RE: How much $
Sometimes it's not just the money but the time you spend geting an airframe into the air that hurts more. I lost a GP Pt-17 last year to a mid air, airframe was a total loss but the engine and gear was recovered. so about 350 for the plane but it was an arf. Now my kit built P-47that went in... over 200 hrs building and detailing, that hurt. But $10,000 in a model no way, no thanks.