Going on a third flying season with the Sukhoi. The cowl gets beat up, so I replaced it last year along with the on-board battery switch.
Be sure to beef up the landing gear block area as it rips out pretty easily. I used fiber-glass and resin on landing gear block and replaced the former just in front of the wing saddle with 3/8 in ply. I thought the firewall was a bit thin, so I cut and glued a ply firewall to the face. Can't remember what thickness, but I think it may have bee 1/8".

I also reinforced all the formers I could get to using baking soda and cya glue. There are a few hair-line cracks in the fuse. Be sure to keep muffler well away from the cowl or at least glue some 1/16th ply where heat is likely to be generated.
Finally, I replace the wheel axles with LHS axles that have nylon locknuts. I don't like the idea of using threaded screws as axles as they chew up the glass gear.
Here are a few pics of the Sukhoi and Mvvs 1.60 gas motor.
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