I built this plane a few years ago. Like you I didn't use the plastic cowl. I bought a half built kit at a swap meet for $25. The fuselage was already built mostly. I only had to build the wings. I made the front wheel turnable by putting it on the back of the firewall. I didn't like the how the ailerons are wider at the tips and I was worried about flutter. But I made them too skinny. Maybe a half inch wide? Too small. On the first flight it wasn't enough to control the P factor and it spun and the right wing hit the runway. I thought I had reversed the wing servo. But no, they were fully deflected. Just not big enough. Nice looking plane though. I found another kit. Someday I'll try again.