Help on balance point

[goslow]

Hi folks.......

I need some help in determining the correct balance point on my Scratch-A-Plane Nieuport 17 (quarter scale). This is a "sport scale" model which I have tried to adapt to a little more scale appearence. This model was started years ago when working in Indonesia. (to stay out of those bars) Ended up building plane AND bar hopping ! Thats another story....

Stuck out in the boonies, I had to use whatever material was available to me so non aircraft ply and local hardwood was used, all of which pushed up total weight. My original powerplant was a Quadra 34/35 ??? but now have a Zenoah 45 up front. (20 x 10 prop) I am using a bell crank system like the VK Nieuport and have moved the landing gear forward approx 1 inch. Aside from needing to finally paint the top wing, my all up weight (less any fuel) is now 17 lbs.

I think the engine may be a little excess but then hope to fly around at half throttle for more scale speed. My thinking being, would rather have to much grunt to handle all the built in drag inlieu of under powering to start with.Any comments would be appreciated.