Solarfilm

[Martin McIntosh]

I am shocked and surprised because I was under the impression that they manufactured rather more than modelling products. Original Solarfilm is light but not that easy to apply (although I use the rather easier to use silver because it takes paint readily and is a good base for a WW2 warbird), but the Supershrink Polyester is pretty good. I must admit though that I have recently changed to the HK stuff which is just as good and a fraction of the price. Nothing can compare to Tex. Do hope that someone will take over production of that even if it is the Chinese who will no doubt have already heard this sad news.

[Concorde Speedbird]

Just ordered some Solartex, trim and clearcoat for the last time. The standard solarfilm would sag over time and temperature but I really liked the supershrink polyester, and obviously solartex is excellent.

[Jon H]

Posted by cymaz on 06/02/2018 22:08:55:

Just seen the letter on Facebook.....bitter blow.

What’s the equivalent to Solartex ?

Edited By cymaz on 06/02/2018 22:09:58

oratex but it aint cheap. at least 50% dearer than solartex

[Peter Jenkins]

I went onto this website and it looks as if either they or someone else is thinking of starting up an internet supply route. Could be a scam but I cannot tell.

[Piers Bowlan]

That is very sad, the hobby must be in a bad way, or 'everyone' has switched to the cheap HK Chinese stuff.

[Christopher Long 1]

Looking at the WHOIS page on Nominet the domain name is registered to Solar Film Sales Ltd at the address of Solar Film's factory, so it looks to be above board.

[Cuban8]

An inevitable but sad outcome, although not surprising after reading between the lines of the recent article. Does seem odd that nothing can be done to maintain the superb 'tex products. Although nothing like the demand exists as in years gone by, I'd have thought that just ditching the films and other quircky specialist coverings but maintaining a limited 'tex range to service the market demand in the US alone (with their love of big stuff), would be enough to keep it ticking over, yet still profitable (how much Solartex does HobbyKing shift since they began stocking it?)

Fingers crossed that someone in the wider industry will step in and maintain their Solartex products. Ironic that now Flair seem to be getting their act together, the obvious choice of covering materials for their Scouts etc goes and disappears. Wishful thinking perhaps, but I can't see it all turning to dust, the product is simply too good to neglect.

 

Edited By Cuban8 on 07/02/2018 08:26:39

[Peter Miller]

Posted by Peter Jenkins on 07/02/2018 00:43:47:

I went onto this website and it looks as if either they or someone else is thinking of starting up an internet supply route. Could be a scam but I cannot tell.

That notice is posted on the Solarfilm website so is obviously genuine.

Notice also that the letter says "We will not be selling to wholesalers after February 12th 2018"

Presumably they will be selling what is left of the stock to modellers...

[Jonathan W]

I would speculate that Solarfilm have built up stocks which they might sell direct online and cut out their dealings with wholesalers. Then it can be effectively a one man show receiving payment up front for orders sent to individuals rather than waiting for invoices to be paid by trade customers. This would provide Mr Hardman a modest income into his retirement and my best wishes to him.

[Piers Bowlan]

I would guess that it would be very difficult to maintain a business on the strength of only one specialist product line to support the overheads involved, good as Solartex is.

Perhaps Solarfilm were considering direct internet sales before they made the decision to cease production? Pure speculation on my part. Maybe someone else will step in who thinks that they can make a go of it but I won't hold my breath. Robbe, Hobbico, JR, Traplet, the list continues sadly.

[ken anderson.]

don't you think that for most of us old/ish established modellers.....that the building/flying world as we knew it is going,never to return? like everything else in the world radio modelling is changing...ie how we get our equipment and build our models.for us that have been in the hobby for a while its another black arm band day,but newcomers come in and don't know any different.i'm sure there will be some sort of covering to suit our needs - where you get it from is the problem......no LMS is another talking point....

ken Anderson...ne...1.... the times they are a changing....dept.

PS....for old/ish read ...... modellers who started off late/last century

[Cuban8]

10M roll of Oratex is a hundred quid - plenty available - don't panic Mr. Mainwaring.

I don't doubt that maintaining a large premises that was originally manufacturing an extended range of products in its heyday would be totally inappropriate for a niche but highly successful specialist product. Other companies do manufacture and trade on a small scale yet remain highly viable, so whilst the company as it is has had enough, if someone with enthusiasm (and the backing) can be found to maintain 'tex production, probably as a side-line and selling direct,  albeit 'cutting their cloth to suit their clothing' it wouldn't be so bad.

I can think of a certain British model engine manufacturer that's very good at producing a sought after product for a world-wide market, albeit on nothing like the scale of the big foreign firms, so it can be done.................................

 

 

Edited By Cuban8 on 07/02/2018 09:11:51

[Andy Meade]

Posted by Jon Harper - Laser Engines on 06/02/2018 22:56:08:

Posted by cymaz on 06/02/2018 22:08:55:

Just seen the letter on Facebook.....bitter blow.

What’s the equivalent to Solartex ?

Edited By cymaz on 06/02/2018 22:09:58

oratex but it aint cheap. at least 50% dearer than solartex

Also Diatex - as loved by the LMA guys. Diatex 1000 is the stuff to use.

[Nigel R]

Sad to hear. Although, not surprising in a way, when the direct competitor, as used and well reviewed by many on this site, is a third of the price, and, the market is not so big - from the reduced number of modellers a reduced percentage build their own.

Let's hope the best bits of the range continue on under another banner. Tex was excellent and everyone seemed to regard the polyester supershrink quite highly. Clearcoat was good, too.

 

"that the building/flying world as we knew it is going,never to return?"

It's already gone Ken.

Smaller hobby (no longer the latest thing).

ARTFs, so smaller pool of builders.

Worldwide market giving cheaper labour costs for those savvy enough to shift production to Asian area.

High street shops struggling with viability, internet shopping dominates.

IC become/becoming niche.

Radio that works.

We could go on!

Edited By Nigel R on 07/02/2018 10:04:51

[Former Member]

[This posting has been removed]

[rcaddict]

personally it drove me nuts that solarfilm was only 50" long which meant overlaps

[kc]

A very sad day. when such an innovative firm stops production. Worst hit of all will be the small model builders who will be lacking Litespan, Fibrefilm etc.unless there are alternatives.

But this was inevitable and it's surely due to the fact that the British product is subject to VAT so is always going to be about 20 percent dearer. When you buy from the internet supplier even when you get it delivered from the UK warehouse you never get charged VAT, you never get a VAT invoice, and there is never a VAT number mentioned. That is because you are buying from China when you buy on the website so no VAT is charged on the retail price. ( presumably the UK warehouses pay VAT on import but this may be only on the SELLERS invoice price. ) This surely is also the reason that so many UK model shops have closed! It's not a level playing field!

[Peter Miller]

Actually Solarfilms were cheaper than ORacover by quite a bit. lighter too.

[Don Fry]

On a brighter note, if the owner is clearing his warehouse out as a postal seller of his stuff, we might be dead, gaga, shipped off to a care home before he runs out.

Edited By Don Fry on 07/02/2018 12:03:56

[Bob Cotsford]

Posted by kc on 07/02/2018 10:57:30:

A very sad day. when such an innovative firm stops production. Worst hit of all will be the small model builders who will be lacking Litespan, Fibrefilm etc.unless there are alternatives.

But this was inevitable and it's surely due to the fact that the British product is subject to VAT so is always going to be about 20 percent dearer. When you buy from the internet supplier even when you get it delivered from the UK warehouse you never get charged VAT, you never get a VAT invoice, and there is never a VAT number mentioned. That is because you are buying from China when you buy on the website so no VAT is charged on the retail price. ( presumably the UK warehouses pay VAT on import but this may be only on the SELLERS invoice price. ) This surely is also the reason that so many UK model shops have closed! It's not a level playing field!

kc, even taking the VAT into account Solarfilm products cannot compete with the FarEast products on price. Reading the magazine article the current proprietors of Solarfilm have no interest in models which is presumably why the product range has been pretty static. Everything sounds to be produced by hand in small batches, and there's no alternate industrial income (as the other big UK name has), that doesn't sound to be a recipe for success without an enthusiast at the helm.

[john stones 1 - Moderator]

Solarfilm was left behind for most of us, Profilm and H.K film is a much better product, nothing new in modellers nor the general public looking for the best product at a price they like.

[Nightflyer]

Very sad news to hear. Solarfilm and their associated products have covered a lot of models, and while it is fair to say that there are other similar products in the market place (some better and some not so), the loss of a home grown supplier means less competition and as likely increased demand and possibly prices from remaining manufacturers.

I have to say that my mum used to cover many of my dad's and my early models. My dad never forgot a talk at one of the National Modelmaker Festivals at Brean Sands that Andrew's father gave. It ended up on almost a one to one discussion between him and my mum on covering experiences and hints and tips.

Thanks Solarfilm for the products I have used over the years.

[kc]

In reply to Bob Cotsford - - the point is our government needs to protect British industry and put sufficient duty on imports from countries with appalling rates of industrial pollution and labour conditions so that British firms who have to pay proper wages and not pollute can sell on a level playing field. If our government does not then the the worst governments in the world will take over the world by trade. Untold billions were spent on trying to protect the world from communism ( dictatorship ) and now we are handing them our industries on a plate! Madness! McCarthyism was madnes but now we have the madness in the extreme opposite direction. Insane

[Tomtom39]

In response Bob. The ARTF market has far overtaken the "build end" of the hobby . In addition to cheaper options from the far east (remind me to tell you the story of the mid air covering peeling off!).

Solarfilm did have the company on the market for about a year with no takers. I had hoped that they may consider just carrying on with direct sales (this has already been covered by an earlier post!) Great shame as Ive used their products pretty much all my modelling life. Will have to switch to alternatives when I run out my existing stock (oracover,oratex , diatex , tissue, brown paper etc)

[Ronaldo]

I agree with kc, I can relate to UK businesses failing because of lack of support from our government. As a direct result of cheap far eastern goods I was made redundant from a chemical company after 26 years, because they were manufacturing copies of our product (reverse engineering and of inferior quality too I may add) After having no option but to shut down, the factory buildings, offices, and plants were totally demolished, nothing left, so obviously they don't expect the business ever to recover. We had very strict environmental regulations, quality controls, good health and safety, on site Dr and a nurse, ... all these were costly which our far eastern rivals obviously managed to avoid, along with cheap labour it's no surprise they can undercut British industry ! Sad sign of the times I'm afraid, which we often see repeated in many areas nation wide ...........

... anyway to get back on track, ... best get my credit card out and stock up on solartex I suppose ...