fliggyg, you will find with different engines and prop sizes, required thrust angle will vary. Its a trial and error thing. Start with about three degree and fly with the cowl off. Pull some uplines and watch to see if it pulls left. If needed add another degree and try again untill satisfied. Remember that the more thrust angle required, the further the mount has to be offst to the left of the fuse to put the spinner in the center for cowl alignment. That is where a radio mix of the rudder slaved to the throttle works real nice. Once the angle is set, mount the cowl.

With a foot print of app. 2-1/4 inches on the engine mount, a 1/16 inch thick washer equalls 1 degree. One of the more accurate options are 'Ernst' thrust plates from 'Quantum' models. For a couple bucks you get three plates in 1, 2 and 3 degree increments with a combined angle of up to 6 degrees. You can also turn one to give right thrust as well as up/down thrust. Washers work, but have a tendency to embed into the firewall.

Waterline is front to back and lateral is side to side.

Use the 4/40 rods with the solder fittings. If you want to go light and strong, Central Hobbies has carbon fiber rods with titanium 4/40 ends. Nice setup but cost a little more.

No Z bends. Use ball links on the servo arms and safty lock quick links on the control horn. I like the HD control horns for this model, all from Dubro.

You won't know if it needs a 'Cline' regulator untill you run it or if you choose to move the tank on the CG.

There are multible pictures in this thread on just about every part of this plane. Your going to have to scan the thread. Good luck and save being nervous for the maiden. Joe

BTW, I get more deflection than this plane requires on the control surfaces without added bevels. Dubro pinned hinges offer lots of movement and doesn't need sealing.