For those that got the Build a Model Solar System a few years ago, some help required.

[BenBroad]

Hello,

I've recently bought from ebay a complate Orrery that you could make from the magazine, its made out of a mixture of brass and brass plate, but I'm not happy with what I received.

It was described as new, but I feel that several parts are marked / pitted, and upon contacting the seller he just says its just a bit tarnised and needs some cleaning.

So I'm wondering if anyone can take a look at the photo's I took and tell me what you think?

[philj]

Hi Ben, I have one of those and they look really good when assembled.

They are lacquered brass and if it were as new there should be no pitting or corrosion as in your pictures. The buyer is not really on when he says it needs a bit of polishing because this will remove more lacquer and in a weeks time it will be dull again. If you do polish the bits they really need relacquering to avoid having to repolish.

Also there are alot of bits, have you got them all? I had to do a bit of swapping as my saturn was missing.

[BenBroad]

Hmm I had one when they first came out, sold it later as had no place for it but regretted it.

Heck regretted getting this as on the same day on ebay there was a auction for complete unopened magazines with Orrery unassembed and it finished after mine did for a cheaper price.

AT least with ebay I can take it up with them if the seller doesn't help me with this.

[Stu]

Surely this showed up in the photos on eBay? If it is not as described then you should be entitled to a refund I would expect

I have one too and the brass is shiny and lacquered, nothing like the one shown in the photos

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[BenBroad]

The photo's on ebay really didnt show any of what I saw when it arrived.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Eaglemoss-build-a-model-solar-system-motorised-solid-brass-orrery-amp-magazines-/251587337148?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=LvwBl4GrLJve70nXwrqm2xrIxGQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

And the seller says ""Hi, firstly my description of the item is actually correct, the item is as new and has been stored safely away for a while, having had little or no use. The item is made of solid brass, therefore, unless brass is cleaned on a very regular basis, it tarnishes. Under no circumstance should brass ever be cleaned with 'soap and water'. Tarnishing is a normal occurence when brass is exposed to the environment. Any tarnishing (which was very light when item was packaged to you) is easily removed with a specialist brass cleaning product such as Brasso. If you zoom into photographs supplied on the original listing, you will see that nothing is hidden, and that what you purchased is what I have sent to you. An item in perfect condition that needs, and will need cleaning with Brasso regularly."

I'm just waiting a response from the seller, also posted all of the photo's on ebays resolution page.

[Bizibilder]

It looks as if whoever lacquered it failed to clean the brass properly before applying the lacquer.  It may be on the surface and will polish of with a soft cloth.  Re - lacquering is pretty straightforward, you can buy lacquer from clockmakers suppliers like Meadows and Passmore.  http://www.medmaw.com/cgi-bin/medmaw/medmaw.cgi?keywords=0355+012515&mall_name=muk&search_request_button=Go!&store=parts&page=./html/change_store.html  

To remove the old lacquer you can use methylated spirits.  Don't use Brasso!! It will make things worse as it is for cleaning bare metal - not a lacquered surface.

I've just had a look at the ebay pictures and the tarnish is clearly visible - use the zoom and you can see it.

[philj]

I sympathise Bem, I have been on the receiving end of ebay fopars and its not much fun. If the sellers dont play fair so to speak ebay are usually pretty good at resolving cases.

These bits have been stored in a damp shed or attic which does this to brass over time, ive seen it on msny antique items.

I agree Roger, relacquering is pretty easy but have you seen how many bits are in these things? :-) It would take some time to do the hundred plus fiddly components of one of these things.

[BenBroad]

Yeah I'm just awaiting his response, really while I can look into relacquering it, I shouldn't have to as it was described as like new, so even if the seller refuses to help I've uploaded photos to ebay resolutions which is my proof its not as described and they will refund me.

I might look into replacing some of the damaged parts, but the problem with that its all the planet arms, 3/8 of the planet gears and most of the smaller gears as well, would be costly with ebay prices.

[LukeSkywatcher]

Hi Ben, I have one of those and they look really good when assembled.

They are lacquered brass and if it were as new there should be no pitting or corrosion as in your pictures. The buyer is not really on when he says it needs a bit of polishing because this will remove more lacquer and in a weeks time it will be dull again. If you do polish the bits they really need relacquering to avoid having to repolish.

Also there are alot of bits, have you got them all? I had to do a bit of swapping as my saturn was missing.

I bought the magazine each week and never really got around to building it. I did polish my Sun with Brasso and it turned black so i ordered a new one. So............dont polish.

Maybe warm soapy water?

I think i chucked the whole thing on a skip before i moved as i was not gonna be building it. I may though still have it packed away somewhere. I'll look for it and if i find it, i can give you the parts you need. Dont hold me to it as i am really not sure if i kept it or chucked it. I'll let you know in a couple of days.

[BenBroad]

I bought the magazine each week and never really got around to building it. I did polish my Sun with Brasso and it turned black so i ordered a new one. So............dont polish.

Maybe warm soapy water?

I think i chucked the whole thing on a skip before i moved as i was not gonna be building it. I may though still have it packed away somewhere. I'll look for it and if i find it, i can give you the parts you need. Dont hold me to it as i am really not sure if i kept it or chucked it. I'll let you know in a couple of days.

That would be very kind of you, I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet might send it back if he accepts returns, otherwise I will keep it and try to find the replacement parts, the problem with that is there is quite a few to replace.

[BenBroad]

Got a reply from the seller, he's still adament that he is correct, I think its a simply a case he didn't know its lacquered and perhaps got rid of the coating causing the a lot of it to be become corroded.  Never mind how the base plate looks pitted...

"'I'm sorry, but you are wrong. The product is as described.Pictures listed were taken just before listing and packing,and clearly show some tarnishing. This can be removed with specialist brass cleaner(like Brasso).Tarnishing is corrosion / oxidisation of the brass, which occurs naturally to all brass products over time.This is not damage. In my listing it said 'It IS used, in that I have collected it, assembled it, had it working, read the mags etc. But it is still in nearly new condition'. Which means that it has been exposed to the air, which causes oxidisation. aka tarnishing. This does not mean it is brand new,freshly polished, and provided in an airtight seal. If you try to clean it with soap and water (as you have admitted to) this is likely to cause damage, not prevent or cure it. Cleaning with a specialist cleaner(like brasso)will make it gleam. I'm sure that if you calculated how much it would cost you to collect it,brand new you'd realise what a good deal you got. Regards R'"

He is really annoying me now....

[Stu]

The difficulty you have Ben is that the description is wrong but there is some damage shown in the images. I don't think I would have bought it having seen the pictures, but that doesn't help you!!

It might help to show you an image of mine, minus the planets but you can clearly see it is in far better condition. It has been kept inside but I wouldn't say it has been treated overly sensitively and is still in excellent condition, just a little dusty.

I built it soon after the magazines finished, so it is similar age to the one you bought. May just give you a little evidence of what a good one looks like. It does prove that the lacquer prevents it from tarnishing. I expect that he cleaned it in an incorrect way and damaged or removed the lacquer.

Good luck,

Stu

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[BenBroad]

Yeah, I should have taken a closer look at the photo's as mine looks dull without the shine, I'm just waiting to hear back from him, really I've got the evidence to back up what I'm saying, and I can get a replacement from ebay that seems to be from a seller that knows what he's talking about.

[philj]

Sorry to hear your still having problems ben. The item has been incorrectly described as happens too often. Too many sellers hide behind the term USED. This seller has polished off the lacquer, that cannot be considered normal use. Normal use for an orrery is plugging it in and watching it, not polishing the protective coating off.

[LukeSkywatcher]

Hi Ben. Unfortunately i cant seem to find the stuff in my spare room where a lot is still packed away. I must have chucked it out.

[BenBroad]

Thats alright, to be honest chances were that you wouldnt have all you need and I intend to get a full refund and buy another one from a different seller.

[BenBroad]

I can't believe this, I asked ebay to look into it after the seller became unhelpful and they made a decision in his favour, as it may not be in the same condition in which is was received, only because I mentioned attempting to clean with soapy water that the seller claimed  it would damage it when it didnt and all advice on online doesnt advise against it, its ridicous that they seemed to take his word for it when he has already been proven not to know what he's taking about when he was unaware of the lacquer coating.

[oldfartt0]

If you don't mind me asking,what did you pay for this. I am currently building this model and have a spare issue 1 which is the base plate and ring still wrapped you can have free,also I have decided to paint the sun and other planets as depicted in the magazine the planet support arms I sprayed satin black. Helps to make the planets and moons stand out more. 

[Cornelius Varley]

If you don't mind me asking,what did you pay for this. I am currently building this model and have a spare issue 1 which is the base plate and ring still wrapped you can have free,also I have decided to paint the sun and other planets as depicted in the magazine the planet support arms I sprayed satin black. Helps to make the planets and moons stand out more. 

This thread is over 1 year old and the OP has not returned since Aug 2014.