When we look at the reasons for the success of the ARF, we must look partially at the kit industry itself. Those who can remember, go back to the '60s through the '80s and play the program ALL THE WAY THROUGH. Yes, there were lots of kits back then and everybody built. Remember what those kits were like? Yes, there were good ones, but there were a lot that were mediocre to downright poor. The term "die crunched" didn't get into the modeler's vocabulary for nothing. Many kits were poorly cut, parts didn't fit, plans were inaccurate, wood quality was bad and instructions were laughable. Many, many kits were started and then abandoned long before they were ever completed. Those that were completed often did not fly well due to built-in warps and curves that weren't supposed to be there. Is there any wonder that many people embraced the ARF?
When the ARFs started coming in, the kit manufacturers with enough business acumen to see the threat started to improve their products. The result is that many of the kits we have today are vastly improved from even a few years ago. Laser cutting, advances in die cutting technology, CAD drawn plans, attention to wood quality and clarity of instructions make many of today's kits a joy to build, and easy to get straight and accurate. They actually fly very well. It's too bad that preconceived notions spawned by the experiences of a decade or two ago are turning many people away from building.
The manufacturers who improved their kits will probably stay in business. Those who don't will fold. That's the way business goes. If those of us who love to build keep buying kits, we'll have a good supply into the future. If kits don't survive, then there's always the drawing board, plans and the woodpile.

papermache