I'll throw my 2 cents worth in here, for what it's worth. It probably is a little late seeing that you started this string in January, AND my kit was an old kit I bought from a friend for next to nothing, and was 15+ years old. This kit was my project last winter. Firstly, let me say that the plan print is very well done. Clear and space-saving. I believe the instructions suggested cutting the wing portion of the print off and using that to build on separately. After all these years, the wood was still straight and of very good quality. The mention of bending and warping of the plywood over the top front of the airframe being a hassle was an understatement. I was able to wet and coax it to fit over the radius while gluing, by starting on one side and working toward the other. Only then, did I cut off the excess on the other side. With the cabane wires in the way, this was a chore. I did use the cowl, but the two halves were not matched well at all and poorly formed, warped and flimsy. When the plane is done however, and if you tried your best to match the cowl halves together by sanding, cutting and gluing overlapping strips inside, it looks pretty good. I'm surprised that over the years, they didn't make a new cowl mold that would mold a 1-piece cowl. Really, that's not hard to do in molding. Incidently it's a great model to fly, stable, even on landing in a brisk wind. I put a Saito 72 in mine, and it looks and sounds great while flying.

Jackster