I agree that the gear needs 1/4 bolts. This is a must do mod, and has saved my plane a few times. Reinforce the fuselage bottom with some ply to strengthen the landing gear area.

Triangular stock to the firewall corners for added strength. I'm doing both sides of the firewall this weekend. Fuel proof everything in the engine compartment with epoxy & alcohol, or whatever you use. I'm replacing mine now because it was fuel soaked, and it cracked.

Mine came with a clamp type, metal Hangar 9 engine mount. Replace it with a plastic mount and hex head screws. While doing this, shim up the front engine screws with a washer or two to compensate for the excessive down thrust angle built in the firewall. I can see my nose gear bending on takeoffs from the down thrust. I actually nosed mine over on takeoff when I put a two bladed prop on the Evo!!! If you don't shim the engine, use a little up elevator on the takeoff runs to ease the strain on the nose gear.

Put foam strips on the saddle mounts.

Buy the replacement thrust washer for the weighted flywheel so that you can use a 2 bladed prop. They are only a few bucks. Get an APC 11x7 prop when you are ready to mod the Xtra Easy 2 up for better performance. This turns it into a pretty fast trainer with lots of vertical power. I can fly mine out of sight vertically. Be prepared for a different handling plane as you are probably used to the 3 bladed prop slowing it down when reducing throttle. Mine lands much differently now.

Never, ever fly the Xtra Easy 2 unless you have balanced the 3 bladed props!!!!! My prop would vibrate the nylon gear bolts out. Finally, I landed once with only one engine bolt in the firewall. I took off the prop and was surprised to see how light one blade was. I sanded and sanded before having to resort to a Dremel to grind down for balance. Had to shape the prop ends, but it works well. I bought 2 replacement props and they both were extremely out of balance too.

We have seen quite a few ARF trainers at my field. I think that once mine was modded for the nylon gear bolts it was far stronger and more durable than any I've seen. The solid sheet balsa fin/horiz stab is strong. The fuselage is better built and stronger. I have put mine thru punishments that has really damaged the other ARF trainers. My Xtra Easy 2 kept on flying with little to no harm. I was rarely afraid to do anything to it as it has remained a very well built trainer.