I inherited a partially built SSE. As I have a NIB SSE kit I am making mods to this plane and see how they work out before building my own.

Well, the elevator and rudder had been completed (so to speak). To add counters to both I simply cut the balsa off the tips of the horizontal stab and fin and added the pieces to the tips of the elevators and rudder. Simple enough. But wait ...

The laser cut balsa provided by SIG is incredibly light weight. With this wood added as unsupported counters I thought that they just might break off. Well, in the course of cutting hinge slots, filling imperfections and sanding the new "counters" have broken off several times. I can't imagine how they will survive typical minor hanger rash and the forces of flight.

So, the question to you hotshot builders that have successfully added counters (I've read your threads), how did you reinforce these things?

TIA for your unguarded comments