I think Huggins is on to something. If you really look at it, how many really NEW kits have people like SIG and Great Planes come out with in the last 5 or so years? SIG did their 1/5 scale Cub, and it's a GREAT kit. But most of the kits SIG has available have been around for a long time and are being produced with little or nothing in the way of improvements. NO WONDER nobody is buying them! If a car company kept putting out the same model year after year, would people still buy them? I don't think so (unless they were the ONLY thing available). So with all the shiny new ARFs coming on the market, no wonder people are buying them! Throw in a little "no muss, no fuss, in the air in an hour" marketing, and NOBODY is going to even look at a kit.

It will take a major effort on the part of the major manufacturers to help the kit market rebound. They need to revamp and repackage the older kits, bring on some new ones, and get their marketing gurus to start exhorting the virtues of building and all the pride and individuality that goes along with it.

Yes, people like BUSA are keeping the flame lit. There are other smaller manufacturers who are trying to do the same. Let's not forget them, and continue to support them as well.

papermache