David,

thanks for the great suggestion and plan. 38" is exactly where my thoughts were - something in the 30 oz range AUW. Iwasn't familiar with the Brushfire but Ireally like its wing and stab planform with its blazing sweep. The build sure would be intense at any scale given the numerous details.

I've been measuring things up on the plan left, right and center and Ithink it just might work with the engine mounted inverted and a few minor modifications. The header (at its current full length) would end just aft of the forward fuse/wing junction which Iwould move back by building the junction vertically rather than at a tilt. The former about the wing LE would be made out of lite ply and extended further down to simplify the wing mount via two dowels in the front. This would also leave the header coupler protruding through the doubler to allow the pipe to be jointed on mounting the wing. The pipe would be permanently installed in the wing belly pan by carving a recess into the wing rear portion for the girth of the pipe. Exhaust would be diverted downward just forward of the rear wing mounting bolts. The only tricky aspect would be the joining of the pipe to the coupler as access to the coupler clamp would be limited. A solution would have to be found.

I would build it either without LGor with fixed gear and light wheels as I'd like to keep it simple - not too many servos. While my idea was to use 4 servos total, the model calls for separate aileron servos particularly if one builds the wing as shown with flaps. The core concept of the wing is brilliant and I thought about exactly doing that on my next < 40" foam core model. I think a 2 or 4 oz tank could be located on a plate just above the header leaving the wing center undisturbed except for the flap servo. A simple 1/2A nose gear bearing could be mounted to the right side of the header (Ithink).

With an inverted engine a FGcowl would have to be made - Ican't see any way of gaining access to the engine with a fixed wood cowl (unless it's removable of course...) The canopy and turtle deck to my mind would also have to be carved out of foam and laminated with 1/32 balsa - or, done with formers and sheeting. I'm not big on clear canopies so Isee no reason to aim for one. Instead, I foresee the canopy as a removable hatch giving access to the tank and part of the radio compartment (battery/Rx).

Mmm... another option would be to make the nose bottom (gear) area removable to allow connection to the header. In this case the coupler would be fixed permanently to the pipe and it would be inserted though an opening in the fore fuse/wing junction. Yes, this sounds easier than making the belly pan removable. A third, and possibly easiest option would be to make a tunnel in the belly pan for an exposed tuned pipe. In this case gear would be mandatory.

Perhaps one more project to add to the agenda... A flying stab - now that would be cool!

David, a question, what's the full size span of the model or otherwise put, to what scale was this plan reduced? This would help to scale all the wood appropriately.

David.