The Kadet was my first venture into rc also. The only modifictions that I did were to the pushrods and the hinges. I am rather new at this, and I have talked to alot of veterans and they all say the same thing about the hardware packages in the ARF's. " THROW IT AWAY, AND BUY THE GOOD STUFF. I am working on my 4th airplane and I have alway's used that advice, and, so far, I have only crashed 1 plane, and that was my fault. WRONG MODEL ON MY COMPUTER RADIO. I was able to repair her and she flew again. Anyway, back to the Kadet. After I solo'ed with it, I bought a solid set of main landing gear, and mounted them with nylon bolts. The factory wire gear had been bent, and rebent, during training. That was the best 10bucks I've ever spent. I dont recomend this untill you have gotten profficient with your landing's though. The solid type gear will not bend on rough landing's. It'll rip the bottom of your plane out. I sold mine, and I wish I never did. They are great flying airplanes. Good Luck and Have Fun. Daryl