AUSTER AOP.9
The Auster AOP.9, designed to replace the Auster AOP.6, was a braced high-wing, single engined monoplane with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage.Â
Introduced in 1955 as a military observation aircraft (air observation post), it could operate from ploughed fields and muddy surfaces using low pressure tyres and strengthened undercarriage.Â
Used extensively by the Royal Air Force during Operation Firedog in Malaya.
YOUR KIT
Our replica kit includes laser-cut parts, traced from the original printed balsa wood sheets.
Accuracy of part fit can be variable and so you may need to do some "fettling" and adjustment to achieve a perfect build.
Construction of the model from this kit uses the traditional method of "stick and tissue", that consists of a built up balsa wood skeleton (framework), covered with a tissue skin.
The balsa frameworks are built over a plan that is printed at the exact scale of the model, which is in essence a real engineering drawing.
Free flight means just that - once the model is launched, it is on its own. It must follow a predetermined flight path established when the model is initially adjusted for flight or "trimmed".
This type of traditional building technique and flying requires a degree of patience and skill, but is extremely rewarding.
Power is provided by rubber strip motor that is wound up before flight.
Please Note: The model pictured above is a Veron Tru-Flite Auster AOP.9 covered with Esaki tissue and markings by Andrew Darby. These are not included in the kit!
UK SHIPPING
Most orders are shipped via Royal Mail’s Tracked 48 service.
We are in the middle of nowhere and so our Royal Mail collection is at around 1pm.
Example:
An order placed before 12pm on Monday should be with you on Wednesday.
An order placed after 12pm on Monday should be with you on Thursday.
For larger or heavier orders, we use UKMail/DHL to deliver your package on a Next Working Day service.
Example:
An order placed before 10am on Monday should be with you on Tuesday.
An order placed after 10am on Monday should be with you on Wednesday.
For larger or heavier orders, we use UKMail/DHL to deliver your package on a Next Working Day service.
Shipping is free to UK Mainland addresses for orders over £30.00, otherwise we charge £6.00 for Royal Mail Tracked 48 parcels and £12.00 for UKMail/DHL Next Working Day.
NORTHERN IRELAND, HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS
Royal Mail considers Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands and UK Islands as part of the UK and so does not charge a premium for deliveries.
Pretty much all other UK couriers have surcharges for deliveries to the following postcodes: IV, HS, KA27-28, KW, PA20-49, PA60-78, PH17-26, PH30-44, PH49-50, ZE, BT, IM, TR21-25
If you live in one of these postcodes and the parcel size of your order is outside Royal Mail's dimensions, you will have to pay a surcharge.
Our system is not clever enough to work this out and so if your order attracts a surcharge, we will contact you before despatch to see if you would like to pay the surcharge and proceed with the order or cancel and receive a full refund.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
Smaller items
Items that fit within Royal Mail International Tracked Medium Parcel parameters (59cm x 17cm x 15cm weighing less than 2kg) can be sent to most countries outside the UK.
For example up to 3 of our smaller 18” wingspan kits can fit into one of these parcels.
A parcel like this currently costs around £14 to Europe and around £18 to send to the USA and will take up to 3 weeks to arrive. This is because Royal Mail hands over the parcel to the local Post Office service for your country who have to clear it through customs and then deliver it to you.
The Royal Mail tracking code also transfers over to the tracking for your country’s postal service.
Larger items
For items that do not fit within Royal Mail International Tracked Medium Parcel parameters, we use standard international couriers such as DHL, FedEx and UPS.
These companies use something called volumetric weights to calculate the cost of shipping.
For example, a Balsa Basics RC bundle kit that measures 102cm x 34cm x 16cm and weighs 2.5 kg is actually calculated at 14kg!
This makes these very expensive to send outside the UK - a large kit can cost nearly £40 to send to France.
