thanks for the input, guys.

Barry, i tuned a guy out at the local hobby store the other day b/c he told me that my endeavor to make the guillow's fly was too ambitious and tried to sell me a beginner's rc plane instead. i appreciate your suggestion of using it as a launching pad for learning and inspiration for my project and am seriously considering getting one now. say, i see you're in auburn... i'll be headed for Troy, AL this weekend to begin summer classes. are there any local hobby stores with quality service/info/products in the auburn/montgomery area that you would recommend?

thanks again,
~Ben