Hi muleears. It also appears to the "trained eye" that the launch is bow heavy and as such, when you put it in the water, she may trim by the head. This is not necessarily the end of the world. The hull looks to me to be full bodied in other words she may float above her marks. This is how I would go about getting it all right. First, stick some masking tape on the hull over the positions of the design waterline at stem, midships (both sides) and transom. Second, mark the waterline on the tapes. Third, fill the boiler to half way up the sight glass and fill the gas tank. Fourth, put the receiver, battery, servos and anything else that is to go on board in roughly their fore and aft positions. If you haven't built a bit yet then put the makings in roughly the same position that the finished item's center of gravity would be. Next fill the bath up nearly to the top so that when you put the boat in the tub the water doesn't spill over but you can get your eyes right down to see the actual waterline positions. When everything settles down, ignoring the trim for the moment, look at the midships draughts. If the boat is flying high you need to add weight, low down, amidships until she sits on her marks. If she has a list move the weight athwartships towards the high side until she's on her marks and upright. Let all settle again and then look at the fore and aft marks. One waterline mark will be underwater and the other will be above the water. Finally, move the weight parallel to the keel towards the end of the boat that is high. Move it bit by bit until the waterlines are all level with the water. Now find a way to keep the weight in position.
If, (and I don't think they will be), when you first put the boat in the bath the midship marks are submerged, then you have a problem. In this situation you have to, either remove weight, or put up with the overloading like I did with my S. L. Wear. You can exchange the chimney for an aluminium one but not much else can be done. To get the trim right you have to move a weight already on board towards the high end as before. A small weight moved a long way has the same effect as a large weight moved a short way. As I see it you can't move the engine aft or the boiler but what's staring me in the face is the gas tank. Could you consider moving it to the cabin or to near the afterdeck? I'm assuming that the Rx battery will be aft somewhere.
I hope this helps.
Jerry.
