hay madhatter yea needles can be a pain when drillin..
on needles i like to drill out the bell weight and belly hook holes out first.....and while your at it drill for the eyes.
buy drillin out the belly holes there less hart wood to make your drill wonder less wood is better
now drill out for your tail weight 1/4"
use a short bit and go threw the nose of the plug till u hit the belly weight hole if you can go further try to hit the belly hook hole and stop there
now go threw the other end were u drilled for the tail weight make sure u center the bit u should be able to hit the belly hook hole go slow and clean the bit as u go ............hope this makes sence ...good luck