This is an an unsolicited endorsement for Saturn Hobbies kits. If you want the VERY best quality, this is the way to go.
They are the very finest kits I have ever had.
So far, I have the following:
1. Nobler
2. Thunderstreak
3. Coy Lady
Coy Lady (1959) won the Australian Nats last year with a Fox .35!
Thunderstreak (late '50s) is basically a "poor man's" Thunderbird Mk 1, slightly smaller, easier to build, still very pretty semi-eliptical wing.
The Nobler is the 1957 "Green Box" version.
As to the cost and shipping and all. To start off, I got the kits direct from GMA, back last year. At the time, he had misplaced the cost sheet Tony had sent him, so he couldn't reacall exactly what to ask on them, except a ballpark figure.
The current exchange rate is around two $s Australian to one US $, so if you take the cost figures on the Saturn site, and half them, you get a pretty close figure, it is a good time to buy for guys in the US and all. Shipping, I think George told me it runs around $25-$30 US for one of the large kits, insured to your door. All these kits shipped export include all the hardware and a fuel tank (darn nicely made too!).
The Nobler kit he said was the finest one he had ever seen, bar none, it even included a copy of his special "pinch corner" tank.
ALL the Saturn kits are of the highest quality (George said every single one he looked at, including the FF stuff was also, and I have heard this same from eveyone who has bought a kit from Saturn), and a bargain for the value you recieve. They have the finest contest grade balsa, hand cut and sanded, an outstanding example of the kit maker's craft. Try one, you will be VERY pleased!
Tony Cincotta suffered a terrible loss recently do to a break-in and massive theft from his shop, I'd like to see him continue his hobby efforts for all of us worldwide, sending a few orders his way would be a great way to help do it. I don't get or want anything out of this, except the satisfaction of maybe helping another great gentleman of the hobby a tiny bit.
George Aldrich only had the very nicest things to say about Tony Cincotta and his products. Try the covering and lines and such also!
John Kelinske
Houston, Texas