ORIGINAL: acdii
<div style=''margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; ''>I always have it in my mind to trace out the parts on a sketch pad before assembling so I have a copy to make repairs, but dang if I forget and glue the sumbiotch together. I trace the blank it came in, but need to remember to add an extra 1/16'' to the line on the new part so it matches. When I start my Kadet, I have the sketch pad with the kit so this time I wont forget.</div>
I have been on a soap box for years telling everyone with a new kit to make templates of each and every part, save your plans and instructions. This way when a kit is discontinued the plans and templates can be shared and we can keep these old planes alive. When I moved to NV I tossed out a bunch of the stuff I had and have been kicking myself for it ever sense. I won't be tossing any of them out again. Templates are easy to make and worth the time. I don't bother with doing it for trainer type of planes. As long as a trainer can be had an an ARF people will learn to fly. Interlocking parts in kits is nothing new, been around forever but it does help make a plane easier to build and straighter. Nothing wrong with it, I like kits with the interlocking parts. I think they come out a lot stronger.
I gave up buying new kits. I try to find kits at swap meets and estate sales so I can afford them.
Reason is I'm on a very fixed income and kits became out of my reach. My all time favorite is the CG EXTRA. It ended it's life around $200.00 then I would have to buy a glass cowl and landing gear so it went even higher. I started cutting my own from plans and just buying my wood in bulk so a kit doesn't cost me near as much as long as I cut my own. Wish I had a friend with a laser cutter though. Then I would have a huge stock pile of kits on hand.