Doug -
Welcome!
I'm a fountain pen fanatic, and frankly, I haven't found the perfect kit yet. The basic issue comes down to design (most are too ornate), the use of snap caps rather than screw caps, and the use of multiple and/or odd size tubes (which then requires that you invest in multiple drills, multiple barrel trimmers, etc - creating business for the suppliers but unnecessary cost for the penturner).
I can tell you that I will never buy another CSUSA Artisan kit - it's a snap cap design (I prefer a screw cap), the extended metal end on the body makes the balance unnatural, and converters don't seat properly and can easily come out.
So far, my favorite is the Big Boy cigar from PSI. Screw cap and nicely balanced, without that ugly protrusion at the back end. Unfortunately, the selection of platings is very limited (like a Ford, any color you want as long as its 24k gold).
