David,

good news! A DB with a trike set of Rhoms is perfect - very classic. Is it a FW or belly mount nose gear? Rhom's require a little more attention than spring down pneumatics due to the double lines but a little planning during the radio/gear install takes care of things. I'd definitely put the tank in the canopy. Once the canopy is installed, just bore out the rear canopy area inside of the fuse (or do it beforehand - even easier).

I'd say that installing retracts nicely amounts to 25% of the time required to frame up a classic. Perhaps a little less with built up wings. If you haven't installed retracts before, be patient, perseverance pays off. It can get a little monotonous to spend evening after evening working on the same area! The good news is that when the wings are foam core, the work is even more tedious. I'm assuming your DB is a wood frame.

When will you build it? Never mind, start this evening with the fin, then the stab, then the wing, the mains, the fuse, the engine, the nose gear. Before you know, a framed up DB!

Finishing it is another matter - there's the other 50% of time to get a classic airborne...

David.