Best Time To Fly Magnum
MP,
It could have been me you copied, or a combination of several of us.
I did about what you did, but not as involved. The same balsa plank, 36" long with tricycle gear, 3/8 square stock hugging the fuse. To hold the plane from flying off the front, two blocks were glued to the plank just forward of the wing one on each side for the wing to push against. AoA was about 5deg so it wouldn't slip out forward and fly away too soon. As air speed increased and the plane gained lift it would rise over the two blocks and away she'd go. No steering other then bending the tail wheel to compensate for left turning tendency.
Most anything works that allows the plane to get to flying speed, which is darn quick. It has so much power to recover from almost anything.
After experimenting with the dolly, the best might be what the USAF did with their rocket launched jets. Rails. Use PVC pipe as a stationary ramp and let it slide skyward.