boy...that brings back some memories.

I flew both the XLT and Escape in pattern in the mid/late 80's. Rossi 61 RE in the XLT, and a CMB RIRE .60 in the Escape. Both planes flew great. Both equipped with tricycle Rhom Air gear.

As noted, the big trick with these it to keep them light, especially if you are using a 60 engine. My XLT came out a bit fat (built stock from the kit) at about 8.5 lbs.

When I build the last Escape, I cut my own wing cores (one piece cores - cut the ailerons out instead of having the wood ailerons), used 1/16 sheeting, and hollowed out a great deal more wood. That plane weighed just at 7.75 lbs. Flew a good deal better, especially with the (then new to the sport) lower rpm/slower/bigger prop FAI type combination.

Both were monokote covered. Of note... monokote is pretty heavy. Some colors are heavier than others. I know of some builders who were capable of a glass/paint job that came in lighter than a monokote finish (I was not one such builder ) .