RE: GSP ARFs- Whose Responsible
Ronhill : Thats a very wise decision not to buy. When I started in the hobby last year I was still flying my $150 trainer and was looking for a "future" airplane and happened to notice the GSP Corsair ($395 with shipping). I did not know about RCUniverse and was not aware of all the possible web sites for RC enthusiast out there. I was Blindly misled by their advertisements. It specifically states "READY TO FLY ...ALL YOU DO IS ADD RADIO AND ENGINE AND OFF YOU GO".If you do not believe me take a look at their add on the front page of RCU , its big and BOLD and stated right there. Even the review on RCU for this airplane stated that the colors didn't match , the flaps didn't work and various other problems. I did not find this out until I discovered RCU and the only reason I found RCU is because I was having problems with the ARF and the manufacturer, and I was looking for a way to rectify the problems. The airplane looks nice and makes a great wall hanger but with all the problems I have it just isn't airworthy. The forums will point out that the fiberglass "SAGS"in the heat , the wings snap off and flaps wont work properly without major modification. These were just some of the problems, my "ARF"had many more but maybe I just had one that was made on a Monday. The whole problem is that now that myself and others get more educated in the hobby we know what to look for and what to avoid. It's the newbies that these companies are taking advantage of ,,,and yes it happened to me but I learn quick. My best friend also got nailed by Vmar products when he started into it at the same time as myself. Just one quick example of the Great Planes quality (not to degrade GP but its obvious) ........Gp offers the Ryan STA and also the GEE BEE , on the towers website you will find a set of robostruts specifically made for both models at a cost of around $129. In the advertising for the robostruts it specifically states "tired of bent landing gear on the Ryan or Gee Bee....replace it with a robostrut". Not anywhere else do you see a special strut offered for any other airplane. So I would suspect that the landing gear for either one of these airplanes is sub quality and should be replaced. Now if the landing gear is bending this easily and there is a substitute at a substantial cost ,shouldn't GP look into building a better landing gear that comes with the "ARF"?I do not intend to flame GP but it just seems obvious that a strut is available to cure a problem that shouldn't be a problem.