The good news is that the more you build, the less you need instructions... Instruction booklets are relatively new - "Back in the day", all we had was the plans with a few notes on 'em, and maybe a pic of the finished model. When it comes to the instruction manual, it eventually is relegated to the "source of last resort" if a builder is stuck...

Some instructions are better than others, even from the same manufacturer, as you found out the hard way... Building is a lot of fun, and I suggest you get some feedback from the folks here before you launch on your next project! No sense in repeating your agony on your next kit...

Cheers!

Jim