And much more expensively. Max and Maya are both currently retailing in the UK at about £2500.

Oh, no quibble about the price; it's horribly expensive!Right now, anyone who licenses the current version of Max can obtain a license and download link for Max2008, which as I've noted is the last Max version with which the FSX Tools will work. In a very few weeks however, Autodesk will be releasing the next version, at which time that option will be eliminated... :(

Training is even more expensive if you end up going that route as well. Although there is a rather good tutorial on modelling aircraft and VC's with Blender on youtube.

I'd be interested to see where all this leaves third party sellers like Flight1, Simflight etc.

Well I think I've got the answer to my question now!