Well, I started tearing into the shrike. It looks like it'll be impossible to balance it without extending the nose. With everthing removed and all the radio gear placed as far forward as possible, it is still tail heavy. This is without the engine, which I had planned to put behind the CG. The problem I see is that if I extend the nose far enough forward, I'll have ridiculously long pushrods. I guess it would work, but the longer the linkages are, the more chances there are for something to bind up or to have too much slop in the controls. The other problem I have is that if I use a 10X6 prop, it will put the engine way above the plane. I mocked it up and it doesn't look nearly as cool as I had hoped. I haven't given up yet, but I'm not very encouraged at this point.