Geez man, those pics look GOOD!!! As far as the right thrust goes, I really wouldn't worry a whole lot about that anyway. That critter's got a looooooooooong fuse and I'd be willing to bet that just a bit of rudder on launch will more than do the job. Your layout (radio, etc) really sounds pretty fair too and I'm sure you're not gonna need tail weight. And even if you do, all it's gonna take is moving the batteries back a bit - easy as pie!

I was truly wondering about your motor mount screws but now that I've seen them I feel a whole lot better. You can tow my van with that screw mount!!!! I know very little about the electric motor set-ups but one thing I've heard over and over is "cooling" - sometimes related to the motor, sometimes related to the ESC. As you're doing the final set-up, make sure you've got good flow all around up there.

As far as your "landing gear" goes - if it were me (and remember, I believe in SIMPLE) I'd go with fixed gear with nose & tail skids. I agree 100,000% with "no retract with doors", you're just asking for repairs every time you land on anything other than a perfectly smooth/manicured airstrip. A fixed wheel can be faired in so that practically nothing other than the bottom of the tire is actually exposed to the wind and that's going to present almost no drag that way. I mentioned "nose" skid - might be something to think about to help protect that prop, should she nose over a bit on landings. Wouldn't have to be much. Tail skid though, I'd think that would pretty much be a "gotta-have" to protect that rudder.

I learned, finally, about the value of a tail skid after tearing off enough rudders on gliders - the BoT's skid is actually nearly twice what the plans called for and it's just barely enough, the grass at the park is rarely cut short enough (for my tastes anyway) and she really drags through the grass on landings. Another thing I did with the BoT, but don't recommend with your bird, is that I built a chin under the nose - actually extended the fuse down - to protect the tow hook on landings. It's the old family gremlin showing it's ugly head, every glider I've ever flown has had at least a half dozen tow hooks broken off when she hit a rock or something while touching down. I get tired of replacing them!!!! So, the BoT's got the chin and I worry a whole lot less about those broken hooks.

Naw, didn't make the fly-in - had the Sr. Falcon, BoT &Champ up in Baltimore for a fly-in of "oldies" there. Talked to several of the guys in H'burg though. They're planning on doing the same thing next Spring and I'm planning to be there then.

Your field sounds great!!!!!!!! I might just bring a couple of my birds with me when I come down there. I'm thinking Falcon, BoT, Champ & Butterfly (4-stroke .26) - fly whichever strikes my fancy at the time (or all of 'em, who knows?!). An XC run down from the mountain - CLASSIC!!!!!!!! I've never been near one of those - that sounds like an incredible way to spend a day! If you do it - I definitely want an invite. But, you're right - get her up first and THEN think about XC runs. Gotta tell ya though, if she flies just half as good as she looks, your maiden run might nearly be an XC flight. Probably gonna have time to get out the grill and do some dogs and burgers before she touches down.

Press-on man, press-on!!

Dave

((pic - shows BoT's "chin" ))