This was my summer project this year. If you click on my name you can go into my photo file and see a couple of my planes I have built from plans. You will see another Sukhoi 29, it's the only plane I have built two of. In my file the Krier Kraft, Daddy Rabbit, Fokker, Sukhoi and Boeing Bipe are all built from plans. This 80 inch Sukhoi cost me just a couple bucks over $200.00 to build. That was all the wood, glue and fiber glass. I had the canopy and LG on hand or it would have been more money. The Daddy Rabbit was a free plane. I was bored and had the plans and a lot of left over wood on hand. Always order more wood then you need. Sooner or later you too can build free planes.
When I get my hands on a kit I make templates of every part then get a copy of the plans and instructions. I can't count how many planes I have built from pirated kits. I have friends I trade plans and templates with a few other guys. When a kit is discontinued as long as someone has the templates and plans that old kit will stay alive. We also share information about the planes and the build. I gave my building partner the plans to my Boeing Bipe and with the information I gained from mine his came out way better. It's fun and can often be a big money saver. Not always but depending on the plane often. One things for sure, as long as there are plans these old planes will still be built and flown.
Gene