Brian,

The Top Flite Taurus normally has hardwood rails
My Taurus already has many hundreds of flights in the logbook, the bolts are glued in the rails. Even the Taurus is “overpowered”, I have no technical problems with this method.

My replica of the first Contest Taurus, as many planes of that era, does have a mount plate.
This plate is bolted on the rails. The engine bolted on the plate.
With this method it is possible to mount different engines in the plane or easy change side and down thrust.

Now I am redesigning the Simla I am thinking of use a mount plate again.
A study plan of that method see picture 3

Cees