Most ARF's are manufactured somewhere in Asia however that is not neccessarily true with Kits. Its quite common for any given wholesalers design Arf and kit versions to be made in entirely different countrys and subtle differences do creep in.

Your airplane if carefully built (that means light) will out perform the ARF everytime. Build it as designed and concentrate on learning to fly. Save the reengineering for later and a more appropriate airplane.

John