Some people believe starting with a pile of balsa and a plan and making an airplane out of it wheather or not you accually drew the plan is scratch building. But that is an argument for another day. Start with a simple plane you can always cover it in military colors. Look in ama magazine there is tons of choices you can get for about 10 bucks or so. Find one with a constant chord wing that way you can cut all the ribs from a stack if you have access to a band saw or make one out of plywood and cut out the rest with an ecato knife. Keep it simple for your first try. There will be no greater feeling than watching something you made go up in the sky. good luck skyflyer