I think that I expect an ARC or ARF to be off a bit. Maybe I'm a bit jaundiced these days, but after 52 years of building planes (I began when I was 4), I have rarely found a perfect model that came from a manufacturer.

Having said that I just built a Great planes Chipmunk with plug on stabs and 3 piece wing that was right on. My PINNACLE was beautifully-right! My IMPACTS were finished on the outside, straight, but needed a meter to set the wing and stab tubes. My BRIO has a straight wing and stab tube but needs a lot of finishing before it can be covered and painted.

The point being that it depends upon what you want, what you like, and what you worry about doing to a plane the most.

1. If it is alignment, be ready to do some work on an IMPACT.
2. If it is finishing get ready to get help or do the work on a BRIO!
3. If it is all of the above, get a PINNACLE and be ready to do some "stealth" work on your bank account... :-)

Regards,

Eric.