One good source is the information in Andy Lennon's book, "The Basics of RC Model Aircraft Design". (ISBN: 0-911295-40-2) It's also available through Air Age Publishing (Model Airplane News) at http://www.rcstore.com/rs/general/li...t=10&catego=BO ... You can always trust Andy's math.

Also, beware of small canards, especially if you intend to use scale airfoils. A recent design project, a 1/3rd scale Berkut-Long EZ ( http://www.fuscoaircraft.com ) proved this to me. We originally planned to use all scale airfoils, but found that the scale canard (which functions like a slotted flap on that aircraft) was totally ineffective at 1/3rd scale. The plane would not rotate.

I then tried a Clark Y airfoil, with a standard aileron-type hinge, which was at least flyable enough to do some flight testing. The final "That's it!" solution came when we increased the span and chord just slightly, and switched to an Eppler 197 airfoil. The plane now handles like any other plane, in terms of authority and agility, with no bad habits.

Canard aircraft are interesting, and can be made to work, but plan on a little experimenting to get it really right.