ORIGINAL: Pennbrit
Ok I am venting now about how ARTF models are a rip off.
Some of you might have seen my thread about the trouble I had with a Black Horse AT6 Texan. The first one I had an issue with the C of G and the second one the wing fell off on its second flight.
at the model shop I bought it from. Very kind of them I thought. I cant fault Ripmax at all in this.
Any way I told the model shop that I did not want a Black Horse model again after what I had been through. I noticed that they had a Graupner P47 Thunderbolt on their web site and they had one in stock.
Now the Black Horse Thunderbolt is priced at £152.99. The Graupner Thunderbolt is priced at £223.99. A whole £71 dearer. You would think that the more expensive modle was going to be a better kit.
DONT BE FOOLED.
When I got it home and opened the box I noticed that there were lots of bits that are identical to Black Horse parts. (engine mount, fuel tank, Wing bolts and fixings, etc) I thought strange.
On Sunday at the club field, one of the guys had a Black Horse Thunderbolt. On close inspection and a chat it turns out the the Black Horse and the Graupner P47 Thunderbolt are one and the same model.
The Black horse is in a Black Horse box and the Graupner model is in a Graupner box. That is the only difference. Nothing else at all.
Ray.
Not that uncommon in many instances. I had a sailboat with a Universal diesel engine. On close examination I found the engine block said "KUBOTA" on the side. I could buy the same filters and spares at a tractor store that the chandlery wanted 2X to 7X more for! Same parts, sometimes different item numbers, just painted gray instead of orange.
Glowplugs from Universal #299685 - $71.39 the identical glowplug from Kubota #15261-65510 - $9.00.
Universal fresh water pump 300203 - $307.56 vs. Kubota 15552-73030 - $87.10.
Universal thermostat 301358 - $60.28 vs. Kubota 15531-73010 - $24.54.
You're paying for the name (lofted by expensive advertising), the warranty which may be identical, and the big, big mark-up. Graupner will sell for what it thinks it can get away with; not based on item worth.