Yup, Just checked their website. Hobby Barn is closing their doors. I wonder what will happen to the Quality Line kits or, specifically the molds and rights to produce them?

Will,

perhaps Leo will pick them up. I wonder if he's aware they are closing.

I feel like HB could have done better with their QL kits in the reopening in 2013. It seems to me that marketing and sales might have been lacking but that is always a laborious task for modellers like all of us who really want to build and fly planes.

David

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I don't have anything against the current pattern planes. They are great flyers and maximize the points a pilot can make with the current rule book. No pattern plane even attempts to look like a real human carrying aircraft. IMAC is there for people who want to compete with realistic looking planes. I'm not into current FAI or AMA pattern for two reasons: 1- it's not a big thing where I live and I don't have time to travel for contests and 2- I don't have the budget for the expensive planes that are required to be competitive. There is a lot to be said for a .60 size plane being the upper limit in order to keep sizes and costs down.

Jester I am with you, I am not a fan of the current setups. I get the need for them though, the current patterns demand that style with large fuse area. They just all look like blotted dolphins to me. I will admit I do like the use of electrics nowadays, no clean-up.. priceless

I really enjoy the classic pattern planes. The planes fly great, and they do the maneuvers.
I just can't justify spending 1000 + bucks on a plane. I just wish we had more contest during the year. Thanks to the Thunderbirds, they hold two event per year. God bless em.

Frank

I agree with that!

Mike

I really love the look of older pattern planes. I built a Kwik Fli mk III last year and have a Tiger Tail getting ready for fiberglass right now.


carl

i just found out about Hobby Barn. I thought they were doing fine by my visits. All of the sudden.
I've got to go buy the rest of their dope.
Chris...

I love Classic, I love AMA stuff with current designs. I don't buy the latest thing and haven't flown a season since 2011 but do enjoy both types of flying. The electric models have so much power, are so light and fly so well it's too fun to not like them. They are pretty weird looking but some are pretty attractive, my favorites are Seb-Art's biplane Miss Wind 50 and the Mythos. I have a Vanquish, it's in my price range. I have a model airplane limit of a thousand bucks so those big name 2M designs aren't too much my speed. With paint, the Classics get there so none of them is exactly cheap...
Chris...

But the top F3A designs of today fly extremely well in hands of a good pilot.
It is the Schedule that lead to the designs we have today. And biplanes are rather popular today, You almost never saw a biplane in the Classic pattern Era.
I have two modern F3A planes, one Sebart MythoS Pro and one Oxai Galactika EP and they fly wery well. And one get used to the large fuselage. The wing on the Galactika is rather unusual, with very narrow wingtips, photo of my Galactika below.

/Bo

As a young boy in 70's, I would watch my late Uncle practice fly pattern for contest fly...later after a half a dozen pattern planes built they stopped around 85. I have flown many different SPA (Senior Pattern Association) planes over the years and still have the desire to compete. I am working with SPA guys now on having a West Coast SPA event in Wheatland CA, at the Red Barons' RC Flying Club- http://www.redbarons.org/- on or about October 27th. I will let you know if it drums up interest. I do know it has sparked a small interest back to glow. So we will see.

Sweet! I'd love to see SPA west be more than the DFW metroplex.

Not to jump in in the 9th inning, but I have to agree with the sentiment that the new planes fly better....I got back into pattern three seasons ago after a 23 year break, with an equally old 1.2 OS powered turnaround plane called the Persuasion. I was amazed at the dominance of electric down the flightline, and bought a BJ Nuance from a fellow flyer. Then, I built an EU1A and put a YS .61 Classic, so my 'fleet' had representation from 3 distinct era's: Ballistic, Turnaround, and Electric. Hands down, the electric flies better...not even close. The other two have their allures (not the plane!:o), but in ease of flying, gracefullness, maintenance, cost, I believe the modern craft is state of the art.
But the perspective on the sport raised in this thread is accurate. We have 7 contests in D2 this year (VA-SC), dropping one from last year...but still a lot. The participant numbers a much smaller than in the past; a big contest was +40, now it's +20. And, yes, we're old men! Every chance I get, I'm trying to promote, which is something I've not had to do before. Pattern used to naturally attract competitors with talent. Now the main difference I see is that there are too many options for those individuals; quad racing being the biggest. It draws those stuck behind tv screens playing games their whole upbringing quite naturally - there's hardly a difference! When I see 4 guys sitting at a picnic table with helmets on flying the bumble bees somewhere in the woods, I wonder why they got off the couch? - Anyway, bit of a rant, but we do need to do something....if every pattern pilot did just one thing, we'd get out ahead, and bring those young guys up. I joined a local club upon returning, and started an aerobatic series that has 1/month events for Club, Sportsman, and Intermediate. We practice/coach Thursdays for those interested. We've had up to 8 pilots participate, and two to travel to local AMA events. Seems to be working!

I think competing in general is in decline. The average participant in the hobby is getting older, and older guys are more often happy to fly a little then sit and talk. 10 years ago my area had a vibrant IMAC scene, a significant racing series, and SPA was starting. We had a few combat events here and there too. Now the vast majority of events are fly ins, which are mostly put your plane together and then sit and talk ins. SPA still has a core in DFW, but it's shrinking. IMAC is all but gone, and F3A hasn't been big here in years. Youngsters are the ones who want to compete, and you're right, time. FPV racing is where those with a competitive spirit mostly are. I'm really curious where that segment of the hobby will develop in a few more years. Some of those guys might become plane guys, or maybe drones will displace planes. Time will tell.

They are selling a lot of stuff on e-bay.

Frank

Do you have a link to their store?