ORIGINAL: bob1393
I didn't read all the responses, but I don't think anybody mentioned my reasons for liking ARF's. I've been building kits for 30 years, and I feel I do a good job at building, but I DON'T do a good job FINISHING. Thus I just started doing ARFS about a year ago, and I like the way they are finished. Many are fiberglass fuselages which look great. Unless you are an expert painter, or great at putting on heat shrink film, the ARFS just look better. Of course with a kit, you can always hire somebody to paint or finish it for you.
My 2c.
Bob
Bob, looks like you are at my neck of the woods, I'm in Tacoma, used to live at Port Orchard, perhaps some day we could go flying together, also, if you want to drop by my shop on your next kit build, I'll be happy to cover it with Ultracoat pro bono. After years of covering with paper, I discovered Ultracoat and it's turned from a nightmare, toxic fume mess to pretty much a breeze, it's a little heavier, but I like the lower heat it takes to get it to shrink and stretch. After hearing about this guy that has a video on covering with it, one of his examples being able to cover a tennis ball with the stuff, I was even more inspired, this stuff can bend around so many curves, it's incredible.
I still have a few arf's in my hanger, 2 need some serious repair, one is flyable, but I'm going to tear off the covering and redo that end this summer, photo of it is attached. I was so impressed with the carbon fiber tubing on the leading edge, I incorporate that into all of my stick builds these days, and in fact, have learned a thing or two from the construction elements with some of these ARF's that now go into the kit/scratch scene.
JNorton, also again, in agreement with you, it's nice to have a bunch of adults discuss a topic without it turning into a debate or flame war, this shows our maturity level and we are all being very constructive about it all.