1)you can easliy advoide the cigar muffler . I do it all the time on my prop jets , use a slimline pitts style muffler . Close one of the holes if you need more fule pressure .
2)becareful with vmar , I still feel they are prices very high with quality issues still lingering such as misalligned tail fins ect ect .
LOve the look of the planes but so many RCU members still report quality issues .
I dont know if Richmond RC had a walk in hobby shop but if so they would do themselves a ton of good allowing RCM members walk in firsthand "look sees" at there kits .
The new F18 looks sweet but at $299 to $329 that is steep for a "maybe ok " quality plane