I don't know what ARF kit you got you're hands on but it must of been made in the 70's.[sm=lol.gif]
I have thrown together many ARFS in the last 2 years and NEVER had one that you had to join 2 pushrods with a setscrew.
As far as some guys throwing away the hardware that comes with the kit..never had to here and NEVER had a crash because of a clevise failure,plastic breaking,structural failure,ect.,I have purchased expensive "suppose to be great" LD and they were crap.
Maybe had a faulty fuel tank here and there.
Companys included in my experience are...World Models,Kyosho,Phoenix,Seagull,H9.
Just my 2 cents
Let me add though,some pushrod wire was junk...try to put a Z bend in spring steel like the instructions say and it will break everytime.[:@]