cool, thanks for insight. I hear ya on the SIM, but from what I gather, its like learning all over again anyway, and it is also $$ to spend (instead of spare parts).

the gung-ho attitude is 'cause this thing is just too cool to just look at sitting on the bench (broken or not). hahhah......really, i think i should be able to get this thing 'light' and have it repeatably do the same thing, which I don't see at this point; that is where my aggravations lie.

I'm going to try the flybar weights, after I fix my rear vertical fin. I gotta keep practicing!