Stock, what stock??

[thumb_rocker]

Where are you getting these numbers from?

All the info is on the net freely available & with company house. The numbers are pretty close with some slight variations as of current. Also depends what company house level of information you have. Public see a higher level of detail & certain businesses or individuals can see more detail. If your saying that the numbers are old then feel free to believe they are worthless. That then means that those figures where correct when the market was flourishing when they submitted their accounts. So wonder how that translates now a year later during a downturn.

[Grumpy]

I think that data is very revealing and it very likely does explain why there is so little investment in new stock, which is a bit worrying.

[Angelos]

This tells you the whole story... "RC helicopter" is the term used by people outside the hobby and this is why you see big seasonal peaks in December each year.

https://trends.google.co.uk/trends/e...c%20helicopter

And with another search term... "3d heli" more commonly used by people who are already in the hobby.

https://trends.google.co.uk/trends/explore?date=all&q=3d%20heli

[thumb_rocker]

Think that totally shows the trend, I started this hobby in 2009 and got into the hype as new Helis was coming out along with Flybarless gyros. It's was peaking so I started a business but within 18months I bailed as didn't think it would sustain the growth. Very glad I moved onto another venture.

Hopefully things steady out and we can get parts more easily in the UK. I mostly fly Gaui & Mikados so I'm used to ordering from abroad if Fast-Lad or Midlands don't have it. But hats off to them for staying focused on Servicing the Heli brands exclusively and riding out the downturn the best they can.

[Grumpy]

This tells you the whole story... "RC helicopter" is the term used by people outside the hobby and this is why you see big seasonal peaks in December each year.

https://trends.google.co.uk/trends/e...c%20helicopter

And with another search term... "3d heli" more commonly used by people who are already in the hobby.

https://trends.google.co.uk/trends/explore?date=all&q=3d%20heli

It's interesting to compare the term 'drone'.. The rise in searches for 'drone' mirrors the declining trend in helis very closely. Of course this might simply that the general public seem to think that anything radio controlled that flies is a 'drone' so the term drone has taken over from 'RC helicopter'.

[terhoutd]

FL just announced in today's newsletter they have got a 'huge Mikado Order just in". It may be too late for some who seem to have moved their loyalty to a new shop already...

[kenny d]

I have now bought two Oxy3 spares orders direct from Lynx ( over £230 ) ,everything in stock & 3 day free post
as I said before if they don't have stock they can't sell it

[Guest]

Shops need stock or they can't sell it to us and force us to change spending habits.

MJ

[_tj_]

I went to buy a nitro in the past few weeks.
I could buy a kit an no engine.

So it would of just been an expensive ornament until engine stocks came in.
Also thought about a new dx8 or dx9.

But no stock of them.
If I wanted to swap everything to vbar though I could of brought a vcontrol.

[p4ddy]

I clicked onto fastlad the other day as i was looking at the flight team. I thought I'd check out the models, everything out of stock, checked parts and the same? So I googled to see if they are closing down but no info speculating that. Now I see this thread. I certainly dont buy the brexit excuse as that's just a poor excuse Imo. Anyhow I have a bunch of flybars for all my heli's still and when they bend they can be straightened lol. But they are all in the attic. Kind of glad now I'm back with my bikes as they've increased in value by £4k already lol. My heli's are immense fun but it's all dead money. To think if I hadn't sold my ns400 and bought a logo I'd be £3-4k better off now...oh well at least I thoroughly enjoyed every flight.

[DaveG]

I clicked onto fastlad the other day as i was looking at the flight team. I thought I'd check out the models, everything out of stock, checked parts and the same? So I googled to see if they are closing down but no info speculating that. Now I see this thread. I certainly dont buy the brexit excuse as that's just a poor excuse Imo. Anyhow I have a bunch of flybars for all my heli's still and when they bend they can be straightened lol. But they are all in the attic. Kind of glad now I'm back with my bikes as they've increased in value by £4k already lol. My heli's are immense fun but it's all dead money. To think if I hadn't sold my ns400 and bought a logo I'd be £3-4k better off now...oh well at least I thoroughly enjoyed every flight.

Bit of an over exaggeration there saying everything out of stock, everything isn't out of stock! Just the item you wanted. What item was you looking to buy or are you just stirring the proverbial pot?

[Rich23]

I'm looking into a new 550 or 700 class heli and after a little research it seems my choice is limited straight away on the actual Heli. It seems SAB, Mikado or Align are the stable choices. Then when you look at parts support its not looking good there either.

Rich

[p4ddy]

Bit of an over exaggeration there saying everything out of stock, everything isn't out of stock! Just the item you wanted. What item was you looking to buy or are you just stirring the proverbial pot?

I wasn't looking to buy anything just browsing out of curiosity. No logo's, no t'rex's, no goblins, no motors, I've never seen that before unless a company is closing down or the container fell off the ship on the way here lol. But everything else indicated they weren't, just the stock side of things. Not stirring anything, what does that achieve?

[cjm180]

Just to balance things up, I was at FL yesterday to pick up a second hand heli airframe. I also bought a heli carry bag and some packs for the 570. Great I thought! Everything in!

However, silly enough, no supraX S6 connectors (arrrrgggghhhh)

[ivanp]

Looking to get back into the hobby after a 6 year break ,
looking at align 500 and Mikardo v control , was going to pop over to FL today but might just wait a bit till stock improves

I like to buy local so hopefully it is just a glitch with FL

Ivan