Frequently Asked Questions

Q.
 Can I order directly from GHQ?
A.
 Yes, we ship mail orders to places all over the world every day. You can place an order online through our secure website, send it to us in the mail (GHQ, 28100 Woodside Rd., Shorewood, MN 55331, USA), via fax (952-470-4428), or on the telephone (1-800-289-1945 or 612-374-2693). When placing orders please be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, a list of items that you would like, including quantities for each item and GHQ stock numbers, and full payment details.
Q.
 What forms of payment do you accept?
A.
 For phone or mail orders, the credit cards that we accept are Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. For mailed-in orders, we also accept cashier's checks, money orders, and personal checks made payable to GHQ in USA dollars. For orders placed through the website, payment options include Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Pay Pal, and Apple Pay.
Q.
 How much is Shipping & Handling?
A.
 All orders that are shipped within the USA are charged a flat $7.95 for any size order. Orders shipped to Canada are charged 15% of the merchandise total, with a $17.95 minimum charge and $39.95 maximum charge. All orders that are shipped to other parts of the world are 20% of the merchandise total with a $19.95 minimum charge.
Q.
 Will I receive a confirmation when my order is placed through your website?
A.
 Yes, an e-mail confirming your order will be automatically generated, and sent, when you have completed submitting your order.
Please be sure your e-mail address is entered correctly.
Q.
 How long will my order take?
A.
 We are the manufacturer of all our products, not a reseller. This means that your order will always be sent out 100% filled, with no backorders. Most of the time we have everything on the shelf, and ready to ship. However, occasionally we may have to cast and pack a run of an item to complete your order. This will delay shipment a few days. For this reason, we ask that you allow up to 2 weeks for your order (3 weeks outside of the USA and Canada) for delivery, although you will usually receive it much sooner.
Q.
 Will you contact me when my order ships?
A.
 If you provide your e-mail address, an e-mail with the shipping details will be automatically sent out to you when your order ships.
Q.
 Can I make changes to my order after it has been placed with GHQ?
A.
 We have many orders coming in, going out, and being processed at all times. We will make every effort to accommodate changes, but very often it is not possible to make changes before an order is shipped out to a customer.
Q.
 Is it possible to cancel an order that has been placed with GHQ?
A.
 We have many orders coming in, going out, and in the process of being fulfilled at all times. Things get pretty crazy at times, and the e-mails/phone calls don’t go to the same place as the shipping department. This is why it is generally extremely difficult to cancel an order. We usually are shipping out orders very quickly, and most of the time the orders are shipped out before we can track down where it is in the fulfilling process.
Q.
 How do I make exchanges/returns?
A.
 Please review your order carefully when you receive it. Report any inaccuracies/disputes within 7 days. All merchandise for exchanges/refunds must be in salable condition, accompanied by the original receipt, and be requested within 30 days. All shipping charges for the returns/exchanges are the responsibility of the customer.
Q.
 How big are the models?
A.
 We manufacture models in several different scales (1/285th, 1/2400th, 1/1200th, 1/160th, 1/87th). All our models are designed in true constant scale. Using 1/285th as an example, here is how scale works with regards to models. If you took 285 of our 1/285th scale models and laid them out end to end, that would equal the length of the actual vehicle. If you set out 285 of them side by side, that would equal the width of the actual vehicle, and if you stacked 285 of them on top of each other, that would equal the height of the actual vehicle. In 1/285th most tanks scale out to about one inch long. In 1/2400th most ships scale out to between two to four inches long. In 1/160th an automobile scales out to about one inch long. In 1/87th a farm tractor is about one and a half inches long.
Q.
 Do your models come painted?
A.
 All our products are sold unpainted and unassembled. Most of the 1/285th scale models are 2 parts, most of the 1/2400th scale ships are 5 to 10 parts, and most of the 1/160th and 1/87th scale models are 5 to 15 parts.
Q.
 Are special glues and paints necessary for finishing your models?
A.
 No, any type of “Super Glue” (cyanoacrylate adhesive) that can be purchased at large discount retailers (Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart, etc.), drug stores, and hobby stores is perfect for assembling our models. Also, any type of paint used for painting plastic, resin, wood, metal, etc. models can be used on any of our models. We also have a full line of paint available directly from GHQ: Atmospherics Acrylic Paints.
Q.
 Can you give me any advice for finishing small models?
A.
 Yes, we have a step-by-step illustrated miniature painting guide and terrain making guide on our website. Several different techniques are shown for doing different types of paint schemes. Click here to see our step-by-step painting guide.
Q.
 Do you sell spare parts?
A.

For most Micro Armour® vehicles (those that are sold 5 to a pack) spare hulls are $3.50 each, spare turrets/guns are $2.00 each, and spare MG sprues are $3.25 each, plus shipping and handling. In general, if you were to purchase the entire contents of one pack as spare parts it would cost 2-3 times the price of just ordering the pack.  There are kits for which we do not sell spare parts, for example, N-Scale, HO-Scale, Combat Command, and some Micronauts kits. When ordering spare parts, please be sure to include the GHQ stock number (SKU) of the pack that the parts come from and give a description of the parts. We do our best to fill spare parts orders correctly, but spare parts orders are not returnable.  When ordering online, please add a note in the order instructions field of your online shopping cart describing the parts that you would like, including the GHQ stock numbers of the packs and give detailed descriptions of the parts.  We will then add the parts to your order, and an email will be sent to you to approve the additions (this is done to protect the customer, so that we cannot make unauthorized additions).  Once the additions have been approved, and paid for, they will be processed, and shipped, with the rest of your order.
Q.
 Can I buy the brass etched rotors to retrofit my old helicopters?
A.
 Yes, we sell the rotor kits for $5.00 each, plus shipping and handling. One rotor kit will provide enough rotors for one pack of helicopters as we package them. So, if we sell a pack with two helicopters in the package, then the rotor kit has enough rotors for two helicopters. Please be sure to include the GHQ stock number of the pack that the rotors come from. Spare rotor orders are not returnable.  When ordering online, please add a note in the order instructions field of your online shopping cart describing the parts that you would like, including the GHQ stock numbers of the packs and give detailed descriptions of the parts.  We will then add the parts to your order, and an email will be sent to you to approve the additions (this is done to protect the customer, so that we cannot make unauthorized additions).  Once the additions have been approved, and paid for, they will be processed, and shipped, with the rest of your order.
Q.
 Do you have a printed catalog?
A.
 Yes, we include a free copy of our printed catalog with every order. The catalog is available by itself for $5.00. Our website has a full listing of all our products and has hundreds more photos than the printed catalog. You will find a PDF of the printed catalog under the "Resources" heading above.
Q.
 Are these the same models that the military uses for tactical training?
A.
 Yes, these are the same models that you may have seen the military using on Fox News, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS. The military uses our models for vehicle recognition exercises, and sand table demonstrations in the classroom, and in the field.
Q.
 Why are your models 1/285th scale?
A.

In 1967 when our founder pioneered Micro Scale gaming with the introduction of Micro Armour® he wanted something about one third the size of the models that were currently being used, and he wanted a scale that would be distinctive. The models that were being used at the time were 1/87th, and he thought that 1/285th had a unique look, and sound to it. The rest is history. Now 1/285th is the standard for Micro Scale armour gaming, and Micro Armour® continues to be held up as the standard to which others compare themselves.
Q.
 What is the make-up of the metal you use?
A.

Our metal is 92% tin, 5% lead, and 3% antimony. In the early 1990’s the State of NY attempted to stop the sale of miniatures, and collectibles, containing any amount of lead. There was a long hearing in the NY Supreme Court. GHQ and some other very large companies, like the Franklin Mint, participated, and brought many expert medical witnesses to testify. The ultimate conclusion was that there may be a choking hazard from putting miniatures in your mouth, but the lead content was not deemed dangerous. We have employees here who have handled our miniatures daily for 25+ years, and we have never had anyone test out of the normal range for heavy metals in their bodies. We always tell people that they should not put our miniatures in their mouths.