i build from scratch as well, but am fortunate to have access to dtfb. mine flies very well, but i have to cut the aileron throws way down due to my brain still trying to steer with my right hand. had a few takeoff cartwheels because of itI built a mini cub took me ages to get the right motor battery setup, had loads of crashes until I got the right combo. Still not an easy plane to get in the air and land, but once its up there its fun. The full size version was better, once I got the teething problems sorted I could at least take off land it.
I use a heavier form of foamboard as I build them all from scratch, so I always have to make adjustments to get the FT models to fly how they should. That's except for: The FT Flyer and Tiny trainers, they fly straight away no problem.
trying to build a 6mm depron buschtrottel from dtfb was a whole nuther experience