Boy, I just checked out the Phoenix Extra model in the Tower listing. Phoenix says that sucker is only 3.5lbs and that's sort of amazing. I just stuck together one of their Sukhoi's and it was nearly 6lbs. It is a slightly smaller model than their Extra too. They had some things in the Sukhoi that suggested they really aren't using lighter stuff. The pilot figure is HEAVY for what could be and should be a thin, almost weightless item, yet is made from really thick, heavy plastic. I saved way over an ounce just swapping out the wheel bolts. Yeah, just the bolts/nuts. I'd go weigh them, but I'm using them on some farm machinery. And they used such heavy wood in the fuse and the tail feathers that they saw the need to hide a 2.5oz lead slug in the nose.

If I had that Extra, I really would close off that lightening hole with something that'd stand up to wear and tear lots better. If your muffler ever loosens up, it's exhaust could quickly and easily defeat that single layer of oracote. And what's behind that plastic film? All your radio stuff. And none of the insides of the fuse where that exhaust is going to go is fuelproofed is it?

It ought to be easy to keep the balance of the model with that "extra" wood added. Just move the battery back some.

BTW, my Sukhoi flew good and that's the bottom line on these ARFs. I think we really need to consider that a bunch of the ARFs aren't actually being "designed" by modelers, they're being put together by toy mfgs who've discovered an easy market. We've always been the last word, and with some of the ARF mfgs that's more clearly obvious than ever.