I have one of their very early PC9's, in RAAF "Roulettes" color scheme, got it in 1999.

The color has faded and the covering wrinkled, but the model structure has held up well and it still flies very nicely, powered by an inverted Saito .50 up front.

Changes? The wheels (The VMAR supplied ones where square) and I junked the VMAR spinner. Also had to lower the fuel tank for the inverted 4 stroke installation. That was about it.

Yes, it will certainly disintergrate with a real heavy (like nose 1st) landing, but there aren't too many ARF's that won't bust something if the landing is on the real heavy side.

After 4 years it doesn't really owe me anything, so if it died tomorrow I wouldn't be too upset.

My PC9 has survived harder landings without damage, than my Kyosho Super Stearman was able to. (The latters soft dural undercarriage bent and tore out when it ran into a grass tussock.)