ORIGINAL: Deadeye
I'm building one right now. I plan on increasing both the elevator and rudder, and counterbalancing them. I'm sliding the Horizontal stab forward, and the vertical backward to increase rudder throw. Dubro super strength gear for prop clearance (saito 82, 15X4 APC). I've also modified the firewall to hold the 82 at a 9 0 clock position. I'm thinking of mounting the elevator servo in the tail. I've modified the wings for flaps. Tail wheel will be replaced with a Sullivan. And the tail braces will be replaced with pull pull cable. Pull pull on rudder too.
I think that covers my mods. Good luck with yours.
Deadeye, I have a Saito 91 in mine. I had plane since 1998 or 99. Never did fly it yet, too many other projects jumped in front.[:'(] I did just as you are thinking, move the servos to the back. I put 3 back there, 2 hitec 225BB and one Futaba 135SH on the rudder. The rudder is a pull-pull w/ a wheel instead of arms. The wheel is just right to protrude through the sides. I mounted the servo to the cover. Seems to work ok, at least on the ground. I would suggest using carbon push rods for your elevators, unless you use a smaller servo, then you can get them closer and shorten the linkage length.
I didn't do much up front. Chopped off the sides and wraped glass cloth over the firewall to about 2 inches back on the sides of the fuse. I also went around the top and bottom as well.
The landing gear block also received the same reinforcement.
I made some caorbon fiber wheel pants and a cowl, but I can't seem to find them. I also lost the wing tube. Does anyone know where I can find a replacement?
I plan to have this finished in about a month ( I have 4 other planes I'm working on as well, I think I have a little A.D.D.
) Can't wait though, All I here about this plane is how good it flies and owners are always saying, "I'm going to build another!"
DM