I beleve there may be some differances between the Special Edition version and the original kits that go back to the eightys. At any rate this is one that I helped out a buddy with several years back and he was a bit in over his head. Its possible also that the original kits may have not used the basswood on the longerons, at this point I do not recall. What I do remember is it was some what floppy on the rear and solution was very simple, I just added small triangular gussets as indicated by Bikerbc. Unobtrusive and retains the the looks.

I tested this one with an old K&B .40 and flew pretty much like a typical forty sport airplane. As you can see the tiny gussets are hardly noticible but do much to improve rigidity.

Now this is purely just my thoughts but remember this is not a scale airplane, it is what I call a Characture Airplane. The idea is to represent a feeling of a period. Perhaps without all the problems of the drive with to acheve absolute scale fidelity that the scale devotees are dedicated to.

Characture Airplanes have been popular throughout modeling as long as I can remember and I have always loved them.

Anyway here is that Elder and its still flown on occassion by my friend:

John