Rendegade,

The width of the fuse is a very small contributor to the total drag of a pattern model (remember the Hanson Excess?? Not slow or draggier by any measure, but much wider than anything at the time). Making the fuse wider does increase the % thickness of the fuse airfoil, and this generally makes it more efficient in knife edge. Making the fuse taller certainly makes it more efficient in knife edge because of the extra area. Keeping the fuse skinny does help keep weight of construction and finish materials down.

Regards,

Dave