It is not my intention to fuel some level of "arguement" about Emil Neely's design of the original Ikon N'west kits. This thread finds itself bridging the subject of building...period.
What was, isn't. That is true for many aspects of this hobby. Many people who are enjoying "flying" r/c would not be in the hobby if it were not for ARFs/ARCs and puzzle lock interlocking parts designs which require only reading paragraph after paragraph of directions and looking at the pretty obvious photos contained there in. That we all can agree.
However, there is a learning curve modelers who entered this hobby prior to the mid-80's have experienced which for the most part, the majority of modelers entering since have not had to "endure and survive" to progress to flying a what ever.
People do not enter the hobby because they envision themselves flying a trainer. They envision themselves flying a scale whatever. The more current the timeline...that includes helicopters and jets more than ever before due to electric power effeciencies having advanced and reduced the experience required to achieve what "were" considered high skill set modeling arenas.
Contrary to the too easy to say statement that building is dead...there are more quality kits, plans, and construction material/tools than have ever existed. What there is a shortage of is discreationary time of the current household. You simply have alternative family activities, $ commitments, and constraints on discreationary time due to the two worker household.
To achieve the afore mentioned desire to fly other than a "trainer", the modeler constantly seeks the express route that requires less time and that translates into more available time for all the above.
At a point downstream these people turn back and want to experinece flying something different and are typically not finding it as an ARF/ARC and turn to looking into what is required to build it...or buy and fly as I refer to it. This includes buying a kit or a plan built design from a professional builder. Recent changes in various contest protocols embrace the latter to improve their presentation value and of course its a numbers game.
However, into this is rising a % of modelers who are beginning to build from either plans or investigating building from scratch.
The two are not the same, no matter how loud plan builders scream they are the same...
So, after all these words it boils down to what to expect from old school designed kits, modern day CAD conversions of old school designs available as either short or full kits with laser or router CNC cut parts. That is where this discussion is and not about Emil, Iris, or Aaron.
Discussion groups provide what many consider a place they can flame, blast, defame, or critique the behavior of whomever and feel there is no consequence for their statements and line of thought they desire to cast upon people they aim their text and personal thoughts and expressions at.
If you have an opinion, that is fine as long as it is civil. I would hate to see this thread beat those associated with what Emil and Iris worked hard to create when there were no other designers willing to go out on a limb to design giant scale model "kits".
This is of course my personal opinion and not necessarily that of RCU...though reading the usage guidelines one could think otherwise... : )