A lot of chatter about a particular plane kit can be contagious too. The internet forums provide up-close exposure to product I may never have given a second glance at in a magazine or catalog. Praise from other hobbyists is so much more credible to me than that sticky boiler plate drivel so many manufacturers love to coat their advertising with. "Acme is pleased to announce the greatest thing.....Be the envy of the flying field with....." Even the glowing magazine "reviews" seem to me a conflict of interest.

A build thread presents the good, bad, and ugly as well as "here's what I did about it". No question, a detailed build thread of the TopFlite Stinson Reliant convinced me I needed one.