To complete what is known (ie there is proof for)
1) 1963 W/C 'old Faithful is:
2) The Taurus Ed took to Africa, where there were 3 identical models (Dennis Hunt, eyewitness, who built one of them).
3) Winner of the 1962 US nats. (on record)
4) Is the same length and width as the TF/MAN plan (VR/CS have the thing, and it matches the drawings from the kit dimensionally).
5) Mid 1962 Ed sends plan of original Taurus and audio tape to RCM&E. (Before any TF/MAN drawings available).
6) Aeromodeller records that the Franklin brothers are building Taurus's August 1962. (can only be from copies of Eds plans)
7) October 1962 RCM&E publishes the magazine plan developed from Ed's plan and publishes the transcript from the tape, where Ed describes his modified (1") longer Taurus. Can only be 1" longer than the plan he sent and we know that his Taurus is the TF prototype, see (4) above.
8) Dennis Hunt recalls that he built his Taurus from plans on brown paper and instructions sent from Ed, why didn't Ed send Dennis a copy of the blueprint? My guess is because Eds Taurus was 1" longer than the blueprints, and had detail differences from the original plan, and you can see this when you match the RCM&E plan with the MAN version.
We don't agree, I know, but from what is known, it would seem that your Taurus is later than any of the African Taurus's, and appeared shortly before the 1963 W/Champs to take advantage of propo gear, and later modified to accept the slimmer standard Taurus wing profile. Enough.
Evan, WB #12.