"Dylan Smith" wrote

However, it has a free
castoring tailwheel.

Dylan,

I don't have any trouble with mine, but my tail is heavier than many fabric
airplanes and my rudder is effective on the ground.

However, it's not just that they are heel brakes (which makes depressing
the rudder pedal fully and applying braking more difficult) but the fact
they are connected to cable operated drum brakes whose effectiveness
varies from minute to minute.

My Cleveland wheels and brakes are every effective and consistent. With the
pedal set-up in my airplane, I find depressing the brake and rudder easy,
but I have smaller feet that most male pilots and that could be key.
However, I don't like to fly bare footed and never in sandals or flops.

Deb

--
1946 Luscombe 8A (his)
1948 Luscombe 8E (hers)
1954 Cessna 195B, restoring (ours)