Actually I got a reply from Trinity (Amazing I know!) and I was told that "they were designed for 50+ runs without cutting the comm* (IIRC)"
I don't know how much truth there is to this as the original marketing was rather vague. I assume this was 27T stock motors. I suppose my mileage with low turn mod will be much less.
Plus the sales guy was going off 20yr old memory, the engineer who designed it probably is no longer there (actually I assume its made/designed by Epic Japan) either way - I doubt the same engineer from 20 years ago is still there.
So based on that very grey info, I bought 80 sets for $3 each. Thats just under 2 sets per motor/armature. Half are standup and the other are P94. I'm sure it will last me decades to come.
While I was at it, I picked up 10 new brazed carbide turning tools for the comm lathe. specific for non-ferrous too. So that should last me decades as well.
Then I lost all self control - picked up a new TRF414 and TA06.
My next challenge will be finding a body that I want. For some reason everything I wanted back when I was a kid is worth hundreds now... Damn it...
I was looking for:
Tamiya Castrol Celica GT4 from 1996... Some guy on ebay wants $230 for just the body! No decals...
Tamiya Castrol Supra... $207 + decals.
But at least they're available. They were just alternatives to what I really wanted:
300zx z32 from EXceed. Or any stock z32 for that matter. I can't seem to find any
I have the IMSA 300zx in the TA02 flavour. Though its a full on wide body trans-am, so it doesn't quite match my real full size 300zx. I'm really undecided if I should paint it in the original IMSA racing colours, or if I should paint it to match my real 300zx... Being such a rare kit, I can't bring myself to molest it. I only bought it NIB for $300 maybe 8 years ago? Only built it this year. I just checked on ebay - now going for $842... HOLY S***!!!!
Geez... Classic stuff is really appreciating in value!
*Snip* I can't post url links. Not too hard to find on ebay at least.