RE: Electric newbie - sorry for asking such basic questions
I think it would be better to have the batteries, ESC, motors, mounts,props on hand so you can arrange them for a better balance. Might be better to mount each motor, ESC and battery in the nacelle then putting both batteries in the fuse, or it may turn out to be better the other way around? hard to tell until you place them.
You can save a lot of weight from the 4s engines with just changing or not using some of the plywood and see where you can cut the weight without reducing the strength.
Buzz.