Flydoc,
The best and easiest way to do the fuse is to build it with stand offs. I will try to explain the best I can. First lay the plan on your table and draw a line about an inch under the fuse the whole length of the plane. Next measure from that line up to where the side stringer notch is on each rib. Next cut some 1/4 X 1/2 stock to match the measurements. Do ths for each former and make 2 stand offs for each as well. Now draw a long line on a good flat building surface. Mine is glass, but most anything will work. Now fold your plan over so that all the formers show at the top edge. Lay this against the line you drew and mark off where each former needs to be on the table. Glue the former halves together and add the stand offs so that they are lined up with the stringer notch as you measured them. Almost done here!!! Last thing to do is to line up each former with the place it belongs vertical and side to side and glue the stand offs to the table. Do this for each former and they will be in perfect alignment and in the right spot. Now add the top and bottom keels and the side stringers and sheet or plane the fuse as far down as you can. Now just rock the whole thing and the standoffs will pop off the table. Just twist them off the formers and finish planking the fuse. Ta Da!!! A perfect fuse evry time.

I will show photos as soon as Mace gets my kit out to me of my B-17. What's the skinny on that Mace?

As far as the engine thing. Don't ever believe the tales about glow not being as reliable as gas. It is not true at all. A glow engine is every bit as reliable as a gasser. Go to a contest and count engine outs for yourself. You will see just as many gassers fail in flight as glow.

Being that this is a 4 engine plane, if you loose one you may not even know it until you come around and see the prop not turning. The 17 flies just as good on 3 as it does on 4 and it does a pretty good job on 2! I know a guy that got his around the pattern and landed his on 1!

As for transport, well it won't be easy. I'm not sure I will be able to get it in my long bed pick-up and still close the tail gate!

Good luck on the 17. I can't wait to get started on mine!!!!!

Hans