OK, I'm thoroughly biased, and I'm also putting together a Pete 'N Poke. Carving, sanding....none of those have ever bothered me. There's something very satisfying about taking a piece of raw material and making an airplane or airplane part appear. You can reach a sort of Zen meditative state as you move the plane across the wood, making those nice, curly shavings.

Since I've been building balsa models for the past 50 years or so, it's the end result that I want. Carving, sanding...it's all part of the journey. Just like the view from the top of the mountain is the end result. The problem is that you have to climb the thing first....but the view makes it worthwhile.

Just take your time, and see each step as one more towards the end result.

bax