RSM Ringmaster kit price question

Stuka Stunt Main Forum · 6 of 6 known posts recovered

Jake · Jun 04, 2003 05:01 PM

RSM Ringmaster kit price question#0 source

This got started in the Ring' thread below, but as it relates to other kits, I thought I'd start a new thread. As to why the Ring' kit costs mo' $s- here is the answer from da' man himself:

"Hello John:
I'll try to clarify the situation for you.
The OTS Ringmaster is 100% laser cut from contest balsa and features a plan sheet which is printed on a plotter rather.
The Miss Sarah until just recently (this week in fact) was machine cut
(bandsaw) from standard weight balsa and featured a plan sheet which was a standard blueline blueprint. I will tell you that although it was standard weight balsa we did try to keep the weight in the 7-9 pound range in order to produce a kit we could be proud to sell. The price difference occurred due to the lower cost of balsa, blueprint vs plotter and laser time.
We have just completed our conversion of the Miss Sarah to a 100% laser cut kit featuring contest grade balsa and a plotted plan sheet. The price for the new Miss Sarah kit will be similar to the OTS Ringmaster. I expect that the price changes will be reflected on the web site by the end of this week.
RSM has been gradually converting all of our kits over to 100% laser cut over the past year. At this time only the Humongeous and Tucker Special have not been fully converted although both feature some laser cut parts. There will be a price increase on all of the converted kits due to an increase in the cost of contest balsa, the laser cutting expense and general increases in almost all of the kit components from canopies to silk span we have experienced from our suppliers over the past couple of years. We have tried to keep our prices constant but it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain our price level in light of our increasing costs to produce each kit.
My suggestions to you and your friends is that they consider ordering any kits they may want to obtain immediately before the price increases are made to the web site. Our policy is to always honor the published web site price and we will continue this practice. I expect that the web site will be updated by the end of this week.
Thanks for you inquiry. I hope that this explanation is of assistance to you.

Regards
Eric Rule"

"It'll probably feel real good again, once it quits hurting".

Dr Spark · Jun 05, 2003 03:50 PM

RE: RSM Ringmaster kit price question#1 source

I'm sure that Eric makes a fine Ringmaster S-1 kit.

If you want a Ringmaster S-1 to come out at about 22 oz. then you will have to abandon kit construction and scratch-build using my plans and construction methods.

Contact me on my e-mail:
[email protected]

Giffy · Jun 11, 2003 12:32 AM

RE: RSM Ringmaster kit price question#2 source

I don't know too much about laser cutting. Why is laser cutting more expensive? Sure it does a better job but, isn't it easier?
I guess it's like the guy says, you have to pay the man with the machine and all the other outside vendors and middle men.

I'm glad someone is making high quality control line kits, I just hope he gets to keep some of that $70.

I would really like to buy one just to throw him a bone but, I'm pretty sure I could buy enough stuff to build 3 planes for that money. You save so much when the labor is free.

LNeumann · Jun 11, 2003 09:04 AM

RE: RSM Ringmaster kit price question#3 source

Cutting the parts yourself will be cheaper--if you don't count your labor as being worth anything. Several people had wanted Matt to build an airplane for them. He wasn't about to do that feeling he would not nearly be compensated properly for the time he would put in. Yet he will build for himself. It is all a matter of how you value your time.

On the lazer cutting, it is more accurate, there is no die "crushing", but there is a machine to pay for. The last time we visited the SIG factory they were showing off their lazer cutting machine and they mentioned that they had to run it 24 hours a day just to get it to pay for itself. And they were doing outside work to keep it busy.

Since one can program the lazer cutter on the computer you can get dead on accurate parts. It makes me wonder how they built the pyramids or some of the old Cathedrals since these huge stones had to be cut accurately at a quarry far away and cut accurately so that they would fit into place. The lazer does this for you now. But the machine costs money.

If the accuracy and time savings is worth it to you, then fine. If not, then continue to cut out each individual part yourself.

Leonard Neumann

Alan Hahn · Jun 11, 2003 03:56 PM

RE: RSM Ringmaster kit price question#4 source

At least a stone keeps its dimensions after cutting, and tends not to warp.

Larry Foster · Jun 11, 2003 10:34 PM

RE: RSM Ringmaster kit price question#5 source

Recently I purchased one of Eric's laser cut Ringmaster kits for a young man (Shane Craver) we are teaching to build and fly. I was very impressed with the quality of this kit. I also asked Eric if he could cut the fuse using 2 1/4" pieces instead of a 1/2". This was so Shane could use carbon fiber mat in-between the two pieces. He was curious about using carbon fiber. This was his first airplane. I have only given him advise on building this. The construction was done solely be Shane. It is a very impressive first effort and weighs 24oz ready to fly.
An experienced builder could easily build this kit at 22oz. The wood was all 4-6lb stock, all the joints were exact and the landing gear is very strong. If I were building this kit for OLD Time competition the only thing I would change would be the landing gear. I would use 1/8" wire instead of the aluminum gear.

Larry