I started working with Bob Banka at the Toledo Expo the year, or two, after the show moved to the Seagate Center.  During the time span until now I watched his business go from a viable income business to a trickle of its former self.  Janet and I purchased the business just to keep it available to those with scale in their blood.  I have watched the hobby in general decline as per the two posts.  I have purchased two ARFs over the years out of curiosity and the quality was lousy.  I just purchased a damaged ARF supplied from one of the major suppliers, who is now out of business, to detail for Open Scale competition.  The quality of this recent ARF is no different then the others, in fact it is assembled with hot melt glue.  In contrast, I have a plane I built from a kit of the same supplier and it has over 40 hours of flying on it.  I learned how to read blueprints by building models.  I learned mechanical actuation by building models.  Flying models taught me aerodynamics.  All of which I use for my full time design employment as well as my full scale flying and mechanics work.  While I mourned the status of our hobby, at least the Toledo Expo gave a glimmer of hope each Spring.  The Greatest Show brought all in the hobby together for a weekend where each could pursue the areas of the hobby where his interests lay.  Hopefully, some organization will allow another venue for the vendors to gather and present their new products.  I always like to look at the new products before I purchase.

Smooth Air to all,

Dave