I've built from plans and enjoy it very much but I have to admit it sometimes gets tedious. Sometimes I reach a point in construction that I don't want to tackle and have to drag myself kicking and screaming back to the project. I think that buying an "Almost Ready to Cover" might be nice in that you could apply what you have learned from scratch building or kit building to improving the aircraft's structure. I don't care for applying covering but I'm OK with it.

I think you may have the same affliction that I have I have never built anything that I've been totally satisfied with. Static display models, black powder rifle kits, fuel powered model boats, planes etc. I am always very critical of my own work. Thankfully my memory fades and years later my completed project looks better and better and I forget my construction regrets and mistakes.

I am getting a Brodak Oriental ARF for Xmas. I thought the plane would come all white so I could apply graphics as I see fit. Unfortunately there is some green and gold trim on it which I will attempt to remove. I am looking forward to just concentrating on proper assembly and flying balance and final trim. This is my first ARF and I think it's going to be fun not getting buried in the minute sanding, cutting, fitting and detail fuss. In the end if it doesn't fly well, providing I have done a proper job of balancing and assembly, I now have somebody else to blame

Bill