Ed,
You are right about the evolution of the kit. The old A model is a mess by today's standards, but in '86, there were hardly any jet models with pre-cut wood and sheeted wings at all so they were attractive to the prospective jet guys back then. Those built into very light, good-flying planes, though. The newest kit is a totally different animal as you've said. Everything is modular. The wings come off; the stabs come off; the tail-cone comes off; the fin comes off and even the ventral fins come off (the way I install them). When I'm done with this, I'll be able to ship it in the same box it came in. Some parts of the build feel like a chore, but it's pretty neat when you're in it, working on it.