Well folks,

I too am one of those who is sad to see the kit supply fading. I had always built from kit or plans. Buying an ARF isn't a bad thing either. I know when there's a mishap I can usually make the repairs and the plane looks and flies well. I can do that from all the expeience I had building kits and planes from plans. Let's face it, the R/C hobby is a business and business will make available that which sells the most. There sure is enough of us kit builders to buy kits. Technology keeps changing and improving. The old kits were nice and many still are but where's the business for the kit manufacturers.? Years ago there were no ARF's as we have today, so the options were few buy a kit and build it. Now it seems if a new kit hits the market it has to be a real winner or we won't buy it. Top Flite re-introduced the "Contender" a truly great airplane. It has looks, easy to build and flies great. Top Flite also discontinued the P-39, the Foke Wulf I'm sure because they were not selling enough of them for it to be profitable. Even Pica discontinued operations I'm sure not due to an overwhelming demand for theri kits. Cox bought the airplane rights from Pica and has introduced ARFS of some of the kits that were sold by Pica. What may work going forward is the kit on demand manufacturer. Kits could be provided from a list of available plans. You place your order, the kit is made and shipped to you ready to assemble. I see more and more Plans offered with short kits available. So the question is - is that a profitable business, perhaps. If so, then we could have the kit of our choice oredered and sent to us as we desire. With online buying, the kit builder could review the plans, understand exactly what he/she is getting for there money, and make a clear selection. Waiting for a manufacturer to introduce a new Kit can be disappointing. But to offer several kits and you have a choice could be more satisfying. I just purchased the plans and a short kit for a P-38. An Airplane I always wanted to build. I made my choice after learning as much as I could about each P-38 kit and Arf that exists or existed. It was easy for mebecause what I wanted was something that other modelers wanted also. A business fellow decided to offer a short kit of this model, he must be making a profit or he wouldn't do it. I suppose the moral is - times change, technology changes, all those kits on the hobby shop shelf are no more. So change has occured, we have to adjust. I realized this since all the kits I purchased within the last two years were bought as new and are no longer produced. For example, Top flite p-39, Foke Wolf, Pica Duelist, Corsair. Even the new OS 50sx engine is now no longer current production.

Sledge_78

Sledge_78