The LT25 is NOT a scaled down LT40.

For one, the LT25 is almost 100% balsa. The only light ply in the whole kit is the landing gear brace, the wing brace and the firewall. The '40 has a lite ply fuse.

The LT25 is a taildragger with a pull-pull rear wheel.

The '25 comes in at almost 2 lbs lighter and will fly circles around it's big brother.

Unless you have a large selection of balsa sitting around, I doubt you could build one from scratch for the same price as a kit. If money's the point the kit is the better choice.

Good luck