Kit building may have a come back due to economics. For example, Horizon hobby sells their .60 P51 ARF for $319.00 before shipping. It's a nice product and it comes with retracts. Very nice covering too.

On the flip side, I can buy a .60 Gold Edition P51 kit from Tower for $169.00. (The wing span and weight almost make them twins in terms of design). Yes, I still have to buy covering, wheels, gear, tank, and hinges but if I shop smart using sales or buy at places like the AMA conventions, I'm going to come in under the cost of the $319.00 ARF. The bonus is it is a kit and can be customized during the build; rather, than buying an ARF and then spending more money to re-cover and customize.

The cost of labor in Asia will continue to go up as reflected by the ever increasing price of ARF's (basic supply and demand). The cost of labor for kits will also go up, but I see the gap between the ARF's and kits getting larger and larger. For a laser cut kits, the labor is not even close to the amount of labor required for an ARF; nor, is the demand for them. Also, the dollar continues to slip affecting its buying ability.

If you have a large disposable budget, I guess the steady increase in the cost of ARF's won't be an issue for you. However, if you're like most of us money is always a consideration in this hobby.

Regards,

"The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first." Thomas Jefferson.