I think I explained that above, raptureboy. But I'll have a go at it again. I finished my writing for today.

The Syssa was the exact weight needed for the Super Stearman's nose. No lead, not one ounce. The photo above shows it on the CG machine, nice and level.

I wasn't about to use the linkages that GP provided, or the flexy tubes they ran through. That's ARF 101, rule 1. "Don't use the linkages the Mfr supplies, unless they're Sullivan or Goldberg, or DuBro, or Central Hobbies (aftermarket quality)."

It's a fairly expensive ARF, and the Syssa is an expensive motor, so I made sure to use beefy linkages made of carbon fiber, and strong servos. I'm planning on flying it for a long time. Visuals come second to durability; within reason, of course. The stock setup used in the GP Super Stearman leaves much to be desired, and in my opinion, places the model at risk.

Full-scale planes often have linkages visible.

Beyond 25 feet, those servos are all but invisible. On a moving model, even more so. I stopped doing scale many years ago. Too much effort to create a model that weighs far too much to fly well, and there's too little return for the effort.

Those servos are accessible clear back to the control horn on the surface, so I can preflight them easily. On the ground, the linkages are under the stab. Very little shows. Look under the stab of a full-scale sometime.

As for power, The original trainers had 220 HP Continentals (Army) and 225 HP Lycomings (Navy).

After the war, the Super Stearmans were outfitted with 450 HP 978, as well as 600 HP R-1340. Those with the R-1340 barely roll-out, they mostly just leap off the ground. Used mostly for spraying and heavy hauling. The 450s were most used in the aerobatics. In fact, it's not a Super Stearman if it doesn't have at least a 450 HP in it.

Nothing wrong with having a lot of power in a Bipe. If you're going to power-up a bird, a Bipe is the one to do it with. Like the full-scale version, we have that little thing called a throttle that we can refrain from using upon occasion.

I don't go crazy with power, and I don't care about unlimited vertical. I do sometimes find myself in a hurry to get back up where I can start another flat-spin, and it's helpful then.

Lead has no other use than being heavy. Any other use is impossible. The Syssa can and sometimes IS used for a little more speed or power. It has a use. AND it does what the lead did, to boot.

If you put CA hinges into a plane, you've installed an expiration date. I use Robart Pin hinges in anything larger than a .25 size.

In summary, I have learned - over the past 35 years of flying and crashing RC models - that function and durability come first. I like a model that looks like a real plane (Stearman, Taylorcraft, etc.), but they don't have to look EXACTLY like one. I DON'T like sticks and models that don't look like a real plane, even at a distance. I like super-dependable engines and motors, like the Syssa and the Saitos, and I'm willing to shell out extra to have that extra dependability in my models (see FUNCTION above). I like economy, and my Syssa flies a full hour on 16 ounces of gas mix. My Saitos sip the glow fuel. Any Saito larger than a 1.00 does not sip fuel, so I use a gasser like a Syssa from there.

Everything I do when building my RC models is done for a reason, and all of my reasons revolve around function, dependability, durability, and ease of use. because "Pretty" all by itself just doesn't cut it when the wind is blowing hard, and you're out there flying anyway.

Hope that helps!

~ Jim ~[8D]