I understand what you are saying about using the fake motor as a baffle. I cut them all open cause I thought the crankcase and especially the muffler could use some cool airflow. To compensate for all that air rushing in unorganized, I actually baffled the cylinder head inside the cowl so it has its own dedicated influx and efflux (plus I cut up the fuse for a channel behind the head). That's how all the piston slappers I ever flew were cowled so hopefully that works here to. Electric would have been sooo much easier...

For the gear, I think it would be pretty easy to add the forward facing small gear doors. Anyone given that much thought? I think I will need to do it to keep all the slime off the retract mechanism - although at least one side will be well lubed