Pete, the DR1 is as done as it is going to get. It looks OK, but that cowl still has some light areas. It's not the orange peel, that wouldn't really bother me, but for some reason no matter how many coats I shot ( and I shot MANY!), as it dries, there are lighter areas. I decided enough was enough and I put it all together. It looks nice with the red cowl and the red wheels. I will likely bring it to Johnstown, along with the Sopwith or the D VII. I would also like to bring my Giant Aeromaster. I have Friday off to prep and load so I can hit the road by 7AM Saturday and get there by 9.

Speaking of ebay, years ago I bought this giant Cub type plane from ebay. It had a 106 inch span (that's 1/4 scale for a Cub) but when I set the fuse next to a 1/4 scale cub fuse, it is much bigger. Nobody seems to know definitively what it is. Anyway, it had no struts (but needed them) and the 31 cc Ryobi wouldn't start for me, and on top of that, the builder decided to forgo ailerons! That's right! 106 inch span gasser he was going to fly 3 channel! Well, over the years, I built struts (out of wood yardsticks), found a motor that ran, and installed ailerons. This Sunday past, I flew it for the first time. It flew great until the motor died, but the deadstick landing was fine. I have to increase the throw on the ailerons and engineer better strut mounts, plus reinforce the struts, and hopefully find the carbs sweet spot so it will run more reliably, but I was thrilled none the less.