My own story is very similar and the Ring Master my dad and I built in the late 50s was also in my "must relive" list
I too, paid way too much for a old original Sterling S-1 kit. But, well before I found it, I had experienced several 1/2a and larger LASER kits with good wood , better instructions, and lots of hints and building, covering, trimming advice from these forums
Not to take away from Pat King's excellent selection of great kits
There are actually several good Ring Master resources
Pat King
Brodak
Pat Johnston
RSM...Eric Rule
I am sure I am forgetting a few other sources
I have one RSM / Eric Rule --Mike Griffin S-1 with older Fox 35 that runs / flys well for my meager skills
One of my 2 1/2a Ringmaster Bi-planes is from Pat King with a Cox Medalion on the nose...I fly each every year during the RM Fly a Thon*
Also a scratch build one with a OS LA 25 on the nose that is also fun and easy to fly
and I am still building a 526 RM from Pat Johnston intended for a EVO 36
I recently acquired many OS LA 40 and OS LA 46s so may get Pat Johnston to cut me his 576 sized RM for one of the engines
Any way...welcome back to the dizzy side
You can not go wrong with ANY of the more modern Laser kits IMO
BUT the real fun is the first flight , sound, smell and giddy nervous trepidation of way back when...
MY first RM flight took me back--- while in flight ----to helping my dad, then later his helping me... grin, laughter, tears
BTW I fondly remember zooming all over the neighborhood on my bike getting pop bottles to cash in at Safeway for enough cents to buy a few ozs of fuel for the weekend flying
* not sure if you are aware
Brother Hood of the Ring web site forum is all about Ring Masters
Each year is a RM round Up in Houston
Annually all over the world people participate in the RM Fly A Thon