ORIGINAL: PilotFighter
I started out back in the late 1970's. There were just a few ARF s back then they were extremely expensive. Most people, incuding myself couldn't afford them. And I do mean 99% of us couldn't afford them. 300 bucks for a 40 size ARF back then was like paying 1200 bucks now.
Over the years, however, the ARFs have gotten cheaper and cheaper. The quality of some of the ARFs was questionable for a while, but most of them seem pretty good now. In fact, I am building an Aeroworks Edge 540 ARF now and I think the quality is remarkable. It is an American made ARF.
I do still build kits. But I only build OOP vintage scale kits. If I'm going to go to all the trouble of building the entire airplane, I want it to be something pretty special and unique. My aerobats are all ARFs. Fly those like you stole them!
Are you missing out on anything by not building ? That depends on the person. Some love it and find they have a real talent for it, a gift. Some folks just make a mess and get frustrated and hate it. I started building models when I was 6. Plastic cars and airplanes. Then came model railroads. At 18, I stumbled across an RC field. Wow, you mean other people get to see your models ? It was nirvana. I loved it all. Still do. But I might go a year without building anything. Or a project might set idle for a year sometimes. I only build when I feel like it. And frankly, without other builders around to egg me on, I do find it difficult to finish a project sometimes. Back in the day, all your buddies would raz you until you finished. It helped somehow. And in a way, you built for them. I won't say it was a competition. At least I don't think it was. But, we would, as a group venture into a particular aspect of aviation together. We would all build float planes or pylon racers, or STOL airplanes. So, there was the experience that you weren't alone. And there was this artificial deadline. Oh God, don't let them be out there having fun without me. Finish this thing.
Thats the way it was. Some people miss it and blame the young for dropping the tradition. It isn't the same hobby. Its a different hobby now. Its still good. Maybe better in some ways. We are a little less connected as people. But the stuff is better.