text: Australia Post, the US Government, and to a lesser extent eBay, have essentially said “No More Small Packet Letter Post”.
  The impact on RecoverToy is to remove our ability to cheaply send our low value toy car parts for a realistic cost outside of Australia.
  In a nutshell, the USA Government have created a law that requires all inbound mail to the USA to have specific information about the contents of the packet supplied to the USA Customs and Border Protection Service prior to the packet leaving the originating country, in our case, Australia. Read more at https://www.uspsoig.gov/document/implementing-advanced-electronic-data-challenges-and-opportunities
  Australia Post, seizing the opportunity to stop small business in Australia from using letter post to send merchandise and make us use Parcel Post, have only developed a process for recording the required data for Parcels and not for small packet Letter post. Read more at https://auspost.com.au/sending/send-overseas/customs-forms-regulations/electronic-advance-data-ead
  The end result of this is that all articles of merchandise from Australia to the USA and potentially other countries must be sent as parcels with a minimum cost of AU$25.00 regardless of the weight or value of the items. So a standard RecoverToy packet weighing 30grams (approx 1.5oz) and valued at AU$4.00 will cost AU$25.00 to post. Let alone the additional time processing the information with the woefully useless process Australia Post have implemented for the data capture.
  Obviously, that is not a viable process. As a result we have had to:
  suspend our RecoverToy_USA and RecoverToy_UK ebay stores from trading
  remove all cheap international post options from our website store and eBay Australia store
  modify the International Postage rates for our RecoverToy eBay Australia store.
  The situation for any of our International customers is:
  If you want to purchase only 1 or 2 items the postage cost will be excessive per item
  If you want to purchase many items, then the postage cost per item will not be too bad and the more you purchase the cheaper the per item cost will be
  All current orders will be reviewed and where practical the items will be delivered as a parcel, where this is not possible a refund will be issued.
  Approximately 150 small packets posted in the period March 2021 to May 2021 have been returned to us today. Each of these will need to be back-traced to the order point and refunded.
  At this time, we have no apparent options, although we are pursuing communication with Australia Post.
  We will update this information as soon as anything changes.
  Posted in eBay, RecoverToy Shop, Toy Car Parts	
  RecoverToy Website Issues
  Posted on November 4, 2020 by Tony Howden	— 1 Comment ↓	
  Over the month of October, and now into to the start of November 2020 RecoverToy has experienced significant website issues.
  The primary impact for our customers is email not being processed and the website presenting error pages in the middle of ordering.
  We have undertaken a lot of extra work in efforts to address these issues and while we think they have been resolved it has highlighted that we need to do more upgrades and changes.
  Over the next few months we will be implementing those changes and we would like to thank our customers for their patience with us during this time.
  Posted in RecoverToy Website	
  RecoverToy eBay UK Store
  Posted on July 5, 2020 by Tony Howden	— 1 Comment ↓	
  Our not so new RecoverToy_UK store is gradually being populated with our reproduction box listings. While we have had the RecoverToy eBay UK Store account for a number of years a lack of time has delayed us listing.
  There are differences in how the UK eBay site operates and we are still coming to grips with the differences between the sites.
  We will eventually list all our reproduction boxes and other items in the site so that our UK customers can deal directly in UK sterling.
  Posted in eBay, RecoverToy Shop	
  RecoverToy Shop Back on-line
  Posted on June 30, 2020 by Tony Howden	— No Comments ↓	
  The RecoverToy Shop has been re-opened after fixing the database issue. No data was compromised, we were just unable to process correctly following a server patch. The server has been re-configured to complete transactions ok. Thanks for your patience.
  Posted in RecoverToy Website	
  RecoverToy Shop Closed for Maintenance
  Posted on June 28, 2020 by Tony Howden	— No Comments ↓	
  Over the weekend there has been an issue with the RecoverToy online store. In order to complete the repairs the RecoverToy shop is closed for maintenance.
  Updated: 30th June 2020: Shop has been re-opened after fixing the database issue. No data was compromised, we were just unable to process correctly following a server patch. The server has been re-configured to complete transactions ok. Thanks for your patience.
  Posted in RecoverToy Website	
  RecoverToy and the Coronavirus COVID-19 2019-nCoV
  Posted on March 26, 2020 by Tony Howden	— No Comments ↓	
  Thanks to all our customers who have asked about RecoverToy and the Coronavirus (aka COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV). We are all ok and currently healthy.
  For our on-line orders, we are still trading, until instructed otherwise, and as long as the post office is open we will be posting orders on a daily basis.
  All our planned markets and swap-meets have been postponed indefinitely and we are only taking on-line or phone orders. No personal collections are being processed.
  We hope that all our customers remain safe and healthy through this troubling period. Look after yourself and each other.
  Posted in eBay, RecoverToy Shop, Toy Fairs & Swap Meets	
  Tagged with corona, recovertoy, virus	
  Bendigo Swap Meet November 16 – 17 2019
  Posted on October 28, 2019 by Tony Howden	— No Comments ↓	
  RecoverToy will be at Bendigo Swap Meet November 16 – 17 2019.
  Check the Bendigo Swap Meet website for more details of Australia’s largest automotive swap meet.
  Our sites 7052 & 7054 are in the Collectables Models Hall, Shed 1. You will find the showgrounds site plan at Bendigo Swap website and look for grid ref H2 to find Shed #1.
  To place a shop order, please create a RecoverToy Account first to avoid checkout issues.
  We will be trading as both RecoverToy, and Antique Toy World, with a range of toys and spare tyres for toy cars. If you want to pickup specific parts, please place a shop order as soon as possible so that we can bring the parts with us if we have stock.
  We are looking forward to seeing you at Bendigo Showgrounds in November 2019.
  Posted in Toy Fairs & Swap Meets	
  Hunter Auto Model Club Toy & Hobby Fair October 2019
  Posted on October 26, 2019 by Tony Howden	— No Comments ↓	
  RecoverToy is attending the Hunter Auto Model Club Toy & Hobby Fair October 2019 at Hexham Bowling Club rooms. Sunday 27th October 2019 10:00 until 2:00
  HUNTER MODEL AUTO CLUB INC is organising a Toy & Hobby Fair
  Approx 20 Dealers selling current & vintage Die Cast Models and other Toy related items.
  Raffle will be running on the day and drawn at the completion of the day.
  BBQ will also be running.
  All proceeds going to Calvary Mater Newcastle Oncology Unit.
  Admission : ADULTS $ 2.00 Accompanied CHILDREN under 16 free.
  LOCATION : HEXHAM BOWLING CLUB , 290 OLD MAITLAND ROAD HEXHAM
  Contact for event
  Bill Kenchington 04 3845 4830
  Posted in Toy Fairs & Swap Meets	
  Matchbox Thunderbird 2 Model Scale
  Posted on September 27, 2019 by Tony Howden	— No Comments ↓	
  Comparison of Matchbox and Dinky Toys versions of Thunderbird 2 Pod
  Issued in the 1990’s the Matchbox Thunderbird 2 model scale is larger than the 1960s’ issue Dinky Toys model, and includes an out of scale Thunderbird 4 submarine.
  In this side-by-side comparison, the left-hand pod and Thunderbird 4 are from the 1990 Matchbox model while the right-hand side is the Dinky Toys model 101 pod.
  The Matchbox Thunderbird 4 is large and fills the entire pod door-way with the exhausts just fitting in the width and the tail fin scraping the top of the pod door frame.
  The Dinky Toys model shows similar characteristics even though the pod and Thunderbird 4 are a smaller scale.
  Measuring the difference between Matchbox and Dinky Toys Thunderbird 4 versions.
  Overall the measurements show that the Matchbox Thunderbird 4 is almost 50% larger than the Dinky Toys version. The Matchbox model being around 44mm compared to the Dinky Toys one at around 30mm.
  Looking back at the television episodes, the width of the rails that extend from pod 4 to launch Thunderbird 4 into the water, are probably only half the width of the pod door.
  Still shot from 1965 television episode of Thunderbirds.
  This still-shot from an episode shows Thunderbird 4 is dwarfed by the pod as it runs down the rails.
  With that in mind I swapped the Dinky Toys reproduction Thunderbird 4 with the Matchbox version in the larger pod and the scale looks a whole lot better. Ok, so why are they out of proportion? I’d take a guess that Matchbox looked at the size of their Thunderbird 2 and simply created a fit-to-container version of Thunderbird 4. It might also relate to the audience and making it too small might be a choking hazard for the young children in the target market.
  Dinky Toys Thunderbird 4 with Matchbox Thunderbird 2 Pod
  From a display perspective and as an adult not prone to trying to swallow my Thunderbird models, I think the smaller Dinky Toys version suits the Matchbox model much better, even though it is probably still too big.
  If your Thunderbird 2 is missing its Thunderbird 4, RecoverToy supplies the reproduction version as shown in the photo above. Order a Dinky Toys 101 or 106 Thunderbird 4 Submarine for Thunderbird 2
  Posted in Restoring Toys, Toy Car Parts	
  Corgi Toys James Bond Aston Martin Suspension Unit 261 270
  Posted on December 31, 2018 by Tony Howden	— No Comments ↓	
  There are two versions of the Corgi Toys James Bond Aston Martin Suspension Units 261 270 which fit the early Gold 261 and later Silver 270 coloured models.
  The 271 Aston Martin is different as a larger approximately 1:36 scale model while the 261 & 270 are closer to 1:43 although none are exactly to scale.
  The 261 & 270 share many similarities and some replacment parts,like the driver, ejector seat and retainer. Other parts like the roof hatch, rear shield, and features that were added to the later issue 270 are different. In particular the window unit is completely different between the two models due to casting differences. The suspension units for the models differ slightly and while they could be interchangeable, the 270 suspension was made slightly stronger with wider ‘arms’ for the axle supports and the addition of two small posts that rest against an additional metal frame inside the upper casting.
  Another minor change was the post in the front right-hand side of the base-plate was made longer and flared as a rivet retainer in the 270 while the 261 did not pass through the plastic suspension and was just a locating pin. In the images you can see an extra hole on the right side arm of the 270 suspension unit.
  Corgi Toys 261 Gold James Bond Aston Martin has machine guns that will spring out from the front of the car. The 270 Silver Aston Martin version had the bumper over-riders also extending out with the machine guns. As a part of this change an extra cast box section was added to the inside front of the casting. The additional suspension support posts rest against this metal frame providing extra suspension support.
  Parts for restoring these 1960 and 1970 issue Corgi Toys James Bond Aston Martin models are all available from RecoverToy.