This thread has just about eliminated every ARF on the market... I have had nothing but good experiences with all the cheap model pushers such as CMP, Fly-Model RC, KMP Etc.... I also do allot of kit building and I think that is the reason I have had good luck.

When I get an arf I take the default setup as a suggestion and pay allot of time and attention looking for possible problems and fixing them. I know it is not fair marketing but the cheap "arfs" need to be treated more like build projects and less like a "follow the steps" assembly project. I think that the lack of "simple assembly" is the true price we pay for trying to save an extra few bucks.

Some things I have learned about these cheap arfs:
1. Read The Manual... all for pages - "thanks CMP"
2. Replace the hardware
3. Re-enforce the glue joints
4. Look for possible issues. When found, improvise adapt and overcome
5. Balance the model 3-5mm in front of mfg recommendation for the first flight.

I have several of these models in my gallery.. All are still flying..