I am currently building a GP Super Aeromaster I bought on fleabay. I think it's better than the original Andrews kit because it includes bolt-on wings, cowl and pants and firewall provision for a 4-stroke yet retains all the basic design features that made the kit so popular in it's heyday. However, this kit is still a PITA to build and interplane struts are not included. When I totaled up all the supplies purchased to finish this plane I was amazed! $340 and still climbing and that doesn't count engine or radio equipment. Compare this to a GP 1/3 scale Pitts Special ARF for around $320 which includes polished aluminum spinner, wheels, fuel tank and 5 pounds of hardware and you quickly see the calculus for a permanent ARF trend. BTW, the Pitts wheelpants are painted in three colors then clearcoated and are beautiful! The Aeromaster is still resting patiently on it's hand-soldered landing gear and the pants are just non-descript half bubbles on a sheet of 1/8" plastic.

Those first ARF's were a sad joke. Huge fuselage seams and paper stickers only added to the insultingly high prices. But today ARF's are one of the few instances where the consumer has come out ahead of the producer/distributor in terms of VALUE and occasionally even quality. The real losers in the ARF onslaught are the independent hobby shops that survived on the markup of all those little bottles of glue and monokote for years. They are mostly gone now and the only folks left are volume sellers like the TOWER's, HobbyTown's, etc.

I also appreciate all those Sunday fliers out there who buy an armload of RC stuff and leave the hobby after 6 months. It means more throughput at the factories and lower prices for me. Greater "access" (meaning: a beginner with little in the way of mechanical skill or flying ability has a more reasonable chance at success now) also means the R/C hobby will continue in one form or another. Yet I still notice the average age at the club field continues to climb every year. Sure, I'll still build the interesting stuff like the Proctor's and Royal/Marutakas but frankly I have no urge to build another Sig Kadet or GP Sportster clone. To me, they all build up pretty much the same. I used to build because I had to, now I build because I want to.

One bizarre trend no one I've heard mention is the effect ARF's are having on the WORLD R/C community! All those planes being built in China and Thailand are sowing the seeds for a firm R/C market in those same countries! This, IMO, will help insure continuing innovation and fresh new products in the future.

I hope I haven't offended anyone, it's just one man's take on our hobby.