I'll try and locate the book you mentioned. I'm not trying to really scale this thing out. I just have never liked flying tail draggers and have always liked they way trik gear look.

On determining the nose wheel weight - I'm guessing the RTR weight on this will be around 8 pounds or so. I was thinking I would move the main gear around until I see about 1.5 pounds on the nose using a digital scale. Or do you have better idea.

I was considering building the clipped wing version but was not sure. I will be using electric power and I usually finish my planes with glass cloth and paint. There's not alot of increased weight when I do this but I am thinking between the extra weight of the nose wheel, the batteries and the finish I may stay with the full wing. I have never been that great of a pilot and may need to keep the wing loading down just to be safe.

Thanks for ya'lls help.