Ray,
Sounds like you're all wound up and you should be you're gonna really enjoy this cub.
As for a building time....someone beside me should answer that. I tend to build very slow (especially on kits) I'd almost rather build than fly so I take my time. It's such a well designed plane you should have no problem, the engine mounting takes the most time but the rest just falls in place if you follow the instructions. Who had the ad for an interior?


Builder Jim,
Are you sure you don't have the front and rear lift struts reversed? My front measures 27 3/4" (just the streamlined strut without the screw ends) and the rear is 28" That 1/4" difference may be your problem if they are reversed?
Just looked at your post again and you said your struts don't line up, maybe your jury struts are reversed? the rear is 5.1" long and the front is 4.7" maybe that's why you had to unscrew the lift strut so much. Would also make your lift struts not line up. Just a thought from my feeble mind this morning but then I haven't had my second cup of coffee yet.

Bud