T.W.

I thought I was doing a great job putting my WM Spitfire together. It all went really well, and since finishing the installation of radio gear, engine, etc, I've tested the radio, checked that the retracts work (in fact I cycled them 100 times without any noticeable drop-off in speed despite using a tiny AAA battery pack - to save weight). I've also test-run the Saito .82 engine and it's 'modified' manifold in its new home - all looks good

During the build I decided to mount the Rx battery up-front and above the inverted engine so that I would achieve the correct balance point without having to add too much lead to the nose . . . but despite having done this, today I discover it needs a massive 14oz extra nose weight to achieve the advised balance point of 4" from the leading edge of the wing (which seems to be the right place for the cg, to me at least)

Please advise if this amount of nose weight is right, as I have never had to add this much weight to any model in the past and am very reluctant to do so now. Maybe I'll look at moving servos forward, but in the meantime: Does it seem right that this model needs almost one pound of lead up-front? Any advice will be welcome

Tony