One of the most heartening things I've read lately is a guy on the beginners forum who built a 24" free-flight stick-n-tissue Lancer as a practice build. That's probably the way a lot of us (older) fliers got our beginnings.

I've always been a little hesitant to go from plans alone, but I'm losing that fear. Really, what is there in a kit beyond the die cut or laser cut parts that makes it special? I was looking at the 1930 Fleet (56" wingspan) on the AMA site and other than the wing ribs (but, oh, does it have ribs: full ribs, half ribs, nose ribs, tail ribs, eeeee), there is nothing that requires a die cut part. Looks like a scaled up Guillows free flight biplane with stringers and frames.

Bill's WACO Brotherhood may be the wave of the furture. A niche filler - like the firms that make flintlock mechanisms for guys who want to build their own muzzleloading rifles.