Update:

I set everything up. Jeff is right, the tubing that ships with the retracts is crap. Its very tough, not very flexible, and rather brittle. Thankfully I have a large amount of Robart tubing for my T-34 Mentor that isn't in use currently. The valve that ships with the retracts is a leaking, whistling piece of crap. Again, replaced with a Robart unit from the T-34. For the price I paid, I cannot complain a tonne, but still, I really wish the Chinese would figure out not all Americans want crappy products...

Other than that once filled with air, the retracts worked great. STRONG and very positive up and down.

On a scale of 1-10 not taking cost into account they are a high 6 low 7, with Robarts at a 5, Shindin at a 8 and Sierra at a 9. For the price I paid, I think it stays about the same, as a set of Shindin's this size is slightly less expensive ($225), and the crappy hardware KMP includes isn't worth it as most needs to be replaced out of the box. The Sierra gear is priced about the same as the Shindins ($230) but again includes no hardware, the Sierra stuff is much more scale than the KMP.

All in all I'm happy with the retracts, disappointed in the hardware that comes with the retracts. If I had known the hardware that came with the retracts was this poor, I would more than likely have just got the Sierra's or Shindins depending on who between Lenny or Darrell could ship soonest.


Some quick images. I'm a horrible photographer so pardon the images.