I'm not a huge advocate of RTF models in this event, but in FAI they are allowed, so it's okay by me there.
Now for the real medicine: The reason that CL Stunt (and CL in general) is not taken seriously by our hobby industry is the fact that CL fliers don't spend much money. Sorry to put it so bluntly, but this is a major contributing factor. Our sport is about the least expensive motor sport on the planet, and we still complain about the cost of stuff. To make a very technical product that will perform well in our event requires a commitment by the manufacturer. He/she cannot turn out junk and expect to survive. He/she has to work for less per hour than a "real world" entrepreneur because this is a "what the market will bear" industry/sport. Why should someone turning out quality merchandise have to accept less per hour than, say, a banker, or an engineer, etc? I'm in the hobby industry (have been for 50 years...), and I think I turn out a pretty good product. I put a lot of hours into each item that leaves my shop, but I cannot command a salary commensurate with all that work. But, hey, no one is holding a gun to my head telling me I have to do this. I choose to because I love the hobby/sport and enjoy making products for it.
Taking this to an industry outside our hobby/sport I can tell you that a really good quality acoustic guitar costs anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 dollars (and sometimes even much more...). I play Taylor guitars, and the two that I own are each in the $4,000 price range. In looking at them I can tell you for certain that there is about the same amount of work in them as there is in one of the Yatsenko's models. So why do many think that their models are overpriced? Why do they even think they are "expensive?" They are reasonably priced for the work that is involved.
The Yatsenkos have decided to ask a real-world price for their work, and I applaud them. If you don't want to spend that kind of money, fine; but don't think that they are charging too much; they are charging for their products as if they were in the real world of commerce. From what I can tell, there are many who understand that such models cost a significant amount and are willing to pay the cost to get them.
Until we accept that quality products are worth a quality price and start supporting the hobby industry to a greater degree, we will not be taken seriously by it. But, I don't think that's going to happen...
Bob Hunt
Topic: Ready to Fly Planes (Read 2591 times)