ORIGINAL: CGRetired
I have mixed emotions about both. And as mclina said, there is a lot to be said about building the plane from a kit, and as Stickbuilder said too, but I think he is more of a stick builder (as his moniker states) meaning he buys balsa, buys the plans, then cuts the wood according to the plan, and builds accordingly. Now that's really building, and I've never tried that part, and don't think I have the time, talent, nor the patients for that kind of build.
But kits come in all sizes and difficulty levels. Most modern ones come with laser cut parts which makes that part a snap.
I put my first trainer together, it was a kit. It was fun to put together, but I had the time. When I discovered ARF's, I found that I could assemble (note I didn't say build..) them in a few nights, and be flying by that weekend. It's all a matter of what you want and how much time you can devote to it. Don't cut your time short, allow plenty of time for either an ARF or a KIT. And, if you want to scratch build, as Stickbuilder does.. well, add a little talent to that mix..
CGr.
CGR,
You are actually pretty close. I'll lay it out as it actually is. First you have the ARF. Everyone knows how it works. Then you have building from kits, where you buy a kit, and it comes with the wood, and the plans, and a few of the hardware items. Then you have plans building, where you order the plans from the draftsman, buy the wood, cut the parts, or have them cut by a kit cutting company, and build the kit. Lastly, you have what I do, which is to take a clean sheet of paper, and draw your own plans, buy the wood, cut the parts, and build the plane. That is not something that I would reccomend someone just starting out to do. Buy a simple kit, such as the 4 star, or if you can find one, one of Bruce Thorpe's Venture 60's. They almost build themselves, and fly great. Work your way up, and if you get frustrated, find a thread on that model, and expect tons of assistance.
Bill, Waco Brother #1