Have flowen the real thing and the hostler. Very Simular! The hostler is a builders kit, you need to everything unless you can find a short kit or something from a keit cutting company. otherwise you get the plans and any other part (cowl, landing gear, wheel pants). there is no balso/lite-ply. The hostler tri-pacer i flew was about 10 years old, a little heavy and under powered, it still flew nice and smooth. good luck!