Now that I've been working on the NLG issue I had a good chance to see what it would need for triangular stock on the nose. Due to the size of the engine and mounts there is a lack of room to put some triangular stock on the outside of the firewall, but there is room on the inside. I've been able to get my hand up to the firewall with out much problem - its a tight fit getting through the bulkhead at the wing leading edge, but after that it's not too bad. It'll take some work and fitting, but you should be able to put triangular stock on both sides of the firewall, and on the top and bottom. You won't be able to run it all the way edge to edge because of the throttle line and NLG steering, but any stock you can get in there will help. You need to use 30 minute epoxy when you put the stock in for max strength. Also make sure you fill the gap between the bottom of the firewall and the fuselage bottom with epoxy for additional strength. Just take your time and fit everything as tightly as possible.

Since my plane was the RTF, here's the procedure I used to remove the engine to get access for the new NLG brackets. I picked up Dubro Cat. No. 153 Shock Absorbing Steerable Nose Gear - the complete assembly version along with 5/32" X 1-1/4" axles and 5/32" wheel collars.

* Remove the fuel tank
* Remove the muffler
* Remove the fuel line between the needle valve and carb, then the nipple on the needle valve.
* Remove the hold down bolts going through the engine and engine mount on the needle valve side.
* Mark the location of the throttle push rod at the servo, loosen the retainer on the servo arm so the throttle push rod can be removed.
* Remove the engine mount from the firewall with the engine attached to it, and allow the throttle pushrod slide out of its guide tube.
* Remove the stock NLG mount (or broken one in my case).

At this point I reinserted a factory into each factory installed blind nut and, using a small hammer, knocked the blind nut out. Next I drilled out the holes slightly to open the holes for the new Dubro blind nuts that come with the NLG to fit the firewall ( didn't pay attention to the size bit I used - you'll have to put a drill up to the blind nut to see what size is required for it to fit into the firewall and allow the teeth to bit into the wood). You may not have to do this - you may be able to reuse your factory hardware, or could try the Dubro screws to see if they fit. I personally feel the blind nuts that came with the plane are too thin walled which is one reason two of the factory screws pulled out - the Dubro hardware is much better quality.

To insert the new blind nuts I used a threaded rod to pull the nuts onto the firewall. This allowed me to screw the nuts onto the rod in the radio compartment where I had room to work, then pull the blind nut into the firewall to seat it. After all 4 blind nuts where seated in the firewall I used the Dubro brackets and screws to pull the new blind nuts tight into the firewall and used my hand to make sure the screws didn't push the blind nuts out. When installing the brackets I put the steering tiller between them to make sure it wouldn't bind. This where I left off for the night.

Tomorrow I'll remove the screws one at a time, loctite and reinsert permanently. I found the factory NLG seemed to fit the Dubro mount with very little slop, so I'll try and reuse that before I start to cut the new NLG. Yours may or may not fit - only way to find out is to try it.

The difference in the size and quality of the factory H9 bracket and the Dubro is substantial. You'll also have to cut the two plastic mold rails between the brackets as their spacing is just a bit too far apart to fit the factory holes, but width wise it fits.

When I start on the tail I'll get some pictures as I go so you'll understand what I'm doing to brace it with triangular stock.

Hogflyer