Hi everyone Happy Holli,

One of my frds who is living in CA (USA) has booked one large size next star trainer airplane for me, now the package is with him in USA,

We are planning to ship the plain to Hyderabad.  However, the package weight is about 12 to 13 kgs; we are planning to ship this plane except radio from his residence in CA to Hyderabad,

My concern is can we ship this large and 13kg weight package. We are planning to parcel this through USPS, Please advise me, is the package will reach me safely without any problem.

I’m not included the radio with this package, and please advise me do I face any customs prob, this plane cost is $325.
the parcel is coming from my friends home address CA to my home address HYD, so do we need to attach the Invoice copy or can he directly ship this as gift from my friend to me,

Please help me as I am really struggling to get this from USA to Hyderabad.  Pleaseeeeeeeee help me 

Hmmm. I got so many such cases when my friends sent stuff from USA. The thing is we DO HAVE CUSTOMS PROBLEM. Without a guaranteed service, the packages will miss too. That was happened to me when one of my friends sent me Stryker-27B, booked from a local dealer for the USPS. He sent it some 6 months ago. I didnt receive it till now. It was missing. So...

I can say something..

****First and Foremost thing is 'ASK HIM TO PACK IT VERY TIGHT AND FIRM WITH LOT OF BUBBLE WRAP AND PEANUT FOAM, AND SEAL IT VERY CAREFULLY. OUR CUSTOMS WILL TARE OPEN IT HERE IN CHENNAI AND THEN REPACK IT CARELESSLY WITH ROPES TILL IT IS SENT TO OUR HOME'*****

1. Only go for Global Express Service of USPS.
2. Tell him to write it as 'GIFT' on the box
3. When they ask him to fill estimate form, ask him to fill it exactly. It charges much at the booking, but it reduces the 'customs duty' charge when receive.
4. Ask him to categorize it as 'Toy' at booking.
5. Only should be booked from US Post Office. (Any other private dealer should be avoided)
6. Global Express Service only provides Tracking numbers and can reach within 7 days sharp.

I'd say, if you have such good friends / relatives based in the US, the best things is to ask them to get stuff with them on person while they come. That is the BEST and SAFEST option. Iy might so happen that they are not due to come for another couple of months, but i think its worth the wait.... In any case, if it HAS TO BE shipped, I guess Merog's suggestions are the best 

my doubt
is there tax on imported good.

Hey thanks Merog's & Shrikant.

Merog's i will fallow ur suggestions,  And after shrikant post im also thinking that some of my relatives are comming from US to India, But they may come after may this year, but i can wait as shrikanth say's, my questions is can my family members who is travelling in may can allowed to carry this weight 13kgs of package,  is there any customs they should pay for this package?

Please let me know.... if any customs charges on weight and cost of package plssss...

Hi Naresh,

You're welcome. Generally the items carried on person these days does not attract much of customs duty / issues unless stuff is really expensive and too much stuff is being carried. As for these planes and all, generally they are passed on as toys etc. and do not pose any problem.

As regards the weight, as I am aware, each person is allowed 2 bags of 50 lbs (abt 23 kgs). So 13 kg is a good chunk of the allowed baggage limits. Another pointer, irrespective of thm bringing it on person, packing has to be really really good, cos baggage porters all around the world are the same and they abuse the baggage irrespective. A fragile tag may help a bit.

-Shrikant.

Thanks Shrikant,

Can they carry it as cotton box as the box size very large its like 10x12x54 size

please look in to this for me

http://www.hobbiconexstar.com/reviews/hcaa17-rcm.html

Agree with the above experience.  If someone is bringing it as personal luggage, the chances for having a duty imposed are really slim.  But be sure to ask the airline folks to put multiple fragile stickers on it.

Hi Anwar  Thanks for joining wth us,  Yes i will inform my uncle to put multiple fragile stickers on it box package.
and can u advise me how much customs they may charge on $325 package, this very huge and long box in leanth.

When it comes to customs, even though there are fixed rates, practically it comes down to "negotiations".  And these include how much of it can be attributed into the "free allowance" that each passenger is entitled to (I believe it is now Rs25000 per person).

I believe the duty for items above this is around 40% (haven't experienced this for a while now, so I am not even sure what it is now).  Requesting others to pitch in.

ohhhh 25000 per person !!
If so my uncle and aunt comimng in may so they can easly get this for me.. right? and

today i will inform my friend to pack this box very tight and care fully with bubble wraps and tell him to parcel frm CA to AZ coz my uncle stays there he will take care the rest..!

So all i need to ensure is packing and to put multiple fragile stickers on it box, and need to pay .

BTW, please do understand that these are guidelines based on previous experiences, and as a disclaimer, none of this is guaranteed

Overall, it is fairly safe to bring items with you, they tend to survive the trip if the fragile stickers are there, and the chances of having duty imposed are remote.

Hi,
    In 2005 when returning back to India I shipped a 60" Tower MKII trainer as goods from US to India. It reached Chennai and of course shipping customs opened it up and didn't as much as touch anything in it and mind you not a scratch on the box even. The models I sent by post (only cut foam blocks) were sent thru post and were opened and closed with jute rope again nothing missing.

For a large package like this ensure that it is packed very very well or better still compare the costs and get a good trainer from any of the local hobby stores who can give you a trainer which is possibly as good as the nextstar. The cost of bring it in is just not worth the risk or breakage and worse loss. Best things to get from US, especially, are electronics and spares and such stuff which you won't get at those prices here. Forget planes, the ones available locally are good too 

Yes after placed my order online, Now im realized that i should have buy it from local hobby shop, In hyderabad Mr.Jack is here and ive visited his shop as well he was so help full and he explained me every thing about glow engine VS electric, but im not aware of cost of the plane when i visted his shop . i was planed to purchase electric from his shop for 10k to 12k, however he suggested me to go for nitro trainers and i liked that coz nitros gives long life to use & enjoy the flying and im also love to stick wth flying hobby in my life time, but i cant effort the high price's.

finally my friend in US and me we together order this hobbyco next star we actually planed to ship this along with one of my uncle or friends who are coming in this May, so i thought the cost will be some what redused, but need to wait for some more time to get this safe and without any customs prob. Im praying to god every day and every day before  sleep i will look at my next star trainer plane pic's and sleeping....... what to do im bit feel sad and bit happy that ive got this plane but not with me now but this is with my frd in usa. he is also trying hard to ship this plane to india for me....!

I hope my dream will full fill very soooon in april so that i will show this to all of my RC india family people....!

Thank you!

Have carried kits in a checked in duffel bag without any problems with customs or damage to the kit.
If the ARF has been ordered on line in the US to a US address, they are shipped in a sturdy outside box which will survive the trip when checked in with the passenger, which is the best way to get kits from the US. Extra baggage cost if applicable is $ 50 and no duty, as opposed to UPS which costs a bomb to ship to India and attracts customs duty.
To give you an example : a $ 70 kit costs $ 30 shipping + Rs 950 duty ( paid to courrier).

Hope this helps.

+1 for RHK.  Just remember those "Fragile" stickers while checking-in the baggage.  Having those stickers from the airlines themselves seem to act as a big pointer for the handlers to be more careful with stuff.

Thanks RHK,Anwar and all of you . This will help me to get the stuff from US, However, I will keep you posted once i've got my plane.....
Thanks for all your help !

Hai Naresh,
I am at Qatar .Last time I shipped a model as personal baggage in its original packing .It survived handling ,no majar damage - with FRAGILE stickers and no customs problems at Mumbai.This month end I am shifting to Delhi -Plan to bring a big model in original box with my baggge , Delhi is OK for customs - they dont bother much .
Wish you good luck - it should come thru customs without any problems.
I am also shifting to Secunderabad in next couple of months and will stay at Sanskruti township at Nacharam.Can I have your contact No ? Do you fly regulary there ?

Best Regards
Shiva

Hey shiva,
Thank you for your post. I’m glad to meet you here once you moved to secunderabad. My contact# 9441833117.
Abt my flying I dint started yet coz I’m very much new to this hobby and om waiting for my plane to get start,

 However, I knew few guys who fly together at Hyd. I came to know abt these guys with the help of one of our member Saurabh who recently moved to Mumbai form Hyd. if you want to meet them they always welcome you. Contact Vinod (Jack) for planning your Sunday.  You can call Rafeeqe or Raj or Vinod at: 9848040392; 9849306262; 9885056254, Vinod is really helpful and since he is running this business, will be able to support you with the necessary equipments as well.
Better pls look in to this
http://www.rcindia.org/rc-locations-and-clubs/flying-in-hyderabad/

Regards,

and also check this if you haven't already,

http://www.rcindia.org/rc-locations-and-clubs/aeromodelling-in-hyderabad/

Hey Friends,

I've got my next star plane ,  Sunday morning my friend reached to Hyderabad air port and i've collected the huge package,
No customs problem, Howeve,  He had to pay $170.00 for extra bagage at US i'm bit un happy.

but there is some tragedy here................that is ..........................got some scratch on plane.
u can check this on pic's.

Over all i spent R.s 25000.00 to get this plane, Please advise is it worth??

And also guys please please please help me that how can i cover this up? and what needs to be done to this damege? Is this scratch effect the plane to fly? , please  me.

Here are few pic's.


Thanks

some more pics

Here is the scratch

1. Don't see any *airline* fragile stickers on the box. Did you not convey this ?

2. Shrikant made it clear that only 2 bags of around 50lbs are allowed. Any third piece will attract a significant charge. , regardless of the other two pieces being lighter than the allowed limit.  Was this not considered ?

3. The damage is minimal, but something you should fix before flying.  There are multiple ways of doing it. A simple one (without involving new iron-on-kote) is to just cover up only the affected area with thin black tape, and fix the balsa with a small bit of epoxy.

There are fragile stickers on the box. and abt extra baggage, unfortunately he got some extra stuff from his family friends who wants him to carry them to india,That he din't knew it before and so he has to pay for extra baggage inclueding my package. That's it other wise every thing is fine.


and thanks for your advise on how to fix the scratch. is this will effect to fly?

Thanks

forgot to attach the pic wth fragile stickers on the box.....

Oh, ok... so this was all incidental   Can't do much about that.

The repairs should not affect the flying characteristics on the plane, just use only enough material to do the fixes well.

Thanks anwar. another thing is, i dint charge the RX & TX bateries yet and i find difficulty that im unable to find the converter for charger at local electrical shops, it may take some time to find the converter so is there any prob if charge little late may be a week or two is that fine? is ther any effect to bateries?

Once again thanks Anwar.

Omission on my part, I should have cautioned you about the 110volt issue for items sourced from the US. Glad that you remembered/noticed 

The 220v to 11v convertor/adapter should be available in any shop that sells electronics parts/spares.  There is nothing wrong with keeping stuff uncharged for a while, as these items are shipped from the factory with the expectation that they may not be charged for a while.

The MOST important thing is to seek the help of local fliers when you try to maiden the plane.

Naresh!
I think for that scratch on your sticker, you can buy a black vinyl and stick on the vinyl over it or carefully remove the existing vinyl and paste a new one!
Wont that work out for you ?
and the internal can be glued with super glue!

Clear cello tape for the covering and press back the wood in position and CA'it.

Good luck on the flying - possibly after getting thru other models (say foam). Flying this as your first plane is best avoided (if it really is) - considering the  investments made.