Sorry to hear about the canopy misfit. Caving those balsa blocks is not fun.
I've started my Brodak '59 Ares, the spar is done. I've build I-beams before this one just uses different ribs mostly.
Have a question on bellcrank size. The Brodak parts list calls out a 4" but sent a 3". Plan sheet 1 shows a 3" and sheet 2 shows a 4".
What do you think?