Ken, have you ever seen a kangaroo?? Well they`re almost as big. I`d stand in a bucket of pit vipers too.

Redback, Your old man, or maybe his delegate if he`s as skilled with a hammer as you say, could build real light out of eighth ply with a light external frame. Use sheet styrene foam to support the wings/fuselages. Just cut out sections in the foam to locate the parts, and take up any slack with bubble plastic.

Could be expensive to ship though, and the cost, along with the risk may make it worth just buying new aircraft and have the engines and radio gear sent.

Where in Australia do you live? I`ll be back there in six months.