A few more pics of progress on my J10. I decided to build a full flying rudder rather than the fin-rudder combo on the plans. Also changed the hatch design so it includes the whole cowl rather than just the top - increasing access to the engine and eliminating the need to bend the fuselage sides. Several areas seemed to light-weight for my taste: I beefed-up and sheeted the trailing edge of the stab. Added diagonal ribs to the elevator to increase torsional stiffness. I also felt the lack of bulkheads and limited structure along the top of the fuselage invites bowing and buckling so I beefed up the top of the sides with balsa and ply. Added stubby 1/4 ply doublers on each side of the firewall and hardwood triangle stock to tie the front together more solidly. I moved the wing aft 3/4" to improve balance. I didn't notice until too late the aft LG attachment point is much farther forward than scale, and looks alittle odd to my eye but decided to leave it where it is since this is not a serious scale project. Also be careful the LG layout on the drawing does not show enough metal to go completely through WB wheels; lengthen to suit.

The rudder post is double sleeved brass tubing with a core of carbon fiber for stiffness; its important to make sure the post wont flex under aerodynamic load causing the rudder base to bind against the fuse. The post fits a tube in the fuse and emerges on the bottom, where I'll fit a control horn and spring-links to the tail wheel.

On the whole a nice looking airplane, easy to build and coming along nicely!