Let me put in my $.02 about Midwest kits. I just finished a Midwest Citabria. The kit was very complete, well packaged and had good quality woods. The parts fit together properly, for the most part, the plans and instruction manual were easy to follow and thorough and I had no trouble following them (except as noted below). I don’t have a lot of experience with other kits to be able to make a comparison so I can’t say if what I got was better then something else that’s out there. I would most likely buy another Midwest kit in the future.

I do have a few complaints … I ended up buying some 1/16 sheeting and a couple of “sticks”, I don’t remember what size, because I didn’t go through the plans carefully enough to ensure that I had everything that I needed. My fault entirely. But, had the manual been clear about what I needed it wouldn’t have happened. The manual called for a couple of pieces of 8” X 3” X 1/16” sheeting for the tail feathers yet the kit only contained 10” X 3” X 1/16” sheeting which the manual called out to by used on the wings. I thought I’d been shorted and went out and bought what I needed. It wasn’t until I completed the wings that I realized they had included extra pieces of 10” X 3” X 1/16” … I didn’t care much for the PVC wheel pants and cowling. Fortunately, I found a cowling in the surplus bin at my local hobby shop. I’ll probably replace the wheel pants later or perhaps remove them once I start flying the plane. Fiberglass specialties carries most fiberglass replacements for the kit supplied PVC pieces - http://www.fiberglassspecialtiesinc.com/catalog.pdf

That’s it. Generally speaking a very nice kit and an enjoyable process. I was amazed that the CG came out exactly as called out in the plans when I was done. I ended up having to place the receiver batteries at the CG to maintain it, no added weight whatsoever. Although I was a little less then half a pound heavier then the prototype, with a fiberglass cowl, scale tailwheel and a Magnum engine to a Saito in the prototype.

john