RE: Kit building - what am I doing wrong?
Personally I build mostly with medium and don't use a lot of glue. Don't compare the amount you would use with a guillows kit and the hobby glue.
Thin Ca would be counted in drops and it disappears into the wood so you might have been tempted to keep adding more drops.
I build over wax paper and seldom do I have the paper stick to the plan.
Chances are with your first time through, you used too much glue based on your description. One thing to try if you want to keep using the thin CA is take a few scraps of balsa and practice joining it together with your CA, one drop at a time. That will let you get more used to how much you need.
Remember not to lean over the pieces while gluing as this stuff is rather toxic. You should ensure you have a well ventilated area.
Best of luck
Bob