Interesting, I thought the full-up elevator technique was pretty common for most grass fields. I use it all the time at the fairly rough (for R/C models) grass strip I fly out of, although never a "textbook" soft-field takeoff.......no need to stay in ground effect immediately after liftoff, usually just haul back and let it climb. Come to think of it, I guess I didn't use this technique as much on the smoother field I used to fly from, at least not at first. These days I typically hold full-up elevator when taxiing as well, in both tricycle and taildragger models.

Both of my "conventional" 4-channel trainers were ARFs. I thoroughly enjoy building though, and frankly I doubt I'll ever own another ARF. But I got nothing against them, they're just another way for folks to enjoy this great hobby.

There are plenty of reasons to build, but probably the main motivation for many people (certainly for myself) is that it makes the plane more "mine". You see firsthand exactly how the plane is constructed, you select just what kind of glues, techniques, hardware, etc go into the model, and have assurance that it's done the way you want. How often do you look at a completed job (like building or repairing something, or creating something like music, writing, art, whatever) and don't see at least some small detail you'd have done differently? It's not necessarily an inferior method, it's just not "your" method.

But for other folks, this stuff isn't a big deal. If you don't really enjoy building, and don't get finnicky about the kinds of things I mentioned above, then it probably doesn't make much sense to build, unless of course the plane you want is only available as a kit.

I do admit the increase in ARF models kinda annoys me sometimes........occasionally I see an ad for a plane that I want to model, only to find out it's an ARF! Bleh. [sm=tongue.gif]

-Matt Bailey