Theres not much I can do about decreasing weight without gutting details in the cockpit. That wouldnt save much weight anyway. I am adding very little and removing some to make the conversion. I will have to fly this one as-is. With the smaller electric motor I had in it before, The CG came oput perfect, by removing some of the lead shot in the nose, it will be very close with this bigger motor. For a 108 inch wingspan scale plane, 22 isnt so bad. My 100 inch BT-13 weighed 34 pounds and flew great. It even landed at a nice slow speed. I suppose it depends on what one is used to flying. I will do a final weighing of this one when I am done, maybe after the first flight so it doesnt scare me
I am now wondering if I am over powering this time with the power 160. Before I purchased it, the plane had a Zenoah G-26 and the previous owner told me he thought the plane needed a G-38 to fly better. I believe the power 160 and the G-38 are roughly equivelent. I have a 106 inch Bud Nosen Citabria that flies great with a G-38, I should weigh it for comparison purposes.
Denny