Ouiser

New to the forum. Great resource. Here's my question:

How much would you be willing to pay for a 1994 BTE (Bruce Tharpe) Venture 60? They sell for 140 or so brand new but he's out of stock and doesn't know when he'll have more available. Has he made any changes to the kit since 94?


Thanks

Ouiser

Did I post to the wrong forum or is there no opinion on this?

tiggerinmk

Probably around $80 at a guess.
Unless Bruce has stated that he has discontinued the kit most people who want one would probably wait, unless they're in a real hurry in which case they'd probably settle for a 4* or Tiger.....
If you're looking to sell, then the best way is to just plonk it in an auction. I doubt that you'd get more than the current retail unless you put it on ebay.....

Bob Yeager

My Feedback: (5)

Ouiser is attempting to get a handle on what to bid on the BTE Venture 60 that is listed on "FleaBay".

Ouiser

Very good Bob. I don't know how popular this plane is, so I didn't want to tip everyone off. Now that my plan is ruined... []

NOVAflier

My Feedback: (21)

Considering that it is 10 years old and you don't know the condition of the wood.. I wouldn't waste my time...Post the link so we can look at it better.

Ouiser

As requested:

[link=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3179233465&category=19164]Venture 60[/link]

edit:
K, I guess I'm doing something wrong since the link isn't working. If you seach for Venture in RC, it's the only item out of about 7 that isn't a heli.

JimTrainor

The link still doesn't work, rcu garbled it for competitive reasons.

It's an interesting form of censorship in this new age we live in.

Not that I think there is anything wrong with it... it is RCU's business to run as the see fit.

I guess if we don't like, then we vote with our clicks.

tiggerinmk

Did ya win? I saw it went for $122.50 + $16.50 shipping...

Ouiser

No, that was too much. I'll just wait for him to release the venture as an ARF.

tiggerinmk

Obviously not in a hurry then.....

wrongwaywayne

I saw Bruce at the Tulalupp,WA (sp?) trade whow - he was selling them for $125 I think.

Check out the Fantasy that is advertised on RCU - looks like a similar plane - I may be wrong.

NOVAflier

My Feedback: (21)

I don't think it will ever become an ARF, it's just Bruce (as far as I know) that assembles these kits, and I don't think he has the man power to get them into ARF form. However I bet he could make a killing if he did.

JimTrainor

Then he's about to get rich, because he announced the Venture 60 ARF on his web site.
Youi can't get a kit from him now - not in production.
http://www.btemodels.com/fk_availability.html

Ouiser

Exactly why I didn't buy it. It was 10 years old and went for more (after shipping) than a brand new one. Plus the arf is coming...

tiggerinmk

I had a look at the BTE site this afternoon, I thought I saw on there somewhere that he plans on doing another run of 100 kits sometime.

His wording regarding the ARF's doesn't really inspire that much confidence to me, does anyone know how the Delta Vortex ARF's compare to the kits?

rajul

My Feedback: (58)

Having the 4*60 or a Venture 60 as an ARF is missing 80% of the fun and good experience. They are the most bashable kits around.

iowanspctr

I'm really happy I bought the kit that was on the LHS shelf! I don't remember what I paid, but I think it was a bargain! I'll be building it in the near future with a Saito 80, should be fun-

Swager

My Feedback: (1)

I got a Venture 60 back in October of last year. Have not even started it yet. It is a beautiful kit! I probably wont even get to it this year either! I have a PT-20 to repair and a 4 Star 40 to build.

rajul

My Feedback: (58)

Here a little interesting history from Bruce himself :

> > > >
> > > > I'm the designer of the
> > > > original Four-Star, the Four-Star 40. While at Sig, I also designed
> > > > the 120-sized version. After leaving Sig, the first design I worked
> > > > on was my "improved" version of the Four-Star, and I chose to make it
> > > > a .60-size model (Venture 60) so as not to compete with the existing
> > > > kits. A year or so later, Sig introduced the FS60. From what I can
> > > > tell, the wing of the FS60 has a substantial increase in the weight of
> > > > the structure due to the inclusion of a couple lite-ply shear
> > > > web/spars and some extra diagonals. For the record, I don't think all
> > > > that stuff is necessary and it's been proven with the V60 wing. One
> > > > other difference is that the V60 is designed to use a single aileron
> > > > servo to save a bit more weight; however, a lot of builders go ahead
> > > > ane put dual servos in the V60. Either way works fine.
> > > >
> > > > V60s, almost without exception, tend to weigh right about 7 pounds.
> > > > FS60s tend closer to 8 pounds. I think my wood selection makes a
> > > > difference too...
> > > >
> > > > Bruce