This has been sitting in my "need to paint stack" for about a year so in between rants and rainstorms I finally got to it. After priming, I installed a dummy motor equal in mass to an Estes E-9 which is the heaviest motor I anticipate using and located the CG without additional nose weight. Attaching a string at that point I gave it the old swing test. No bueno on stability so I added a large screw eye and several fender washers to the base of the nose, adding about one once, and tried again with the string at the new GC. Spot on and looking good!
Then I drilled a 3/4" diameter hole 1 1/4" deep into the base of the nose, added about 1/2 ounce of BB's, poured in 30 minute epoxy and finished out with a 3/4" diameter maple plug. The plug now has a screw eye installed to which additional washers can be added if necessary. I should be about right for an actual flight but I'll do another swing test to be sure.
I'm going with the classic black and white Peenemunde paint scheme, using Rustolem Ultra Cover 2X Satin Spray in Blossom White and Canyon Black
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...isches_Informationszentrum_Peenemünde_(1).JPG
Here are some progress photos I made today: