Video
http://www.venom-aircorps.com/videos/Park_Fighters.wmv
You know those times when you innocently drop in to your LHS for a minor bits and pieces ie. props, C.A, balsa etc, and out of the corner of your eye you spot something on the shelf that really grabs your attention... well it happened to me the other day!! I picked up the box to see what I originally thought was just another foam ARF but I was surprised to read that this kit included a 90% pre-assembled and pre-painted receiver-ready foam P51D Mustang with geared brushless (3860kv) in-runner, 25 amp ESC, 3 micro servos for $115.00AU. (About $90.00US)
There's some more info on Venom's website here...
http://www.venom-aircorps.com/produc...ters/index.htm
http://www.venom-group.com/product/a...#park_fighters
I'm guessing that these things are fairly new, at least here in Australia, because I've never heard of them until now. Actually, Mr K had mentioned it to me a week or so ago, but I either wasn't listening or it just didn't register with me. I did find them on the Tower Hobbies website listed for $189.00US so this would appear to be a real bargain!!
Having just received two orders from UH in China, and with my cash-flow rather diminished, I placed the P51D on lay-by so I'll pick it up on pay day next week. I did open the box and take a quick look at the foam through the plastic bags and it looks to be of much better quality than the GWS arbirds. Much the same as the Ultrafly foam used in the Warhawk, and It's finished off very nicely too and includes 3 different versions of historically accurate decals. The P51D looks to only require minimal construction ie. glue the tail on and hinge the elevators, install the GWS-style skinny wheel landing gear and RX and that's about all you need to do to to get it in the air.
Interestingly, both models are identical in size to their GWS counterparts, and the panel lines are also identical. (I read that on the rcgroups forum) Actually, the CEO of GWS, Mr Lin posts there too and he said that these things are a Chinese clone of their kit, and he was dissapointed as he actually knows the owner of the Venom company personally. There was some talk from otheres that a disgruntled staff member had actually smuggled out a CAD design or mold of each model and copied them, but I imagine this is pure speculation.
In any case, this looks to be a very good kit and very good value for money. The proof will be in the flying though, so I'll post a flight report and hopefully some video of the maiden when I actually get it in the air.
Todd