Robert here is the problem. Especially with the X-1, X-1A, X-2 and Douglas Skyrocket. They have contoured bodies. Can't use body tubes. These have to be mastered in blue foam, epoxy glassed and detailed. Then I have to make epoxy glass 2 piece molds and lay them up by hand in epoxy glass. This costs.
I can make them smaller but they will still be in the 200 dollar range. It is hard for us to keep the X-15 Grande at a lower price because by the time all is said and done we don't get much profit out of it. The only way to do that is invest thousands on having them massed produced in some other country and that's just not an option for us. If I could I wouldn't want them made out of the country. There's been too much of that already.
I try to buy everything from US manufacturers if possible. Support my local hobby stores and cottage industry businesses and I know all of you here try the same. So it's hard to make a buck and compete against Hobby King and Amazon at the same time but we try.
Our kits are for people that appreciate the artisans we are in making kits that are unique and aimed at the seasoned modeler who knows how to work a hand made kit and turn it into sometime special.
I have considered vacuformed bodies and I'm still thinking about it. You would get to halves that would need to be connected together with laser cut bulkheads inside for support. The size would be limited to the largest vacuform machine I have which is about 12-14 inches. They would be cheaper to make but I'm not sure they would be to everyone's liking?
Is that an motor retainer I see? Whose?
