Tim,

no, I was trying to figure out what ship that was too. That ship also has a top pipe tunnel which I would imagine was intended for the engine to be mounted inverted with an S shaped header (Magic style) or possibly upright. For some reason the builder began to install the engine mounted sideways perhaps because he didn't have a RE engine. If I were the buyer I would correct that and build the plane around a RE engine as it looks like it was designed for.

Many classics had belly pans. There is actually very little difference between the Tipo and the Illusion fuse wise. The primary difference is the higher wing location (hence the belly pan) and the longer front bottom with the less angled chin (see photos). By the way, these photos are of a late Illusion cast as can be seen from the light coloured glass and the choice by GP to remove the pipe recess in the belly pan. Also note that there are no glass longerons down the fuse sides. Early fuse casts were darker, had the stiffening longerons, had the recess in the belly pan and were heavier.

At some point I should be able to take some pics of my two glass Tipo fuses showing their vintage.

David.