Well, thought I'd better resurrect this thread to add a happy ending - I've been dumping my progress shots in everyone else's threads during the build, so I'll finish it here!

I chickened out on the tailplane mods as hit a few technical snags - put it in the "too hard" basket for my first gasser/giant scale model.

Anyway, it's all finished, covered, wired up and balanced, and seems surprisingly light at "about" 7500g (bathroom scales, so don't quote me!) Only job left is to add a wing compass if I can ever find one, and the fuel cap behind cockpit. Most modifications mentioned elsewhere were incorporated, plus a bit of scale detailing, but a couple of tips:

1. I simply bound the front flying wire to the U/C strut with some tie-wrap after rigging, to prevent it getting grabbed by the tyre.

2. NEEDS DOWNTHRUST! Test flew today, and climbs like a homesick angel on throttle, then dives when reduced.

3. Listen to Feep re his mod to the landing wire mounting - I didn't...

4. My G26 with 18x6 Zinger wood is only turning at about 7000 rpm at the moment (after 2 tanks) although I've not really tried to tune it much yet. 7k on an 18x6 is JUST enough, wouldn't want any less.

That said, it looks and flies great - slow flypasts look awesome and landings are really easy and smooth. Ground handling is "scale"....

I've got to re-solder a dodgy sweat-joint in the U/C, and figure out why one wheel has decided to sieze up, then it's back out on patrol!

Cam