| Model prices have been steadily going up over the past few years. Every now and then Hobby Lobby will have a sale on their plastic kits(One of the few chances of getting a nice kit at a reasonable price). I have been getting the Squadron Mail order for going on fifteen years now and the kit prices keep going up. |
Hobby Lobby is a great place to pick up quality models. Make sure you check the paper or their web site, as they usually have a coupon for 40% off at least every other week. Also, make sure you check the prices on all the models on the shelf, I found aTamiya 1:48 Thunderbolt for $21.95. It was behind 3 or 4 of the exact same models that had $42.00 sticker prices.
I have seen the exact same models have price variations from a few dollars up to what I found.