I'm stopping at $200.00. Who has more.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251079200386...386%26_rdc%3D1

That would be a nice item to collect...............

I don't collect David (at least I tell Julie Ann that). Well in this case I might copy the originals. But at $200+ we are approaching arf dollars. I have the german plans and mk plans at home. With a foam wing I could build this for less than $200.00. But the hardware is also included in the kit too.

Jim

I enjoy just looking at the MK kits. I will keep a few until I grow tired of them. They are a work of art in the box.

I increased my bid and held highest bid for 12 more hours. I quit now for sure. $225.00 is starting to get into the ARF zone. Think I'll build from scratch.

Jim

I think you guys are right in assesing a price ceiling for this stuff. It gets a little irrational at some point. As I see it, if the sales of the D Birdy keep with it then I suspect GP will re-release the Tipo. A little salt in the wound here; I scored my Curare 40 kit back in 1990 for 25$. Didn't expect to be sitting on him so long. Too many ships.

MK closed their doors last December []. The 'repro' kits are nice (Eureka) but not complete (lacking sheet wood, the 'cool' custom shaped wood parts and accessories); especially compared to the older MK kits like the Curare. The new glass kits available (like Frequentflier's) are actually better than what was available 30 years ago (better, lighter glasswork and CNC cut foam cores). It only takes 2 motivated bidders to drive the price up...

Sniped at $425.00 four seconds before close. For a 40 sized kit!
MK kits never lose the magic...

I am happy just opening a MK kit and looking at it.

Well, like realestate (here in Canada anyways) it's a seller's market right now.

Jim

I totally know what you mean...

Don't look now there are two more on ebay a .40 and a .60 curare

Finished at $280 (Curare 40) & $465 (Curare 60). Lost the bid for the 40 in the last minute. Was at my son's soccer game.

425? I don't see it unless one lifts the box lid and finds an ancient religious relic inside.

It just reinforces the concept that people appreciate quality. I find it amazing how the supply of really great classic pattern kits, reproduction kits and partial kits have increased over that last few years. I bought a reproduction partial kit of a FK SBA Speeda awhile back and the quality is better than the original kit. Really wonderful for our hobby.

This is something kit cutters should be watching. If people are willing to spend $425 on an old 40 pattern kit-there HAS to be a demand out there.

But maybe if you buy a 40 seize old MK kit for that price You are not going to build it? Could be a kit collector and then the price it went for maybe is more reasonable.
If a kit cutter could produce as good as an MK kit then I'm sure people who want to build and fly them would buy them. But MK kits are in a class of it's own in my opinion. Very good quality and precision even by today standards with all the lasercut parts etc that can be made.
Imagine if Kato Model Aircraft Co Ltd (MK) company was producing kits or ARF's today - that would probably be very good kits and ARF's. To bad they ceased producing kits (some years into 2000 I belive - I have an MK 2002-2003 catalog and they had in that catalog kits like 1.20-1.40 (2x2M) seize Blue Angel VR-7,Blue Angel Super VR-7 and .90 seize Aurora 90, Super VR-90, Wild 7-90 and among the smaller one they still had Aurora 25 and Joker 25,  and a plane named Kingbird 30. And all the high quality MK accessories.

/Bo

We have some great kits to choose from nowadays but because they are sold direct from the manufacturers a lot of hobbyists don’t know where to find them.

Hey Bo,
MK ceased production (went out of business) last December []. The last 'new' kit they produced was the Topstar II electric. The Topstar 110 was the last new kit - available as an all balsa kit or with pre-sheeted foam wings and stab. Their most recent offerings were typical of MK quality, though designs kitted after around 2000 no longer included the excellent accessories we came to expect. I no specific knowledge of their reasons for closing their doors, but I suspect the increasing rarity of contest balsa (which has also become very expensive) may have contributed. Thankfully, I have a nice stock of MK kits to select from.
This past winter I 'built' 3 kits of the MK Skystar 90 (I like the airplane!!). I cheated a bit cutting foam cores for the wing and stab, but recreated all other wood parts. Quite a bit of work. I have one kit built and ready for finishing. I guess I should post some photos.
Regards,
Will