bgorham, I"m sort of new ro RC flying as well and had same problems with nose gear. Switched a Seagull Arising Starto tail dragger and it became a much better plane. Have since converted my Eagle 2 and GP Easy Sport to tail draggers. Just keep CG the same as called for and mount a GOOD landing gear with LE of wing as suggested. I use fiberglass gear. Much better than aluminum. Sure take offs require using up elevator but that is easy to learn. I bolt the gear on with quarter-twenty plastic bolts which usually very nicely sheer off when they have to, saving the fuse. Try it, you'll like it FWIW