New Giant Top Flite F6F Hellcat coming soon?
04-17-2018, 05:32 AM
#77
My Feedback: (43)
Just got this from tower.
Not cheap.
Didn't see anything about shipping cost: probably 60-80 bucks.
At the bottom of the listing are a few questions and answers.
https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0095p?FVPROFIL=&FVSEARCH=TOPA0716&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Spot6&utm_campaign=04132018_AIR&_bta_tid=23941327845476436300155757975406611805672 58816519035358280305843233584705500284360758264132 7513958540809
Not cheap.
Didn't see anything about shipping cost: probably 60-80 bucks.
At the bottom of the listing are a few questions and answers.
https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0095p?FVPROFIL=&FVSEARCH=TOPA0716&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Spot6&utm_campaign=04132018_AIR&_bta_tid=23941327845476436300155757975406611805672 58816519035358280305843233584705500284360758264132 7513958540809
Last edited by samparfitt; 04-17-2018 at 05:36 AM.
04-17-2018, 07:09 AM
#80
I don't normally order large items directly from Tower so have little experience in that.
The last two giant Top Flite planes I've purchased, I ordered them through my local hobby shop for a significant savings over any pricing on Tower's website, including any member discount codes and free shipping thrown in.
The last two giant Top Flite planes I've purchased, I ordered them through my local hobby shop for a significant savings over any pricing on Tower's website, including any member discount codes and free shipping thrown in.
04-17-2018, 08:04 AM
#81
All of my Top Flite warbirds were purchased from my local hobby shop as well, and for a better price. My example was a Phoenix Waco purchased late last year where the "Member Free Shipping" was displayed and then they added $60 to the total without informing me at all. I discussed the issue with management in depth and they reversed the charge.
I'm still a fan of Tower, but I really don't like surprises where my credit cards are involved.
I'm still a fan of Tower, but I really don't like surprises where my credit cards are involved.
04-17-2018, 07:50 PM
#84
Even on the Tower page under the ad you can see people already questioning the price of the ARF. Was it my imagination or was the price lower at first then hiked up to $999?
They added LED lights, OPTIONAL drop tank, and otherwise its pretty much equal to the Corsair, which I have one currently and for the last few years. I would put them on the same level in terms of materials and complexity for the most part. One could argue that making the Corsair wing is harder to produce than the conventional Hellcat wing.
AND, I know the cost of manufacturing has gone up some overseas, however, there isn't anything I can see here that merits a $250 jump up in price!
The fit and finish of the H9 Corsair is pretty good and Ive flown one. Its nice looking, its heavy, and its slightly larger than the TF Corsair. It comes with more scale details stock than the Hellcat including a sliding canopy. So for my money and in comparison to other planes Ive flown or own(ed) I really don't see the justification for the price.
If they would just make these planes in fiberglass for $1000 with surface details like rivets and panel lines they would fly off the shelves. Nobody is doing it well in this scale range from what Ive seen. The brand power, loyalty and a full line up like TF has would be a big hit.
When I was producing RC products in China I priced this project with a couple factories and the cost was totally in the right place for a retail price point equal to OR LESS than $1000! That was 8-10 years ago now!
They added LED lights, OPTIONAL drop tank, and otherwise its pretty much equal to the Corsair, which I have one currently and for the last few years. I would put them on the same level in terms of materials and complexity for the most part. One could argue that making the Corsair wing is harder to produce than the conventional Hellcat wing.
AND, I know the cost of manufacturing has gone up some overseas, however, there isn't anything I can see here that merits a $250 jump up in price!
The fit and finish of the H9 Corsair is pretty good and Ive flown one. Its nice looking, its heavy, and its slightly larger than the TF Corsair. It comes with more scale details stock than the Hellcat including a sliding canopy. So for my money and in comparison to other planes Ive flown or own(ed) I really don't see the justification for the price.
If they would just make these planes in fiberglass for $1000 with surface details like rivets and panel lines they would fly off the shelves. Nobody is doing it well in this scale range from what Ive seen. The brand power, loyalty and a full line up like TF has would be a big hit.
When I was producing RC products in China I priced this project with a couple factories and the cost was totally in the right place for a retail price point equal to OR LESS than $1000! That was 8-10 years ago now!
04-18-2018, 04:26 AM
#85
Chris,
They are making models like this using sandwiched composite; I just got my FW-190 for around $1000.00 and it has lots of detail to it.
Check out TopRCModel-Home
Here is a few pics of the FW.
They are making models like this using sandwiched composite; I just got my FW-190 for around $1000.00 and it has lots of detail to it.
Check out TopRCModel-Home
Here is a few pics of the FW.
04-18-2018, 04:32 AM
#86
Even on the Tower page under the ad you can see people already questioning the price of the ARF. Was it my imagination or was the price lower at first then hiked up to $999?
They added LED lights, OPTIONAL drop tank, and otherwise its pretty much equal to the Corsair, which I have one currently and for the last few years. I would put them on the same level in terms of materials and complexity for the most part. One could argue that making the Corsair wing is harder to produce than the conventional Hellcat wing.
AND, I know the cost of manufacturing has gone up some overseas, however, there isn't anything I can see here that merits a $250 jump up in price!
The fit and finish of the H9 Corsair is pretty good and Ive flown one. Its nice looking, its heavy, and its slightly larger than the TF Corsair. It comes with more scale details stock than the Hellcat including a sliding canopy. So for my money and in comparison to other planes Ive flown or own(ed) I really don't see the justification for the price.
If they would just make these planes in fiberglass for $1000 with surface details like rivets and panel lines they would fly off the shelves. Nobody is doing it well in this scale range from what Ive seen. The brand power, loyalty and a full line up like TF has would be a big hit.
When I was producing RC products in China I priced this project with a couple factories and the cost was totally in the right place for a retail price point equal to OR LESS than $1000! That was 8-10 years ago now!
They added LED lights, OPTIONAL drop tank, and otherwise its pretty much equal to the Corsair, which I have one currently and for the last few years. I would put them on the same level in terms of materials and complexity for the most part. One could argue that making the Corsair wing is harder to produce than the conventional Hellcat wing.
AND, I know the cost of manufacturing has gone up some overseas, however, there isn't anything I can see here that merits a $250 jump up in price!
The fit and finish of the H9 Corsair is pretty good and Ive flown one. Its nice looking, its heavy, and its slightly larger than the TF Corsair. It comes with more scale details stock than the Hellcat including a sliding canopy. So for my money and in comparison to other planes Ive flown or own(ed) I really don't see the justification for the price.
If they would just make these planes in fiberglass for $1000 with surface details like rivets and panel lines they would fly off the shelves. Nobody is doing it well in this scale range from what Ive seen. The brand power, loyalty and a full line up like TF has would be a big hit.
When I was producing RC products in China I priced this project with a couple factories and the cost was totally in the right place for a retail price point equal to OR LESS than $1000! That was 8-10 years ago now!
if I was going to buy another giant arf balsa plane, I'd have to go with the H9 corsair. Same price point.
04-18-2018, 07:15 PM
#87
@ Maddog,
Cool ARF for sure.
Yes Im aware of Top RC and they are now developing and releasing many planes, in the last couple of years. The scale is larger than 1/6 or 1/5 so some of their planes are not direct comparisons. It is a great example of what I'm talking about though and supports my point.
My project was specifically for 1/7 and 1/6-1/5 planes which covered 60 size warbirds and 80-86 inch "giant scale" warbirds.
Im curious to see a Top RC ARF like yours in person inside and out. Maybe in another thread you could post close ups of the skin detail and the interior so we can all see the quality of the plane.
Cool ARF for sure.
Yes Im aware of Top RC and they are now developing and releasing many planes, in the last couple of years. The scale is larger than 1/6 or 1/5 so some of their planes are not direct comparisons. It is a great example of what I'm talking about though and supports my point.
My project was specifically for 1/7 and 1/6-1/5 planes which covered 60 size warbirds and 80-86 inch "giant scale" warbirds.
Im curious to see a Top RC ARF like yours in person inside and out. Maybe in another thread you could post close ups of the skin detail and the interior so we can all see the quality of the plane.
04-19-2018, 04:27 AM
#88
@ Maddog,
Cool ARF for sure.
Yes Im aware of Top RC and they are now developing and releasing many planes, in the last couple of years. The scale is larger than 1/6 or 1/5 so some of their planes are not direct comparisons. It is a great example of what I'm talking about though and supports my point.
My project was specifically for 1/7 and 1/6-1/5 planes which covered 60 size warbirds and 80-86 inch "giant scale" warbirds.
Im curious to see a Top RC ARF like yours in person inside and out. Maybe in another thread you could post close ups of the skin detail and the interior so we can all see the quality of the plane.
Cool ARF for sure.
Yes Im aware of Top RC and they are now developing and releasing many planes, in the last couple of years. The scale is larger than 1/6 or 1/5 so some of their planes are not direct comparisons. It is a great example of what I'm talking about though and supports my point.
My project was specifically for 1/7 and 1/6-1/5 planes which covered 60 size warbirds and 80-86 inch "giant scale" warbirds.
Im curious to see a Top RC ARF like yours in person inside and out. Maybe in another thread you could post close ups of the skin detail and the interior so we can all see the quality of the plane.
Check out this on RCU for pics of the FW.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-w...-fw-190-a.html
The quality of this plane s outstanding and it is big and light weight and for the price why would I pay the same for a smaller model in the 1/7 to 1/6 scale?
04-19-2018, 07:52 PM
#89
Chris,
Check out this on RCU for pics of the FW.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-w...-fw-190-a.html
The quality of this plane s outstanding and it is big and light weight and for the price why would I pay the same for a smaller model in the 1/7 to 1/6 scale?
Check out this on RCU for pics of the FW.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-w...-fw-190-a.html
The quality of this plane s outstanding and it is big and light weight and for the price why would I pay the same for a smaller model in the 1/7 to 1/6 scale?
At the time when I researched this concept and priced it out, as a project, it would have been on point with trends and very competitive against rival product lines.
The reason you make the planes in these scales is so that you don't have to redevelop existing components like retracts which can be costly and difficult to produce. Also the price to fit out a plane increases with scale, bigger engines, bigger retracts, stronger servos all mean higher prices. So the entry price is lower and the component price is less, generally, with smaller scale planes.
So the plan was to use established engines and retracts while providing superior composite planes. No custom second party, read expensive, retract units required, just plug and play with name brand Robart retracts. The option to use Sierra is still there regardless because they are designed to fit where Robart fits, in many cases.
The target quality of the planes I was going to produce was on par with SisT because I own one now and two back then. Also for example, arguably the best P-51D made, I own an Aerotech carbon fiber Mustang too. So, based on these planes, the high level of detail, the new tools would have been designed and the product line would have blown away anything out there. This was all 6 or 7 years ago so imagine what could have been. I had two 60 size prototypes made in balsa to test the factories capability then the deal unravelled behind the scenes due to a rival company. The owners of the company I worked for lost interest and the whole thing was dropped.
Why wouldn't anyone shopping for a giant scale warbird in the 80in class take a serious look at a SisT quality, composite, ARF, painted, for $750? Yes it can be done... even today its still relevant. The 60 size planes would have been about $400 retail.
Anyway, thats why I don't believe the hype or prices because Ive been to the factories and worked in the industry. Its very hard for me to buy stuff!!! lol
06-24-2018, 11:11 AM
#98
Could it be that they sold out of the first shipment for pre-orders and the late July posted date of availability is the new container of these babies? Trying to be optimistic here!
06-24-2018, 11:50 AM
#99
What you say could very well be the case. I really like the Top Flite line, and will be worth the wait. It's just that the pattern I referred to always repeats. Could be they order the minimum to test the waters and then re-order accordingly. The plane will undoubtedly be a great flyer.
06-24-2018, 12:35 PM
#100
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Richmond, KY
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F6f
they have to make it appear hard to get so they can charge $999 for it . If it sold for $749 like all other TF giant warbirds it would be hard to keep in stock . I do want one but I’ll never pay $999 for it .
