On the other hand there are laser cutters who will produce short kits of anything just about anything to a dwindling market of builders providing there is a plan. Want a Soviet WW2 aircraft? A laser cutter will make one for you. Want a WW1 two-seater? A kit cutter will make one for you. Want an obscure British light aircraft? Well you get my drift. Examples of all three may be found here: https://store.laser-design-services....=index&cPath=7. SIG, Balsa USA et al would never have offered these options.

The real reason why the hobby is dying is that the traditional modeller is literally dying. I turned seventy-seven last month. Last year I sold several kits and engines. In my workshop now, I have five incomplete projects, five unstarted kits, twenty-seven engines not in models, a few electric motors, ESCs and LiPos, two models to repair and one to renovate, and compared with some, I'm a lightweight! Realistically I am not going to finish them all before my date with the grim Reaper! I like a glass of wine too much for that!

Of the twenty-seven members in my club, one is about fifteen years old and by far the best pilot in the club, four are of working age including two beginners and all the rest are retired. The writing is truely on the wall!

Never mind, increasingly we are able to pick up great bargains while we are still here. Two stroke glow anyone?