I can also agree with buying a kit. My first combat ship was the lanier Ripper which is an open A / SSC plane and actually come to think of it, its still my first combat plane.
I like the plane a lot. With the right motor and mousse can pipe, all i can say is WOW!!! Unfortuantly open A is slowly fading away, which SSC is taking its place. Thinking of dropping the cva and putting in the LA to stay legal.