More progress on my Bates SBD!
Bob,
In theory, yes I can see how that would help and may try it. However the card stock is a flat plane and the dummy is 3-D (over an inch thick in some places). That wouldn't really verify my front to back position, or compensate for any "sag" on the front end of the cowl from the 12+ ounces of dummy.
I have literally NO play in this setup. The cylinders will be butted right up to the inside lip of the cowl, and the backside of the dummy is only 1/2 inch from the live engine and muffler. Not to mention the 1/16 of clearance around the prop shaft to the shaft cutout in the dummy.
Neo