Author Topic: Discontinued Products (Read 5967 times)

Randy Powell · « **on:** June 10, 2012, 07:26:18 PM »

have you ever noticed that as soon as CL fliers start using something, it's discontinued. Whether it's props, electric stuff, fuel or whatever, as soon as we start using it, it's discontinued.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2012, 09:44:18 PM »

Yep. I used to really like the small grey plastic fuel filters from Master Airscrew, used to come in a 3-pack. They were cheap, fit anywhere, and worked well. Not any more.

Another one is the Klett hinges with the wedge/barb thingie for installation. Can't get'em any more.

Randy Cuberly · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2012, 11:16:30 PM »

Yeah, I used to joke about this all the time, but it's not very funny anymore.
I keep wondering why OS hasn't discontinued the LA46...Shhhhh... don't tell them.
I really miss the Klett Hinges!

Randy Cuberly

John Stiles · « **Reply #3 on:** June 11, 2012, 02:54:46 AM »

I used to think it was all in my mind, then whole hobby shops would pull up roots and move away. The last one within 30 miles, burned to the ground.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #4 on:** June 11, 2012, 10:02:44 AM »

I was talking to someone about getting a battery so I could design an engine compartment to fit and he said the one I was looking at was discontinued. The replacement was of "similar" shape but not the same. This is what got me to thinking about it. Two of the guys in the area are using an ESC that is discontinued. Seems we find something that works and it's a guarantee that the product will be discontinued.

But then, I always think the same thing about TV shows. If I find a series I actually like, it's a absolute iron clad guarantee that it will be cancelled.

John Stiles · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2012, 12:07:52 PM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on June 11, 2012, 10:02:44 AM

...........But then, I always think the same thing about TV shows. If I find a series I actually like, it's a absolute iron clad guarantee that it will be cancelled.

BTDT .....I get 200+ channels and maybe 2 or 3 worth watchin. No quality TV anymore.

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2012, 12:57:54 PM »

Hmm... you mean stuff like Smith Tanks, Winship controls, Bruline air filters, Bolly Props, K&B1L glow plugs, Robart Horny Hinges, Klett hinges, various formulae dopes, real 1 hour epoxy, Pica Glu-it, sharp #11's, Dremel saw's, Prather pitch guages, Prather pink fuel tubing, Johnson(?) headers, Monokote that works, K&S wire that doesn't fracture, Rocket City, lead rosin core solder, etc? LOL!
I bet this list could be added to quite a bit by others with their own pet peeves too.

bill bischoff · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2012, 01:31:35 PM »

I know it's off the larger point, but you can still get K&B 1L plugs from MECOA, and Excel #11's are pretty decent. AS for the rest, good luck!

dankar · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2012, 01:45:59 PM »

My local Hobby shop [Hobby Barn] is doing slow death. I don't know what keeps them going. Take care of your planes/engines/ equipment as replacements are hard to get.

RandySmith · « **Reply #9 on:** June 11, 2012, 01:57:38 PM »

Quote from: bill bischoff on June 11, 2012, 01:31:35 PM

I know it's off the larger point, but you can still get K&B 1L plugs from MECOA, and Excel #11's are pretty decent. AS for the rest, good luck!

Old K&B 1L and New ones are way different !

Randy

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2012, 02:13:20 PM »

I seem to have the same complaint about LiPo batteries. I would like to replace mine, but the new ones will not fit my airplane!

So I will struggle along with what I have and eventually build a new plane. Hopefully, by then, battery technology will have advanced to smaller, lighter, and cheaper units. Ha!

Floyd

john e. holliday · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2012, 10:18:59 AM »

Local hobby shop here in Overland Park went belly up after they started going for the RC cars and model trains. Also they would never order what I needed, like 1/2A props.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #12 on:** June 12, 2012, 04:58:16 PM »

Doc,

Well, often that's the rub. Seems if you talk to your clientele and keep in stock the things they regularly use that you will keep business. I know I'd pay a bit more to have stuff available regularly right here. But most hobby shops around here tended to try to compete with the online places and of course, they lost. Better it think to stock stuff that locals use, maybe keep a couple of things for them to come in a dream about and stick with that. But most don't and that's why there are only two hobby shops left in the area really. There are a couple that are really toy stores that carry a few things, but that's it.

Larry Renger · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2012, 05:11:31 PM »

And of course, the lamented end to the AP Wasp .061.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2012, 05:59:55 PM »

Hobby Shops and fishing tackle shops are horrible businesses to get into. Thousands of little items that you kinda have to stock and many very picky customers that look at all those items and don't buy them because they aren't exactly what they want. Lots of $ invested and not much stock turnover. You have to turn your stock quickly to make money and stay in business. Radio gear is just not practical to stock...you'd get stuck with out dated stuff you can't sell. Engines are almost as bad.

Ultimate Hobby went down the drain over the last couple of years, finally closing on the Saturday of the recent Memorial Day weekend. It's no wonder. They had to carry Zinger props, APC props, Master Airscrew props and TF Power Point props. Some folks won't use APC's, because they're ugly, or because they look scary, or because they weigh more than a Zinger, ignoring the fact that they work a hell of a lot better. $:-\$ Steve

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2012, 09:08:42 PM »

You would thing a city the size of New Orleans would have a decent hobby shop. It doesn't. The one that is here caters to model trains. I wonder if hobby shops are going to go the way of the dinosaur? What Home Depot and Lowes did to mom and pop lumber yards, Tower and Horizon may do to the mom and pop hobby shops. This would be a sad day..

Mike

don Burke · « **Reply #16 on:** June 13, 2012, 10:28:38 AM »

Quote from: Mike Griffin on June 12, 2012, 09:08:42 PM

You would thing a city the size of New Orleans would have a decent hobby shop. It doesn't. The one that is here caters to model trains. I wonder if hobby shops are going to go the way of the dinosaur? What Home Depot and Lowes did to mom and pop lumber yards, Tower and Horizon may do to the mom and pop hobby shops. This would be a sad day..

Mike

It's called supply and demand. I pretty much don't go to the local hobby shops in my area. I get most of my "hobby peculiar" stuff online. I would buy it here if it was in the stores, but it's not. So far I can still get some balsa and basswood locally but not at the hobby shop.

Ted Winterman · « **Reply #17 on:** June 13, 2012, 11:05:23 AM »

You can also add K@B Superpoxy paints to the list, thanks to the EPA.

RandySmith · « **Reply #18 on:** June 13, 2012, 12:37:22 PM »

Quote from: Ted Winterman on June 13, 2012, 11:05:23 AM

You can also add K@B Superpoxy paints to the list, thanks to the EPA.

Hi Ted

Didn't Brett say that Klass Kote was almost the exact same as K&B?? or at least a very good substitute?

Regards
Randy

bill bischoff · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2012, 02:00:28 PM »

Klass Kote is a very good substitute for K&B Superpoxy. The only difference I have noted is that K&B dried to the touch in about 10 minutes, compared to more like 30 minutes for Klass Kote. This has not been a problem though, just an observation.

Ted Winterman · « **Reply #20 on:** June 13, 2012, 03:45:14 PM »

Hi Ty and Randy, nice to hear from you. I will probably need two posts because one of the pictures is too big. This picture is k and b sanded and
rubbed out.

RandySmith · « **Reply #21 on:** June 13, 2012, 03:50:49 PM »

Quote from: Ted Winterman on June 13, 2012, 03:45:14 PM

Hi Ty and Randy, nice to hear from you. I will probably need two posts because one of the pictures is too big. This picture is k and b sanded and
rubbed out.

Very nice !

Ted Winterman · « **Reply #22 on:** June 14, 2012, 10:56:07 AM »

Ty and Randy, these are pictures of the klass kote plane. The paint seems to cure out softer than the k&b. I used 2000 wet and gorhams silver
polish. I could not get the polish like k/b. Also, the kk reducer would not remove k/b paint from equipment. I was told that MEC could be used
as a reducer for both paints. Do you know anything about that? I have enough k/b super poxy to do about 4-5 more planes but only about 3-4 ounces
of reducer. Is there any left somelpace?

Ted

RC Storick · « **Reply #23 on:** June 14, 2012, 10:57:38 AM »

Quote from: Ted Winterman on June 13, 2012, 03:45:14 PM

Hi Ty and Randy, nice to hear from you. I will probably need two posts because one of the pictures is too big. This picture is k and b sanded and
rubbed out.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #24 on:** June 14, 2012, 10:59:32 AM »

Quote from: Ted Winterman on June 14, 2012, 10:56:07 AM

Ty and Randy, these are pictures of the klass kote plane. The paint seems to cure out softer than the k&b. I used 2000 wet and gorhams silver
polish. I could not get the polish like k/b. Also, the kk reducer would not remove k/b paint from equipment. I was told that MEC could be used
as a reducer for both paints. Do you know anything about that? I have enough k/b super poxy to do about 4-5 more planes but only about 3-4 ounces
of reducer. Is there any left somelpace?

Ted

Call the guys at Klass-Kote - the standard reducer will not work with K&B but they have a different type that does.

Brett

Ted Winterman · « **Reply #25 on:** June 14, 2012, 11:13:27 AM »

Brett, thank you very much. I will call KK this afternoon and tell them what I need.

Take care, Ted

Avaiojet · « **Reply #26 on:** June 14, 2012, 11:48:18 AM »

I only have 50 packages of Klett hinges left over from my R/C days.

They were made in the USA.

Charles

RandySmith · « **Reply #27 on:** June 14, 2012, 01:17:20 PM »

Quote from: Ted Winterman on June 14, 2012, 10:56:07 AM

Ty and Randy, these are pictures of the klass kote plane. The paint seems to cure out softer than the k&b. I used 2000 wet and gorhams silver
polish. I could not get the polish like k/b. Also, the kk reducer would not remove k/b paint from equipment. I was told that MEC could be used
as a reducer for both paints. Do you know anything about that? I have enough k/b super poxy to do about 4-5 more planes but only about 3-4 ounces
of reducer. Is there any left somelpace?

Ted

Hi Ted

Try Mequiars diamond cut, ultra finish, and the 4 step polishing compounds, they are the best I have ever used and work very well on Epoxy , polyU, and lacquer paints, the only thing even close is 3Ms Finise-it , and it is much better than gorhams
http://www.detailing.com/store/exterior-car-care/car-polishes-compounds.html?manufacturer=128

I have bought and tried most everything you can think of for this and this is the best I have ever seen, My shop sells a kit with 4 of the compounds in it and is excellent.

You may want to ask Brett if he polished his stuntship out that used the KK

Randy

proparc · « **Reply #28 on:** June 14, 2012, 07:28:53 PM »

I never quite recovered from the loss of Klett hinges.

nathan Metzner · « **Reply #29 on:** June 14, 2012, 09:35:46 PM »

I have to drive about two hours to get to a hobby shop that supports flyers but at least I have one. The shop I go to is Hodges Hobbies in Andersonville GA. This place is in the middle of nowhere but has a huge field to fly in and has RC meets and such. Prior to finding them I was going to hobby lobbies and micheals to get wood and ca. The discontinued product deal is a bummer. I tend to use old engines so I don't have that stress but they have discontinued all parts for my old Os's. I miss the old hobby shops but feel blessed that Brodak has done what he has done.

John Stiles · « **Reply #30 on:** June 15, 2012, 05:01:40 AM »

Quote from: proparc on June 14, 2012, 07:28:53 PM

I never quite recovered from the loss of Klett hinges.

I have about 3 dozen of the big ones....what, 7/8".....I guess I could measure them! LOL

Ted Winterman · « **Reply #31 on:** June 15, 2012, 07:05:24 PM »

Randy, I forgot to mention it, but I have the 3-M Finise-it on hand. I'll give that a try. I ordered the KK 550 reducer yesterday. It is
formulated for the KB super poxy like you said. Will let you know.

Ted

Author Topic: Discontinued Products (Read 5967 times)

Eric Viglione

Mike Griffin