PICA Models

Pica is out of business -- gone into the history books.

Do you have any info to support this. I knew they were closing for a while but they are supposed to be reorganising and changing the place of manufacture. If you have any info from Pica i would be grateful if you could share it as i have a few things that I would still like to get from them. Thanks Paul

They had a web site about a year ago that said they were 'moving' and a search this morning via Yahoo doesn't find the site. It 'usually' doesn't take a year to move. That may not be definitive proof they are gone forever but it's a pretty strong indicator that they didn't simply move.

If you need/want PICA products right now; swap meets, classifieds, and auctions are your likely sources.

It takes almost no resources, financial nor manpower, to simply leave a web site in place while a company is "moving". Yet, they shut down their site. I wouldn't hold much hope for them ever coming back, and it the brand name did return, it not only would likely be under new ownership, but if they did re-emerge, they would probably come back as just another one of the "me too" ARF companies.

MJC

The last time I talked to the owner of Pica, Mort Tanger, I was told the advent of the ARFs made it economically unfeasible to continue in business.

FYI, Pica was originally founded as a family venture -- Mort wanted all his kids, who are now all grown and out on their own, to work at Pica in all positions to see what life has to offer and to get some experience in design, manufacture, engineering, marketing, and sales.

Well I have a 1/5 scale P-40 kit from Pica that is next on the list to build and also a Jungmeister kit tucked away.

Its sad to see another kit manufacturer, and a good one, go out of business but the era of instant gratification is upon us and according to my Hobby Shop owner there are virtually NO "boxes of balsa" kits being imported into Australia now.

I for one think this is a real shame.

The time taken to build a model is surely part of the complete aeromodelling experience, giving the builder a much greater knowledge and respect for the plane he will eventually fly.

Well my Sea Fury project is a wait> The last time I talked to the owner of Pica, Mort Tanger, I was told

Bob Tomlinson

Aussie RC Enthusiast and Rugby Fanatic.

Thank heavens the USA hasn't discovered and packaged Rugby.

It's not just a shame, it's a DAMN shame. However, all is not lost because all that people who like to build have to understand is that building from plans is not THAT much more involved than building from a kit. The simple addition of a high quality band saw to ones tool wall makes it not only easy to "build a kit" from plans, but many of my friends including myself have actually gotten to like the process of cutting the parts and making the kit. While I also lament the loss of kits and kit companies, I think we'll come full circle as modelers go through the popular kits, get bored, and realize that the only way they can do that one "special" project is if they actually build it from plans.

MJC

"adder" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

I think shame is the wrong word here. The ARF/RTF's are simply a convenience for those who can afford it and want it. Like ANY other convience, i.e. car, washing machine, computer... Is it a shame if you don't beat your clothes on a rock in the stream?!? We typically don't look down on people for not being able to build everything they use. You'd be alarmed at how many people can't even check their own oil on their car, let alone build one. It doesn't mean that they should hang their heads in shame. Shaddup and scratch build ;)

It would be nice if the owners of Pica would make the plans available or allow someone to draw up the plans for scratch builders...

Morris

I have nearly all the tools known to modern man but I still HATE cutting out ribs and formers.

Obvously some deep scarring (not only on fingers) from my youth remains, when I cut out countless free flight wing ribs (those bastards with big concave botoms) with a single sided razor blade.

Sorry, got to go and press out some ribs on a kit for therapy.

At least we have laser cutters here > It's not just a shame, it's a DAMN shame. However, all is not lost

Bob Tomlinson

Aussie RC Enthusiast and Rugby Fanatic.

Thank heavens the USA hasn't discovered and packaged Rugby.

I wonder how many laser cutters already have them on file. . . .

Probably not many, or Pica would still be in business. They could sue all the laser cutters for copyright infringement and fund the business well into the future.

A friend of mine told me that Pica was acquired by another company, and that many of the Pica designs will be back, in ARF form.