Hi Wayne and Chuck,
Thanks, I appreciate the two positions, light Sport Scale, full on Designer/ Authentic Scale. I see both as possible.
I could build it with gear and flaps and a decent finish at around 100 oz I think, but I don't know a lot of the component weights. (Scale tires weigh a freaking ton.) I just doubled the normal 20 oz of "stuff" for a stunt ship on top of the guess of an airframe weight, then add a bit from it being a twin, and came up with that.
I can see what Chuck is saying though. It gets away quickly with components, finish, etc. Good to know, thanks for the warning, Chuck! I can see way heavier going towards Authentic Scale.
I'm going with the 40's, going to need the weight anyway because of the short moments like Chuck says. I'm going to have to keep the tail way light. No cherry wood back there (the kit is cherry mostly). All balsa, 4 lbs, careful construction on those surfaces. Flaps and ailerons super light balsa too. Sheeting all balsa, overall. Fuse structure aft of the CG whittled way back.
But even after that the gear system, flap system will be a trick to keep light. I'll go real light with mechanical retracts with a retract servo on each. Homemade struts of wire. Maybe my Pattern buddies can make me titanium wire gear. Tailwheel mechanism might be a real problem weight wise, might lose all of the structure weight savings making the gear go up! That little Robart unit isn't too bad, though.
Smallest servo for the flaps with Stunt style horns built way light with smallest wire, etc.
Smallest LiPo I can get away with, receivers are tiny now anyway but I'll remove the plastic cover.
Tiniest throttle servos I figure will survive, micros probably are tough enough nowadays.
Wow, what a list! Then all of the details, gear doors, which on a Beech are pretty easy comparatively.
But the cabin, makes a Sport Scale entry a necessity pretty much. A full cabin in a model this size would be a killer weight wise, no doubt. Sheet at the bottom of the window line with clear windows is all I can see being done by me in this lifetime! Maybe vacuum-form and a little airbrush magic, still I'm getting a head ache. The whole cabin model thing is a real conundrum anyway.
Cans of bait all over, not just worms but crickets and lures banned in all 50 states... (please excuse me I'm home sick with the flu, a little loopy here...)
Oh well, fun to think of. Thanks again for the comments and while I have the Nobler finishing going on I'll be able to ponder the Beech between coats...
Chris...
P.S. Here is my Knight Twister wing closed up with 1/16th birch leading edges and 1/16th mahogany sheeting. Too many projects!