Very Few BIG ARF's Coming In?

[LBJ]

What happened to all the BIG models we had a short while back. H9 had the BIG P-47 and P-51. P-47 discontinued and the P-51 basically on closeout. I see EasyTiger has a big dive bomber with a BIG Bearcat coming, but that's about it as far as single engine warbirds. There's the BIG twins P-61 and A-26 which are nice but I think they are about sold out too. Hobby Lobby has a couple of BIG civil aircraft but they are just retreads from another importer.

Is China shutting things down due to the bad economy over here? VQ was going to reintroduce their P-38 or so they told me a few months ago, but nothing yet. They are mostly selling KMP warbirds which would be nice if they were at least 80 inches.

For the money you pay for a KMP 70 inch P-51, you should be able to get one in GIANT scale size.

Guess it's back to the building board!

I did find out that KMP is coming out with an 80 inch Hurricane! Pretty cool. I have always thoguth that was an interesting model, and usually gets short shrift because of it's beefier brother, the Spitfire. Now we're talking!

[blucor basher]

During a recession, most companies scale back their premium offerings.

[LBJ]

I'll pass on something I got from Robert at Electric Jet Factory. I asked him how many companies are building models over in China. He said they shut down 10,000 factories when the downturn came over here!!! He guessed they might have had as many as 50,000 factories before that.

I don't take that to mean that all were involved in the 100 percent production of ARF's, but perhaps some of the sub operations like mold making, covering, vacu-forming, glass work, or whatever. Of course, when the population is a Billion or so, that's not that hard to believe.

[blucor basher]

You might want to check up on the info. Those numbers are several orders of magnitude too high. Either you mis-heard or he's pulling your leg.

Yes, some of the lower-quality producers have closed their doors or changed to a different product type, but the major and high-quality contract manufacturers are operating.

[LBJ]

Nope, that's what he said. I did a double take and he insisted that's what he understood. He said he "owns" the Fly Fly line over there and had sway to how things work. I'll leave it up to you to believe what you like. I don't think people understand how BIG China is!!! Another story that sounds unbeliveable but has been shown to be essentially true; if you started marching their military forces into the ocean four abreast, they would never run out of them. Just keep coming. China is the current day sleeping giant that has awoken.

I gained some insight of this in the firearms world. In the 90's, China started selling off their outdated SKS rifles placed along the border, every so many miles, in large arsenals. I know a guy who bought an entire arsenal for resale! There had to be millions of these sold off to importers here in the US. China placed them at the border to repell invasions and planned on handing them out to citizens who would be recruited to help defend the borders. These were not for the regular army since they were esentially outdated since the 60's when the AK-47 started being produced for the military. They also sold the ammo to keep newer stuff in rotation I would suppose. The US finally cut off imports of these fun rifles. Jackasses.

[blucor basher]

No, Fly-Fly is an independent company in Shenzen. They produce their products and distributors from around the world can buy loads in whatever size they like. Enjoy RC, and let's hope we have some good weather in Texas this Spring, maybe I'll see you at one of the local events, we hit several per year in the DFW area. Cheers.

[LBJ]

I think you may be a bit too literal on some things. <grin> He meant he had the rights to production to the extent he could still get me something even though he no longer showed to be stocking it. Give him a call sometime. Robert W at Electric Jet Factory.

We have a Scale Masters qualifier here in mid June at the Greater South West Aeromodelers field, on the East side of Ft Worth, so come on down. I'll be there trying to win an Airtronics Radio. For the fun of it mostly.

See ya.

[gwh]

Just last month I saw where somebody introduced a 103" ARF, http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=988294

Here's another flyin in the DFW area, http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=966176

[Hiflyer]

In reply to the post from LBJ regarding Hobby Lobby's 1/4 scale Pilot-1 planes.

This line of models is new and developed in house at Hobby Lobby, they are in no way a retread from anyone.

Mike Hines
Product Development Manager
Hobby Lobby International

[RonR214]

Sounds like LBJ is looking for 1/4 scale or larger war birds. Would be nice to see some various size war birds produced with the quality of 3D kits and price range.

Ron

[blucor basher]

If large Chinese lipo prices remain low for a while longer, I would suspect activity will ramp up in the electric 25% size class.

[LBJ]

"In reply to the post from LBJ regarding Hobby Lobby's 1/4 scale Pilot-1 planes.

This line of models is new and developed in house at Hobby Lobby, they are in no way a retread from anyone.

Mike Hines
Product Development Manager
Hobby Lobby International"

Seems you were selling some large scale KMP or similar warbird ARFs last time I looked, which may have changed. If not, then my bad.

[Thomas B]

"In reply to the post from LBJ regarding Hobby Lobby's 1/4 scale Pilot-1 planes.

This line of models is new and developed in house at Hobby Lobby, they are in no way a retread from anyone.

Mike Hines
Product Development Manager
Hobby Lobby International"

Seems you were selling some large scale KMP or similar warbird ARFs last time I looked, which may have changed. If not, then my bad.

Yep, your bad....:)

They had a KMP model or two, like the Tigercat....never a serious dealer for KMP.

The Pilot 1 stuff is impressive. They have several 1/4 scale models coming.

Robert mislead you on the factory numbers. There are a small handful of quality ARF model factories that actually assemble, cover and pack the top of the line Hangar 9, Pilot 1, E-flite, Top Flite, 3D Hobby Shop and other quality ARFs. There there is a slightly larger group of companies that make the second tier ARfs, like CMP (the line sold by Nitroplanes)

There are obviously a number of foam factories cranking out lots of foamies...:)

I would be surprised if there were really 50K factories all making some R/C model tidbit...Injection molding, fiberglass, radio components, wire products, laser cutting wood, making "China-kote", CNC-ing molds....but there are likely many thousands of contributors.

I heard from a reliable source that the factory that actually makes the Kyosho line of ARFs is co-located with the equivalent of the Air Force Academy for China, ands that cash flow from the factory actually helps fund the Chinese Air Force Academy....:)

[Ben-Rod]

LBJ, where have you been? Have you had a sip of the Koolaide yet???? I thought not. You don't know what your missing. :censored:

Ben Rodriguez

[LBJ]

I might mention that our perceptions of what the truth is on many matters is largely what our personal belief systems will allow. I say that about my mention of the 50K factories in China and what I am about to mention. But, unless you really know the facts, just shooting from your hip MAY not be even in the ballpark.

The following may surprise you.

Today I was calling around trying to find some retracts for two of my planes. Talked to Sierra retracts. - Keep in mind we are supposed to be in an economic downturn right now with people hurting, money tight, and production lines shutting down goods, etc,. Seirra CANNOT KEEP UP with the demand!!! They are working over time to get things done. He didn't even have time to put together a single set of retracts for my KMP P-38, he was so socked in by the work at hand. He even said some of his best bread and butter work is from individuals wanting custom or semicustom stuff.

After that, I called KMP to see if they had some retracts. They didn't, but what he told me was the same thing. Business is crazy right now!!! Stuff is going fast! In fact, they haven't even had time (apparently) to update their web site to show stock they have but show empty. Now, who would'a thought?

May not prove any big point to you out there, but things aren't always as you might think.

And Thomas B, I was right about the KMP models. I KNEW I saw them at Hobby Lobby. Thanks for pointing that out.
EDIT
One more thing I will point out. From the stories I have heard, China uses EXTENSIVE prison labor (in general) which is basically working for little or nothing. Now, I will be the first to admit that one has yet to be proven to me, but with their bent on human rights I certainly wouldn't doubt it. That's what the reports are, however.

LBJ

[blucor basher]

EDIT.

Who cares.

[LBJ]

Who cares? About what?

[Hiflyer]

LBJ

You were correct about the KMP planes, we did offer some of them. Actually have some of the Adam A-500's available (not on our website, but available).

About the Pilot-1 planes, they are an in-house product and the newest one in the series will be in stock by the end of the week. I have attached a photo of the new Piper PA-12 in 1/4 scale. A little over 106" WS, genuine Oracover, scale rib-spacing and more.

This is for the guy who loves Cub's but doesn't want a yellow J-3. Hope you find this interesting.

[Thomas B]

I might mention that our perceptions of what the truth is on many matters is largely what our personal belief systems will allow. I say that about my mention of the 50K factories in China and what I am about to mention. But, unless you really know the facts, just shooting from your hip MAY not be even in the ballpark.

The following may surprise you.

...................
May not prove any big point to you out there, but things aren't always as you might think.

And Thomas B, I was right about the KMP models. I KNEW I saw them at Hobby Lobby. Thanks for pointing that out.
EDIT
......................
LBJ

Ben/Bluecore Basher does more business in China than Robert does, and much, much more with high end built up first class ARFs. I like and respect Robert, but Ben's opinion carries a lot of weight in this conversation about chinese built high end ARFs. He buys containerloads of them (3DHS) on a regular basis.

To my knowledge, HL only briefly carried two KMP models ever...the ultralight Challenger thing and the big Tigercat. Hardly qualifies them as really being a dealer.

I like getting information from more than one source before I give it a large endorsement and adding it to my belief system...;)

[Thomas B]

LBJ

You were correct about the KMP planes, we did offer some of them. Actually have some of the Adam A-500's available (not on our website, but available).

About the Pilot-1 planes, they are an in-house product and the newest one in the series will be in stock by the end of the week. I have attached a photo of the new Piper PA-12 in 1/4 scale. A little over 106" WS, genuine Oracover, scale rib-spacing and more.

This is for the guy who loves Cub's but doesn't want a yellow J-3. Hope you find this interesting.

I think Lane is heavily into warbiords and not so much into civilian aircraft.

Interesting about the Adam A-500s...what other interesting tidbits do you have hidden away, not in the catalog???..:)

A lovely PA-12...buit I am holding out for the 1/4 scale YKS-6!

[Ben-Rod]

Well I'd like to give a list of the big arf's that are here not comming out...
#1 http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=959467
#2 http://www.3dhobbyshop.com/detail.aspx?ID=2280
#3 http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=928678
#4 http://www.extremeflightrc.com/html/50ccExtra.html
#5 http://www.extremeflightrc.com/html/110yak54.html
#5 http://www.extremeflightrc.com/html/88yak54.html
#6 http://www.airwildhobbies.com/MoreInfo.asp?title=product&level=2&id=46
#7 http://www.airwildhobbies.com/MoreInfo.asp?title=product&level=2&id=43
#8 http://www.airwildhobbies.com/MoreInfo.asp?title=product&level=2&id=47
#9 http://www.wildharerc.com/products/extra84/
#10 http://www.wildharerc.com/products/sukhoi85/
#11 http://www.wildharerc.com/products/Edge540_1025/
# 12 http://www.wildharerc.com/products/121extra/
#13 http://www.aero-works.net/store/detail.aspx?ID=351
# 14-20 http://aero-works.net/store/

Have I made a point yet? Cause I could keep going, just let me go get another cold beer...

Too be continued...

Ben Rodriguez

[Thomas B]

Lane (LBJ) is looking for warbirds, mostly, not 3D aerobatic scale models.

[LBJ]

Thomas B is correct. Warbirds and scale is what I like. I see plenty of the big 3D jobs out there but they do nothing for me! Not that I don't like the smaller warbirds, just the big birds seem to fly better and look better in the air. We all have our own little likes and dislikes out here. I didn't specify precisely I was talking about warbirds, but felt I put that thought across.

I'd like to see what the easy tiger Bearcat is going to be size wise and what the price will be.

By the way Tom, I ordered another Giant Scale bird - a World Models Minimoa. I noticed that you have one too. Read your input on that thread. I think that MAY be what the guy from Witchita Falls brought to the Nov Meet. From what I saw on his, the model MIGHT need some spoilers on the wings to shut it down.

Kudos to Blucor. I told Robert when I spoke with hem I'd like to go to China to see all the manufacturing areas. Must be quite a big operation for all the industries they have there now.

This just in 2-18-09. Not brand new, but new to me.

Was looking at the model mag last nite and ran across Troy Built Models. They are getting a complete lineup of warbirds at least 80 inches!!! Pretty cool. They heard my pleas. No prices seen yet. http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/ns/warb/