ORIGINAL: darock
I think it's funny how most of these cheap knockoffs that really are a total waste of time are so often described with,
"you get what you pay for"
when so often, you don't get anything at all worth buying. Just poor materials, poor workmanship, and two or three times the work to get the junk into the air. You often don't get anything that was worth paying for, no matter how little you paid.
And the other joke is how little money you actually save. The difference in prices is often just $20 or $25. The "deal" usually saves you little more than 15-20% and "you get" something worth almost nothing.
There was a super deal model recently that was very popular at one club where I fly. About 4 of them were built and flown. At least 3 of them went in flat out with a lost surface. Either the elevator or one of the ailerons let go. Seems the "
you get what you pay for" hinges aren't worth spit. They're garbage material and often crooked. What do you pay for in a hinge? 20 flights? 30? And at the cost of busted servos, a RX that's hit the dirt hard, and the possible loss of an engine?
A lot of these cheap deals don't come close to giving you what you paid for, even when you paid less.
------------
I have brands of hinges and accessories that I use because I know I can count on them. I never use the junk that comes in any kit or ARF.
Some of the high bucks models fall apart in the air too. Covering is one area that does make a difference, unfortunately.
I pull test all of my flight control surfaces on the ground in a rigorous fashion. I find it preferable to rip it out on the ground than to have it rip out of its own accord in the air.
I have a CMP Extra 300 that would have easily cost twice as much if sold by Lanier or one of the other high end (by their own decree) resellers. It is beautiful, structurally sound and a great flyer. Elitism, for the sake of elitism, makes me chuckle.