I bought the same plans. I haven't started building yet, so I can only advise on reading the print. Going from 118" to 89" isn't much of a size drop - buy her something NICE, and build it full size.(I'm still married...) and I'm not going to break my fuse at the nose for the reasoning of cg. If you read (and I can't remember on which sheet) the plane will come out tail heavy. Now look at the radio and equipment placement with regards to the broken off nose. You will already be "towing" this thing around, so an extra 20-30" really isn't going to be a hassle. If left with a 1-piece fuse, you can now jam all your stuff way up in the nose and have no balance problems! I never add weight to balance a model - there is always a way to avoid it unless you're using cement for glue....

If you absolutely have to downsize (you obviously DIDN'T buy something NICE enough...) then go for George Miller's plan 87" span - 2 d/f 45's - 60's - 90's - whatever. I think Mike Beaulieu still makes blueprints - not sure of how to get hold of him, somewhere in NY?

It's a very nice plan. I just think it would be a shame to have Josh's plan and NOT build it that size.