ORIGINAL: PipeMajor
Bob,
Either in kit or ARF form, the LT-40 is hard to beat. I built the kit with my son and thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, it does take additional time compared to assembling an ARF but, if you follow Sig's excellent instructions and RCKen's excellent build thread, you can't go wrong.
One more advantage to building from the kit - it won't necessarily look like everyone else's LT-40 ARF at the field.
Please review the photo/thread I put up a few years ago documenting my son and I soloing on our LT-40. I still cherish that day...
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3477988/tm.htm
Nice looking LT40. I like the color scheme. It's great to get your son involved. My oldest is 10 and he and I started flying last year. He's helping me build too but so far I've limited his activity to smoothing out the ribs with sandpaper.
I'm starting to lean toward the kit after all of the encouraging posts. I think I'll wait to finish the one that's on my board now though, that way I'll have a better idea of my covering skills (or lack thereof!!).
Thanks for all of the posts!