I've done 3 with no experience and just watched youtube videos on how to do them. If you do a drop in parts kit then all that is needed is cutting the rails on the receiver and drilling 3 pin holes and then putting the parts together.
If you decide on a match parts kit or buying match parts individually, then every part needs to be hand fit together. Still doable but you will need a lot more specialty tools to finish and it takes a great deal longer. But you get to fit the parts together perfectly and it is much more satisfying to complete one.
Stealth Arms makes a good jig for finishing a receiver by hand (plus a drill). Matrix Precision also makes very good 1911 jigs for finishing a receiver by hand. I have both. The matrix ones are more expensive but make it a lot easier to finish one by hand. There are jigs for using machine shop tools as well but I dont have a milling machine.
search for "mosinvirus" on youtube. He has videos where he makes several 1911's and gives very good step by step instructions
Here is the first one I did.
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