I ordered an Adder, wasn't in stock on the site. I sent Chris at Vanguard an inquiry, he always replies, and said he didn't realize they were out (on their site). They have the materials to fill the kits but are Busy, a good busy..
I have the Adder ordered.
From review's, mostly Jason at ModelKitStuff, Vanguard seems to have the most thorough instructions and plans, plus prefab parts where they make sense, I feel that is a good formula for some success in ship modeling. I tried to build the America racing yacht from Mamoli. Chris let me know that kit is a 40 to 60 year old design. The parts have been updated to laser cut but keel and bulkheads are of hard plywood, difficult to fair and some parts called out on the plans, are not included in the kit.The sparse instructions and plans for me did not make sense, the first planking was made from maple and no deck planks were included..
It becomes an issue of you don't know what you paid for until you get it. The ad description hypes up a final product not how to get there..
I paid $150/$179 for this kit a few years back from Model Shipways. I have 14 of their kits, sure wish they would put the effort Chris Wattan puts into his kits.
Time spent from a manufacturer breaking down rigging with clear photos and instruction and kit options for correct rope, blocks, sails that are of the correct scale.
Accurate figures to bring life into a model. A model is a snapshot in time.....History!
Yes, there would be different price points but most of the builders are not in their 20's and 30's and usually can put their resources to use for a project that speaks to them..
Isn't construction success the goal? I believe you'd produce more satisfied builders that way. More success means more modelers, more product sales...
And a helluvalot less frustration.....
Keep on building!