I would also recommend AGAINST building a kit the first time out. Unless you have all winter to work on it. Many of the experience modelers on this board consider that to be heresy but I think they are just full of crap. I'm going to build a kit on my second, but if I had tried the first time out, it would have taken months and I would have been afraid to scratch it.
Ghostbear,
My comment was based entirely on your statement....
Normally when someone is in a position to "recommend" a course of action that another should follow they are speaking from Experience plain and simple...
By your own admission you are new to this. Your entire experience is one kit. Don't get mad I'm not putting you down.
Everybody has to start somewhere.
As far as how long a kit should take it does depend on the individual. But Trainer kits are normally designed to be easy to fly and build when compared to other types of kit planes. There purpose before ARF's was and still is to teach basic construction and flying skills.
Ghostbear,
Please take note of the sentence you wrote that I bold-ed. Most people in this hobby that would find ARF's Hersey have valid reasons for their opinions which have usually been formed with an item you currently lack experience. Hence my response.
I've been Lucky to have had the privilege of knowing many individuals over the last 18 years who have used the knowledge they possess to help those less experienced enjoy this hobby (myself included) and I get infuriated when someone with comparatively less experience makes this type of blanket statement.
I have never in the 18 years I've been doing this not seen a more experienced modeler stop to help the less experienced one. Its one of the things that make this such a great hobby.