Hi Fleet gang; its time to report the first flights of my 1/6 Fleet last Sunday 29/04: In one word: FANTASTIC!
The plane was finished in Solar tex with a few light clear coats of automotive laquer (laca metal). No tail-heavy side effects to report as the plane balanced with no need of noseweight.
I even had the lukury of installing a not very light "scale" steel spring tailweel.
Total weight came out at 5.11 Pounds or 2.3 Kg. which turns into a great wing loading of 13.15 Oz/Ft2 (calculated in a straight mode like a monoplane with no "biplane effect" corrections)
The plane is extremely easy to fly, very stable and very importantly very esy to land. I am just an average pilot so when I say "easy" is really easy. I installed a ram on board igniter (actually is the only nose weight) to fully enjoy those low pasess at walking speeds with no fear of an engine quit.
The pictures show standard wheeels with a soda bottom covers but I also have a set of trexlers which are quite nice also.
The engine is a Saito 56; looots of power. There was a little wing on the test flights even a bit crossed and the plane handled it quite well for a light weight bipe.
I have built many biplanes (more than a dozen) and this is among my favorites.