Yes I have seen that clip and there is another one about 5 minutes long on the web that shows the A1 prototype from a chase pplane during flight trails, both are very cool clips.

I think short step takes offs are out of the question with the lower fin hanging so low. I have already begun to modify an old trainer I have adding a lower fin to the tail so I can practice my take offs and landings. I have no desire to use the tail end of my Do to plow the ground, if I can help it.

The plans call for the lower fin to be mounted quite poorly in my opinion so much like Gary's 71" version I have strengthened the rear tail mounting. I extended the leading edge of the tail below the skin and mounted it to the base of F19 and the rear fuel tank suport, I also increased the thickness of the balsa around the base of the lower fin. The plans show the tip of the lower fin being thickened with balsa and shaped, I have not completed this step, yet. I have been worring over the rudders and the piano wire connection between the lower and upper rudders that has to travel through the tail. The upper half of the tail is removable for service and in the upper rudder the piano wire does not get glued, it fits into a slot. This is so you can remove the upper tail with the upper rudder attached leaving the wire sticking out of the fuselage. I put this step off knowing I had to move my motor mount to the inside of the firewall and this would eat up some of the space the piano wire passes through. I now have the rear motor mocked up with its' repositioned motor mount inside the tail so I can begin to plan my desing for connecting the rudders together.

The bigger issue in front of me now is what happens if I have a bad landing or take off? More so take off. Worse case senario of a bad take off knocks the lower rudder off the plane. The servo linkage connects to the lower rudder only, there is no provision for a second servo to control the upper rudder that is what the piano linkage is for. Hopefully I will get good at flying my modified trainer and this will never became an issue I have to deal with.

I will post some pictures of these modifications when I get a chance.