Where does cutting the printwood parts from an old Megow, Kitco or Comet type kit fall in this poll?

Frankly, after 61+ years of building from kits, plans, own ideas, and even a few ARFs,   my favorite is to draw up my own plans, cut out and fit the parts, and to see the finished product fly.  Because of things like work, school, and raising a family, most of the planes (RC, CL, and FF) I've built have been from kits.  I've only built one plane, a Jimmie Allen FF rubber powered job, from a Bob Holloman laser cut short kit.  I have not to this date, and probably will not in the future, purchase cutom cut components. 

However, the older I get, the more I see an advantage to getting parts from plans custom cut to save myself the time.

I am just now starting my first build from a set of plans and I am going to cut the parts myself. I have built a number of airplanes from kits and have for the most part enjoyed the builds. I would say that what I am looking for in a build from plans would be the challenge of trying something new and the ability to control the parts that go into the airplane. When you are making your own parts, you can look look at the plans and say " I would rather do it like this".

Bill

    I voted to cut my own. One thing I really dislike about laser cut kit parts is the Black Carbon Residue all over the parts. It smears all over your hands and the wood, by the time you get finished sanding or cleaning the various parts to remove the Burnt edges, you might as well have cut the parts yourself.

    I guess I just like the look of clean construction even in places where you won't see it, Just my opinion.

John

I voted for a short kit, only because right now the time it takes to cut out the parts would take away from the limited time I find to build. I have a lot of plans I plan on cutting the parts myself for hopefully when I get my time more organized.

Cheers.