The things I have noticed. For smaller sport planes and trainers it is cheaper to ARF. When you get into bigger and scale models it is cheaper to build a kit. Giant scale stuff is cheaper by far to build.

I build all of my planes. Either from plans, kit or scratch. I enjoy it, and I will not trust anyone else to build my planes. I see too many failed ARF posts here. I am not saying ARF's are bad. I just don't personally trust them. And building as I do I am not limited in any way. I build what I want.

I want to just point out that even to scratch build from plans does not take a pile of money for tools. I use a couple of razor saws, an electric drill, A cheap scroll saw (less than 100$), A few triangles and an assortment of sanders, a metal yardstick, a tape measure and a couple of knives. I use a vise at work. I do not even own a Dremel tool, never needed it. With the saw I have less than 200$ in tools. Yes there are a few tools I want to buy. But these tools will get the job done. There are a coupla cheapie tools I forget but they cost less than 30 bucks. And a box of single edge razor blades and a iron.

I thought I would just point this out. Good luck with your decision.

Mark Shuman