This is another side to the argument or discussion regarding ARF vs. kit (see the post about the H-9 P-40 POS elsewhere in the ARF forum) Some parts, like control horns, engine mounts, etc, are fairly generic and no problem when something breaks, or, heaven forbid, missing from the box when you get it. Other parts, however, have to be fabricated or done without, as the mfg doesn't have the parts support. I bought a Cox ARF a while back, and the wire landing gear broke at a welded point. Cox had no replacement available, and said that what they had to do was take a new-in-the-box ARF and turn it into a parts plane. This is fine, as long as one person need a landing gear, another needs a wing, and another needs the fuse. But if the same part fails on several, or many, of the ARF's sold, it isn't economically prudent for the mfg. to keep parting out their inventory. This just leaves them with lots of boxes they can't sell because they are incomplete, and they themselves don't have the system in place to replace the parts.

Even good quality mfg's (such as Sig and Great Planes, to name but a couple) who do sell parts get a premium for them. Like already mentioned, a replacement wing might cost 75% of what the entire plane cost. If you really like that model, it's almost worth it to buy the second complete ARF and have spare parts for a while, as long as you don't break the same thing over and over. But economically, most hobbyists can't afford too much of that, nor do they want a lot of pieces lying all over the place.

As much as you are correct, carrellh, that this makes ARF's sort of disposable, I certainly would prefer that something I might have $500-$750 invested in not be considered a disposable item. The mfg's have pretty much ensured that it is, though, by not offering parts availability.

But, then, most of these companies can keep making a living off of one-time sales, as many of us are still willing to tolerate the industry practice of not supporting the product after the sale.