I believe that if you're gonna get into to it just jump into the deep end. (no scratch building - yet ...) Actually, I have finished fuse w/ tail feathers for a Sea Dancer - no wing. I do have plans for the wing. And, I just bought a cheapo band saw yesterday.

My favorite author on building is Harry Higley. Why invent when you can plagiarize! Initially I wanted my planes to look good. I quickly discovered that flyin' good is way more better 'n lookin' good!

I'm in the middle of doing a parts inventory labeling all the wood to make it a bit easier (RCKen's contribution to my "best practices"). Figuring what gets tossed, what gets replaced and what wasn't included. So far there are maybe 3 pieces of long balsa stock that needs to be "reshaped". Pretty soft stock. Also, not sure where they go so assembly may just absorb the bends (at least they are 1-way bends, nothing with compounded twists).

TTFN,

Btw - I did read the Kaos sticky thread in the Pattern "room". Thanks for the heads up.