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  #1  
Old 08-05-2022, 09:31 PM
Ltvscout Ltvscout is offline
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Default Semroc USS America

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  #2  
Old 08-05-2022, 09:52 PM
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Earl Earl is offline
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This is a nice Semroc kit and very faithful to the Centuri original. The Semroc version DOES sport a 24mm mount though, an upgrade from the 18mm mount of the Centuri original.

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  #3  
Old 08-06-2022, 10:01 AM
jetlag jetlag is offline
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Glad I bought my 2 before they cost $80...each!
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  #4  
Old 08-06-2022, 11:27 AM
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Kit prices for non-collectable kits are into the insane realm.
Glad I bought most of my Semroc kits when Carl was still around.
$80 for that is ABSURD.
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  #5  
Old 08-06-2022, 03:45 PM
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tbzep tbzep is offline
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With the price of wood and tubes these days, I wonder how much it would cost me to clone it if I didn't already have materials on hand...
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  #6  
Old 08-07-2022, 01:41 PM
Initiator001 Initiator001 is offline
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As a hobby we have been generally lucky in that price increases have been tolerable.

We all know that balsa prices have had some large increases.

Another area of major price increase has been paper tubes.
The supplier of paper tubes used in hobby rocketry for over sixty years was bought by another company (Paramount Tubing). Paramount has decided to consolidate operations/functions and has let go all of the folks who made sure that those beautiful paper tubes we have been using were made correctly. Like many manufacturing processes, there is knowledge that can only be gained by experience. The experienced staff is now gone.

As you can guess quality control has gone out the window and rocket kit manufacturers are now receiving paper tubes with up to 30% defect rate (It was darn near zero percent in the past). Paramount will not listen to any customer complaints and give credit for defective product. This cost is passed on to the consumer.

Oh, I forgot to mention Paramount increased tubing prices 300% on top of all this.

Our hobby is only going to get more expensive.
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  #7  
Old 08-07-2022, 01:46 PM
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And as mentioned above, this Semroc kit is VERY faithful to the Centuri original. An original, when you can find one (they do come up on ebay now and then) will cost a fair amount more than this kit does.

So, not really a bad price all considered, if this is what you are looking for.

Earl
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  #8  
Old 08-07-2022, 02:59 PM
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I'd pay MAYBE $100 for a Centuri original.
No more than $50 for any clone. Definitely NOT 80 for that.
Estes has kept kit prices FAIRLY reasonable.
NOBODY else has.
Even "More Rockets" prices are getting OBNOXIOUS.
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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

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ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
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  #9  
Old 08-07-2022, 04:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrocketman
I'd pay MAYBE $100 for a Centuri original.
No more than $50 for any clone. Definitely NOT 80 for that.
Estes has kept kit prices FAIRLY reasonable.
NOBODY else has.
Even "More Rockets" prices are getting OBNOXIOUS.


Those smaller companies like eRockets and MoreRockets are doing a great deal less volume in sales than a company like Estes and are not buying product from China. Domestic labor is going to be much more expensive. So, they are going to have to charge some additional amount to make a decent profit.

No telling what kind of kit prices we'd be paying if all of Estes products were completely domestically sourced/produced.

Earl
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  #10  
Old 08-07-2022, 05:15 PM
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astronwolf astronwolf is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrocketman
I'd pay MAYBE $100 for a Centuri original.
No more than $50 for any clone. Definitely NOT 80 for that.
Estes has kept kit prices FAIRLY reasonable.
NOBODY else has.
Even "More Rockets" prices are getting OBNOXIOUS.

Sounds like a vote People's Republic of China. Always lower prices! At any cost!
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