I'm still prepping my patterns and need to get some more lite ply before I start cutting anything. Couple of RC events on weekends have impeded my activity on the subject. I got an e-mail from laser-design-services.com offering to laser cut the parts for me. No specifics (such as price). I've checked a couple more hobby shops for the aluminum wing tube with no success. I may think about substituting a carbon arrow shaft which I can pick up readily and inexpensively.

gsartz: thanks for the picture of the bungee hook! I had seen Nick's plane so I had a fading mental image of how it was configured, but the pic helps! CC