Thank you guys. Sometimes I tend to give up and ask for help just before I should. Spent the day puzzling over it and finally the solution dawned on me. Got it squared away. (had to squirt some WD-40 in my ears to break through the rust) lol.
George, I know Orin well. He got me into this hobby in 1976, and I am still in contact with him. I was trying to solve this problem before I lost time to get out that day, and when time is short it can help to reach out to more than one in the hopes that someone would respond soon enough.
Got my new plane out for an intended taxi test that evening. Plane is my first ever completely scratch built bird, as well as my first Bi Plane. Based on the old Sterling Flying Fool, but enlarged 25%, a extra rib added to each side of upper wing beyond that (total wing area is about 540 sq in), added flaps, throttle control and relocated the landing gear mount one bulkhead aft, then raked the gear forward for better grass field performance. Power is a Thunder Tiger 46 RC with expansion muffler. Painted to resemble a '30s Navy PT-17 trainer with grey fuselage and yellow wing, with red/white/blue tail. Ill post a pic as soon as I figure out how. Total weight finished at 50oz.
Discovered that I had to taxi faster than I initially wanted to keep it wanting to follow a circle. This lead to just enough speed that after a lap of feeling it out the tail wheel came up. Another lap on the mains felt and looked great, then I noticed that she was now only on the outside wheel. Then before I really knew what was going on she rose into the air as smoothly and perfectly as anything you can imagine. I liken it to Hughes flying boat making its unexpected lift off.
A touch of fear came in here when I realized that I had no idea how this completely unproven plane would respond and it was now airborne with balsa busting pavement below. My fears subsided when I saw how perfectly, and I mean perfectly, smooth and steady she was flying. Like it was on rails. Never went past about 1/2 throttle, let it circle for about 8 laps before cutting the power very slightly and letting it settle to one of the two smoothest landings I have ever made. Was a good first flight.