10x4 APC works great on the .25LA, pulls strong from a hover. Remove the baffle.

Forget the 250mah packs. Use a 650 or 720mah Nimh pack, they weigh and cost the same as the small nicad packs and you get lots of flights out of them.

Instead of a hatch cut out the covering, put in the radio gear and cover the opening with clear packing tape. Not pretty but it's light and simple. If you need to get at the gear just remove the tape.

Happy Flying.