I've built a couple of kits in my short flying days & it seems the more I do the better I get. My last kit was a 4 star 120 & the top side I would have to say came out as good as any ARF (solid red color though) On the bottom I striped the wings & elevators with white to make it look like a big peperment. This I have to say will take me a few more times to get it to look as good as the top side did. I think the biggest thing is the closer we get to getting done the bigger hurry we get in to either just get it done & out of the way or fly it
(sometimes I suffer from both!!) I think it just takes pratice & lots of patience.