ORIGINAL: TexasSkyPilot
It really is subjective, but even being subjective there are always folks who do (or don't) look at it as you do. For instance, I've been building a Seagull Edge 540, about a Saito-100 size. I remember the linkage being substandard, but then I never expected to use it. I went to the hobby store and bought new Sullivan and Goldberg and DuBro hardware and gas tanks and whatever suited me. I always run a knife along the edge of the fuse bottom and peel it from nose to tailfeathers so that the bottom is open, and I have a field day with my CA glue and whatever else. I replace the bottom with that cool checkerboard covering they sell now when I'm all done installing my radio gear and what-not. Super good price and the plane is really sleek and pretty, and I've saved myself many weeks of building. It allowed me to spend extra time getting that cowl custom-fitted around the Saito 100 heads and muffler and not feel pressured. I'm really going to enjoy the looks of this plane, and time will tell on the flying, but that has gotten good reviews so far. I'll try to post a photo or maybe two here.
Jim
I agree with you 100%, Jim, I also scrap the supplied hardware and use my own. As far as bad arfs, the Sig Somethin' Extra I had was a complete POS. The covering was horrible, I could not get the wrinkles in the wing bays to tighten up, the rear of the fuselage was twisted over 1/4" to the left. I sent Sig an email outlining all the problems I found, their response was that it was all my fault, I should find someone who knows what they're doing to help me, etc., etc. It pissed me off to the point that I will never buy another Sig product as long as I live!