You are absolutely right about scratch building.
You made me curious how many parts a have bought from HK - sorted my spreadsheet and only counted the HXT500 and HXT900 and got the sum of 191 small servos. Most of my planes are small < 6' span so i can use HXT 900 for most things like rud ail flap a.s.o..
So far i will get the balsa and covering locally but there are plenty of escs and brushless motors from the smallest up to about 800W. I have only ordered 2 ARF from HK as the freight cost and other exenses often makes it about the same to order within EU. I am starting to build two oldtimer planed this x-mas. Falcon 56 is one - known all over the world ? The other one is called RC Viking and won the (world) championship of 1 ch RC 1958.
Lots of things you cant buy at HK :
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/313437/ac0ba5cb3b/49/efbf9e6afc/