Eddie, I really like the look of your staggered-wing layout (pix #1, 2, 5), very cool, and I imagine effective in getting the center of lift forward as these things need. Obviously I went with the swept-forward wing, making a step at the booms never occurred to me.
I put the engine on the extreme nose because otherwise the canard is very vulnerable to damage. Also mine are 1/2A, engines weigh very little so I can get away with it. Also somewhat easier to start!
I will NOT show you my first attempt...it did fly but very poorly, after some major redesign it flew sort of borderline OK at best. It was a very low aspect wing with the engine mounted on a pylon above the wing, BC about 1/2way up the pylon to match the vertical CG...very strange and awkward looking. I had control surfaces on both ends, not a good idea as it turned out. I unhooked the rear flaps and froze them after the first (wild) flight. I never did like it. One day it torqued over on takeoff and rolled wingtip over wingtip across the circle, shedding parts as it went, most fun I ever got out of it. Very little left.
The second design is the pic I led off with at the beginning of this thread. I used an old combat wing I had laying around. It actually flew pretty well after I got it balanced, but it took over 2 oz. of lead on the tail and could have used some more. Hence the swept-wing on the latest.
I'd enjoy hearing about your escapades with the "tail-forward" layout (apologies to Chrysler). Looks like you're much more serious about it than I am.