I spoke to Mike from Sig today about kit stock. Many kits are in stock but some are not (like the King Kobra, 4 Star 60, 1/4 scale cub). Basically, much of the world's balsa is going towards wind mill blades and there's a shortage of high quality wood. They recently received a wood shipment and at least 50% of it is baseball bat quality and no good for model airplanes. He assured me only quality woods would be used in the kits. They should have kits in stock in 3 weeks. They have found a new supplier of better quality woods for the future so I'm sure it will be business as usual before too long.

I feel for Sig. It's a great company that is the last large independent producer of model airplane kits. It must be tough not being able to get the raw materials to make the products you sell. Their ARF supplier is jerking them around on exchange rates (they want more money despite a deal).

Model airplanes are a relatively low volume business that I doubt is very profitable. I love building kits and really hope that there are a few good ones left in 10 years. Think for a second about the ones we've lost: Goldberg Bucker, Extra, Sukhoi and probably the Ultimate soon. GP Ultrasport 60, Skybolt, Aeromaster bipe, Midwest big Cap and Extra, Lanier Stinger, all the ACE kits, Bob Godfrey kits, Top Flite Bonanza, etc. etc. The list is long and by no means complete. We've lost REAL original Monokote and Enya engines to boot.

Sig is pretty much the only full line producer of kits anymore. We must do whatever it takes to ensure they survive and make money.

Mike