ORIGINAL: Mr. Mugen
Arf's come with size appropriate hardware (not always the best), where kits usually leave you the builder to decide what you need. This can be frustrating when you only have catalogs and online ordering available. Getting what you think will work in the mail, then finding it is too big or small can turn some off. I know of a dozen or so folks that started building kits and still haven't finished them (or ventured into the hobby any further) due to lack of knowledge. I guess this is a pro for arf's in a way.
That ain't necessarialy so. There are a lot of hardware items that are not available from any manufacturer, and so we make them ourselves. You ever see a really trick control horn? Chances are that the builder made it. Or how about a really scale tail wheel? There is not one that is available for the Waco YMF, so I made my own. It even has shock absorbing capabilities as well. The same applies to the strut mounts and the flying wire pads. Just because someone does not make it, does not mean that you have to compromise the scale aspect of modelling.
Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1