Hi Brad - that li'l Gem looks really good    - I may have to convert to peanut scale models myself - no more room for big models - will the Gem Racer be Free Flight Rubber Powered ?  They must fly just as well as the big models - right? - and take less time to build ... 
LWM
Richard

I got the wheel pants put together and trimmed and sanded to shape.  I'm thinking of using the wheels in the photo.  They aren't the lightest (although I think they are called ultra light or something close to that).  Another idea is that I will cut one in half and only use 1/2 wheel per pant.  It will be a non-functioning wheel, but cut weight.

I'm also starting to work on the front.  I didn't have any 1/32 sheet on hand, so I spent time sanding down a 1/16th sheet !!!  It worked, but not perfect and lots of effort.  I'm also starting the under nose area.   Don't ask about the hole in the bottom sheeting - for some reason I thought I need it - ops.  I do need to work on the landing gear as well.  I have the wire bent and just need to figure out my install/mount.

My fuselage came together well yesterday.  It's fairly straight compared to my usual and seems strong and light.  I started to cut some turtle deck formers so that will be next.

I've started to build a "Lil Gem" racer.  After my last build this was the simplest plans I had on hand, plus I love racers, so here I go.

It seems that there are many different planes of this design.  Ole Tiger, Miller's Lil Gem, ???  I'll do some research as I build to figure out how I want to finish it out.

My goal for this build is to build LIGHT!!  My tendency is to brace/support and over build for strength and my planes are always quite heavy.  So far so good.  What I've built is lighter than anything I've previously done, so I just have to keep it simple.

I did a cracked rib approach on the wings - that' nice and quick!!