Wow I bought the Econo version and was thrilled. The directions are available online in .pdf format. How hard is it to just read it off the PC? For most people once they get to a certain point in modeling they dont even really need the directions for anything but the CG. I just make sure my CG is correct and then make my rates on the fly. Never lost a bird yet doing it this way and I have planes from .40 size to 40%.

How is the black version discontinued? I just ordered from them a week or so ago. I still see it on their website.

Go buy a Comp arf and not report any damage to them in time and see if they replace the parts for free. Just an example of a more expensive plane company that has a similar policy.

For me the econo version is perfect - I checked everything the day it arrived, it has about all the hardware I need, I know how to calculate the CG and have flown enough bipes to figure it out regardless, the manual is online as are build threads.

To each his or her own. For a plane this size I dont have much complaints because its small. Now if I ordered a custom Comp ARF or 3W or any other brand in like a 35-40% and things were messed up I would be a little upset.

FWIW I think Comp ARF and Wild Hare for ARF companies are the best to deal with. Both have gone well out of the way to get parts out to me or make sure everything was fine.

One would think if you paid a little extra it might afford you a little extra in terms of service regardless of what you are dealing with. It holds true in many industries. I have bought planes in the past knowing they were less than perfect but for what I was going to use them for that was just fine. I would think this would be the case of any Ebay purchased kit in general.