I used to scratch build my own CL models when I was 12. My father taught me as he was very skilled with his hands. When I was 15, I built my first kit. A kit that never flew due to lack of money to purchase the radio. I came back to this hobby two years ago (I was 42 then). I built my trainer, a GP PT-40. I know I paid as twice as any RTF or ARF trainer in the market, but the pleasure of flying my own and unique trainer was priceless. I have built three more kits after my trainer.

I only have one ARF that I bought from a co-worker. It was a good deal that could not pass. However, I spent more than 20 hours fixing the ARF at many weak points that craked at the first landing. Now the ARF is as solid as any other of my kits.

I have three more kits to build for this winter. But as many other, I am seeing less and less kits available in the market. It worries me a lot. To me, more than half of the pleasure is in the building process. Specially when one time, I took me four hours to do a lateral balance in one of my planes. I know, I exagerated. But the test was that the plane was stand still for more than 30 mins in perfect level. Then the covering, etc.

I hope we can continue seeing kits. I have also thought about accumulating some kits for future building.