OK, so lets look at a common nitro set-up. Engine comparable at $55-$65 for a typical OS-.40 trainer type. 4 Gallons fuel-$55, Misc gas system odds/ends(tubing, filters,ect)$15, Tank-$4, Cheap Fuel Pump-$10, Cheap Starter-$15, Avg. Glow Plug Starter w/charger-$18, 12v. Starter/charger Batt-$17. Some type of small field charge unit-$40. $10 for a cheap box to throw all this stuff in to go to the field. Right around $250 for propulsion.
I gotta agree with Dennis. Looking at this now, I can see where there are a lot of extraneous items that appear to have been added just to bring the price up. No offense, Brian, but you do have to compare apples to apples...
1. You don't need 4 gallons of fuel to get started. For a typical newbie, three of those gallons will go to waste. A single $12-$15 gallon of 10% is all that's necessary. We are talking about the
bare necessities to get started, as we both did with our .40-size trainer conversions.
2. You can pick up a complete RTF glow trainer for $250-$300 at most hobby shops. That includes the engine and all the little fuel doodads you itemize. It's quite rare to find a new student that assembles his/her own ARF these days. I'd say at least 9 out of 10 come with one of the many RTF rigs that are on the market.
3. You don't need a starter, field charger, or field battery. A $15 glow ignitor and a $5 chicken stick is what most newbies come to the field with.
4. Most newbies just throw their stuff in a cardboard box, plastic tote tray, or Rubbermaid container they had lying around the house.
So... You can easily get started in glow for less than $350 if you shop around and stick to the bare necessities.