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Nytrunner said:
Cesaroni just had a price increase as well
Click to expand...

Yes, I was looking at that. But if you look at at CTI 5 grain 38mm Skid (543 ns) compared to an AT I327DM (539 ns) you are looking 12.9 cents per newton second versus 12.6 cents (list prices). When I started flying high power a decade ago, I recall the difference was even more - which persuaded me toward AT. You can go down the impulse line between the two and pick comparable motors and compare "value." I had planned on not purchasing any more CTI motors, but I may now hold onto my cases and pick up some reloads, especially if they are on sale.
 
Am I the first to comment about Q-Jest and Quest motors at Hobby Town? Seen it on AT FB page, they are now selling them.
 
roytyson said:
Am I the first to comment about Q-Jest and Quest motors at Hobby Town? Seen it on AT FB page, they are now selling them.
Click to expand...

That hasn't made it to my local HT yet, and talking with the manager, isn't slated to ever be a thing for them. Maybe it's just certain ones? Maybe local managers get some latitude on what they do or don't get based on what sells in their area? Not sure.
 
Yea for sure. Mine said he hadn’t seen anything but will look into it. Again rocketry is a limited side for him as well.
 
The way I saw the post it sounded like it was in just one. Perhaps it's a test.
 
Speaking of things showing up in stores, any news on the G8ST motor yet? I'm hoping for an oddroc launch on it in Jan/Feb :)
 
dshmel said:
Yes, I was looking at that. But if you look at at CTI 5 grain 38mm Skid (543 ns) compared to an AT I327DM (539 ns) you are looking 12.9 cents per newton second versus 12.6 cents (list prices).
Click to expand...

Comparing list prices is a bit misleading, as different manufacturers (AT, CTI, Loki) employ varying discounting strategies (or none at all).
You will be hard pressed to find a Loki reload at more than 5% off. Usually they are not discounted.
CTI can be had for about 10-15% off list.
AT is easily obtainable at 25% off list (BMS, WM), and usually north of 35% off during holiday sales.

To update your comparison, though AT I327DM lists for 12.9 cents per newton, you can order it at any time from BMS for 9.5 cents per newton.
With a little searching, you can find CTI 5G-SK for 10.9 cents per newton.

BTW, CTI has also raised its prices this year.
It's an industry trend, and not that one that is favorable to our wallets.


dshmel said:
When I started flying high power a decade ago, I recall the difference was even more - which persuaded me toward AT. You can go down the impulse line between the two and pick comparable motors and compare "value." I had planned on not purchasing any more CTI motors, but I may now hold onto my cases and pick up some reloads, especially if they are on sale.
Click to expand...

Picking up reloads on sale for the year ahead works well.
If you do compare "values" net of the customary discounts, you will still find that AT leads the pack in $$/Newton metric by ~15%.

YMMV,
a
 
Replicating my 2017 WM order of 24 motors this year would cost me $116 more. And that calculation is based on the discounted price (assuming the same percentage this year).
 
afadeev said:
Comparing list prices is a bit misleading, as different manufacturers (AT, CTI, Loki) employ varying discounting strategies (or none at all).
You will be hard pressed to find a Loki reload at more than 5% off. Usually they are not discounted.
CTI can be had for about 10-15% off list.
AT is easily obtainable at 25% off list (BMS, WM), and usually north of 35% off during holiday sales.

To update your comparison, though AT I327DM lists for 12.9 cents per newton, you can order it at any time from BMS for 9.5 cents per newton.
With a little searching, you can find CTI 5G-SK for 10.9 cents per newton.

BTW, CTI has also raised its prices this year.
It's an industry trend, and not that one that is favorable to our wallets.




Picking up reloads on sale for the year ahead works well.
If you do compare "values" net of the customary discounts, you will still find that AT leads the pack in $$/Newton metric by ~15%.

YMMV,
a
Click to expand...
Your acronyms...

BMS?
 
Charles_McG said:
Isn’t that trend going in the opposite direction than the price increase? Unless they have to pay for propellant ingredients in USD?
Click to expand...

I can't speak to the general price increase, but it's my understanding that there's only one manufacturer of AP in the world (at least, at the amounts needed here), and they're in the US?
 
Price increase is simple: the cost of all materials has increased. R45(our binder) as almost doubled in price in the last 5 years for example. Paper and phenolic tubes have increased a bunch as well, labor cost have increased...ect
 
For anyone who has been in the hobby a long time, motor prices have actually decreased. Back in 1995 a K1050, 250, ect. SU motor were $200. Currently I can get a SU L1000 for $240. My L3 reload in 1998 was $250, now a comparable load runs $335. The cost of propellant has not kept pace with inflation on anything else I buy.
 
Syclone said:
For anyone who has been in the hobby a long time, motor prices have actually decreased. Back in 1995 a K1050, 250, ect. SU motor were $200. Currently I can get a SU L1000 for $240. My L3 reload in 1998 was $250, now a comparable load runs $335. The cost of propellant has not kept pace with inflation on anything else I buy.
Click to expand...

When you put it that way, the 1995 price of $200 in today's $$$ would be $329.36, and the $250 in 1998 would be $382 in today's $$$.
 
Last edited:
Got an email from Aerotech today that my warranty case has been manufactured and is heading out. Thankful for the follow-up!
 
can't tell you how lucky you guys are, no matter what price at least you can get em.the options available over here suck. most suppliers dont stock anything over "E" and the one that does has almost no stock. mostlly all I can get is Estes a-d's or for just a bit more......an electron from rocket labs.
 
You are doing much better than here in Italy (and the rest of Europe minus UK where they fly CTI), for the time being AT motors are forbidden! Nobody is allowed to sell them (only old inventory pre 2017). Casings of course are not very popular without reloads!
 
Certification expired (the CE mark) and nobody wants to foot the bill for re-certification. So new motors cannot be sold 'legally', only old ones pre 2017 that still have the old certification mark.
cheers
RG
 
DAllen said:
So whats really going on here? AT says everything is in stock and available. Others say not so much.

I have a friend of mine (Countyline Hobbies) who is dropping selling motors because of his frustration with getting motors and hardware from AT as it seems a lot of items are "back ordered." Is he lying? Is he just not placing big enough orders? Why is he walking away from what is clearly a money maker for him? And it's not like he's hiding it as he posted it on the Michiana Rocketry Facebook page:
Click to expand...

Not sure if he is lying as I don't think Bob is that type of guy. That said, he told us he was retiring for other reasons. Could be a combination, not really sure. I will say that competition among dealers has gotten more fierce over the last few years and that could also have contributed.
 

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