18 years after my father and I spent a year kit building a Telemaster 40 and I then subsequently spent 8 seconds taking it off on a first flight at my grandfathers farm and smoking it into the ground thus ending our RC aircraft building/flying endeavor, I've decided to pick it up again. I've spent a lot of time researching on the forums here and elsewhere what I need to get started. I plan on building a Sig LT40. I've figured out most all the things I need to get started as far as tools and equipment and Im ordering/buying that stuff now. I also recently bought a Sears craftsman 6 ft work bench along with some shelving and cabinetry to make a separate building/hobby area in my garage. I'm trying to plan out my work space before I get building.

One thing I'm confused about is a building board set up. The Craftsman workbench has a 1 inch think MDF top. If I can figure out that the top is level, can I not just put something soft enough to pin into (i.e. a ceiling tile or dry wall) and frame up on that? I'd love to get a magnetic board system, but I don't have the cash to sink into that right now. I've read a lot of threads on building boards and I've been looking at pictures of other peoples workshop setups trying to figure out if I should build on top of the Craftsman. Obviously if I had unlimited funds and more space in my garage I would get some huge sturdy metal top, metal framed bench to build on. I may be over thinking this somewhat, but I've read a lot of stuff that says its really imperative to have an absolutely flat surface and I'm just unsure if I can build on top of that bench or need to buy or make a separate building board to lay on top of the bench (like a 2x6 hollow core door)and build on that. I guess as long as the Craftsman top is flat that should be adequate correct? Since I plan on progressing to some more in depth models after the Kadet, I want to get it right from the start.

Thanks!