RW, that's neat history. You sound pretty much like me-messing around as a kid. Had a Jr Ringmaster, CG Buster with a Fox Rocket 35, couple of Guillows Trainer IIs, a Veco Brave that a friend let me have. (I still have the O&R 23 that was in it.) Bunches of CG 1/2A things like the Lil Toot.

Actually, if you were to compare similar profile and full-fuse planes, all else being equal, the built-up will be lighter and stiffer. You can make fuselage sides out of 1/16th inch balsa on a 40 size stunter. Look at how much wood is in a 1/2 inch slab of balsa. I've been messing with a Brodak Fancy Pants kit. I really dislike the fuselage on that plane and am drawing a new design fuse around the wing. But anyway, I built a replacement fuselage using Tom Morris's truss method. The rear half of my test fuse (From the center of the wing aft) weighs 10 grams. Built of 1/16th sheet and 1/8th square sticks. And plenty strong.

The kits I've worked with that are great are those from Walt Umland, Larry Richards, and RSM. I haven't seen these myself, but all reports are that the Ultra Hobby, Randy Smith, and Tom Niebeur(sp?) kits are outstanding. Then there is a kit cutter named Joe Grasso. I have two of his RC kits and they are easily the best I've ever seen. Period, end of sentence. I have never, in 40 years, seen anything like his work. Amazing. The bug in the soup is that he only custom cuts small quantities. Now, a couple of us are looking for a design that we think significant enough to ask Joe to do a handfull of kits. One that we are excited about is the Steve Buso Hercules. Have a look at the Aero Products web site under plans for a small sample. If you think you might be interested, let me know and we'll keep you in the loop about our progress. Or if you have a suggestion, we'd be glad to hear it. The kits I have of his were $165-175. Not cheap, but a very good value at the price. All hand work.

Edit for the Nobler. The Nobler was designed around the Veco 31 and Fox 35 Stunt type motors. The 40s are actually overkill. They are more power than is absolutely needed for a Nobler and are heavier than the classic Fox. Not to say that a 40 Nobler isn't fine, it is. It's just not the only way to go. A light Nobler will fly pretty well on a good 25. It's likely that the wind will push it around, is all.

Regards,
Kelvin

ps I hear the Walt Umland has sold his line of kits. I can't verify that.