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01-25-2012 | 03:29 PM

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From: Hemderson, NV

RE: KIT vs RTF Cost Analysis

Quote:

ORIGINAL: 747pilot

KIT vs RTFI'm sure this has been done before. However, I'd like to share my quick and dirty analysis of kit building vs RTF. I was shocked at the small difference in actual price. I hope that RTF fliers give kit building a go and that kit builders use this post to persuade others to give kit building a chance.I used Tower Hobbies as the purchase store since it was easy to compile all the parts and get a final price list. I used the current tower hobby discount codes and tried to lay it out so you maximize the discounts available with seperate orders. Since all orders are over $150 shipping is free. Let's start with the kit side.
Order #1
Super Savers Club – $9.99Order #2
LXSFY3 - Futaba 6EX w/ 4 S3004 Servos - $259.98
Sub-Total - $259.98
010N5 – Tower $35 Discount
Total – $224.98Order #3
LXKF97 -TT .46 BB Pro - $109.98
LXJ557 - Great Planes PT40 Kit - $74.98
LXHV39 – Top Flite Monokote Blue - $12.99
LXHY24 – Top Flite 10x6 Prop – $2.49
Sub Total- $200.44
010N4 - Tower $30 Discount
Total - $170.44Order #4
LXFU50 – Sullivan 8oz Tank - $4.39
LXK129 – Silicon Fuel Tubing - $2.59
LXK214 – GP Spinner White 2 ¼ - $5.29
LXK197 – GP Wing Tape 1/8” - $1.79
LXL430 – Hobbico Latex Rubber – $3.39
LXHV22 – Top Flite Monokote White - $12.99
LXK190 – Wheel collars 5/32 - $1.79
LXK192 – Wheel collars 3/16 – $1.79
LXPT39 – Tower CA med 2oz - $5.99
LXJC82 – Tower Xacto Blade #11 - $1.49
LXK361 – Epoxy brushes - $1.39
LXPT46 – Tower 30 min Epoxy - $8.99
LXPT44 - Tower 6 min Epoxy - $8.99
LXD790 – Dubro Wheels 2 ¼ - $5.99
LXD792 - Dubro Wheels 2 ¾ - $6.49
LXM406 – Alignment Jig - $1.99
LXPT42 – Tower CA accelerator - $3.99
LXK134 – GP Fuel Filter - $3.29
LXL419 – Hobbico Field Box Combo - $129.99
(1) GPMP4155 FILLING STATION CAN FITTING SET
(1) HCAP0200 12V CHARGER FOR THE 12V 7A BATTERY
(1) HCAP0302 DELUXE POWER PANEL II
(1) HCAP0800 TORQMASTER 12V 7A BATTERY
(1) HCAP2200 5' RECOIL FUEL TUBING
(1) HCAP2502 PANEL READY LOCKING GLOW PLUG CLIP
(1) HCAP3107 PANEL READY TOP FUELER 6/12VOLT
(1) HCAP3205 PANEL READY TORQMASTER 90 12V STARTER
(1) HCAP5020 ULTRATOTE FIELD BOX
Sub-Total - $212.61
010N4 – Tower $30 discount
Total - $182.61
KIT SUMMARY

Order #1 $9.99
Order #2 $249.98 (Saved $35)
Order #3 $170.44 (Saved $30)
Order #4 $182.61 (Saved $30)Total cost- $ 613.02

Of course it's impossible to list everything a kit builder would normally have in his/her workshop. For example, Dremel, mitre box & saws, sanding t-bars, various grades of sandpaper, pins, pliers, screwdrivers, ball drivers, etc... But the list above is pretty comprehensive when it comes to what is required.____________________________________________ ______________________________

Now Let's look at an RTF. Here's an option below. I was shocked at the little difference in price.

Super Savers Club – $9.99
LXEXK2 – Hobbico Nextstar .46 Select RTF - $429 **
LXL419 – Hobbico Field Box Combo - $129.99
Sub-Total - $559.98
010N5 – Tower $50 discount

Total cost - $519.97
**You are only getting a simple 4ch radio with the RTF setup versus a kick arse 6 ch in the kit setup.
In addition the radio with this RTF is an FM radio and not a 2.4 system. Pretty crappy for $429.
Kit building – $610
RTF ''building'' - $520
Satisfaction of kit building - PRICELESS

Latest TH discount codes. Jan 2012.
$100.00 - $124.99 $15.00 010N1
$125.00 - $149.99 $20.00 010N2
$150.00 - $199.99 $25.00 010N3
$200.00 - $224.99 $30.00 010N4
$225.00 - $249.99 $35.00 010N5
$250.00 - $299.99 $40.00 010N6
$300.00 or more $50.00 010N7

This was the original question. See how fast it goes from a simple question to a complete off topic debate. As to counting your time as money, sorry, I'm retired, my time is counted as free. No one will pay me when I'm reading a book, watching TV or building a model. My main reason for building is to save money. Money going out of my pockets is not saving, it's spending. Reason I build very few kits is they cost too much. I build from plans to save even more money then buying a kit. I have assembled a number of ARFs for people and wished ithey were mine but there is no way I can force myself to spend that kind of money on something I can build myself for a lot less. I do build kits for people but I do charge for my time. That's when I tell the customer it could be cheaper to just go out and buy the plane as an ARF. Not only can it be cheaper, I can pretty much state it as fact. That's when my time is worth something. To date I have never built a plane from plans for anyone. The price I charge would be the same or more then just buying the plane in ARF form. RTF is a world of it's own and usually just an electric motor on a foam plane. I also no longer build any plane under 60 size. If someone wants me to build them a little 40 size plane I will but I haven't had on myself in a very long time. That's not quite true, I do enjoy converting little 1/2A kits into electric power for myself. I do get a kick out of them.

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