ORIGINAL: RaceCity
You can skip a great deal of the secret science, and instead concentrate your effort on building the model STRAIGHTER and LIGHTER and that will make even the most homely looking design fly incredibly well.
This is VERY, VERY true. Light and straight are trumpcards. That's why certain people have been building airplanes for other people and are in very high demand. They've learned how to build light and straight. the fundamentals of model building.
Just like the story I heard of a professional drummer in the L.A. recording scene. He didn't have lightning speed, no flashy moves, no highly-complex rythmic abilities, but he was a master of tempo. He could lock in and hold any tempo. He never lacked for work. He provided the most highly-prized resource other musicians wanted in a drummer: He could set and hold a beat. Very fundamental to good music.
Fundamentals...just like in modeling. You'd be surprised what can fly when it's light and straight.