I am starting a Vector ARC project, and have reviewed the parts, plans and did a search on this forum for info.  Here's my plan, and then a few questions:

1.  Strengthen the landing gear mounting panel with some corner stock.  It looks like there is very little bonding area to the main structure
2.  Keep the BC and leadouts, but go with Control Line Specialties carbon tube pushrods, HD ball links, and horns.  Access panel for elevator controls as I am using the slider horn.
3.  Brodak 40 for power, prop tbd, but probably the RSM 11x6 or 10x6.  Dinger Muffler if I can lighten up the tail enough.
4.  Build up the elevators instead of solid (one is 15 grams, the other 21 as provided!)  Same with the vertical tail.  Air beats wood any day!
5.  4.5 ounce tank (I use under 4 ounces on my Smoothie, but want to try to use longer lines and slower lap times on the Vector).  Tank wedged in with PVC foam (craft foam from Michaels or similar craft store, worked great to solve my engine run problems in the Smoothie)
6.  Carbon veil the fuselage and flaps
7.  Polyspan over open areas, tissue over that (Saw it done at VSC, and it looks like the best of both worlds!  Tough, constistent finish, no fuzzies)
8.  Use silicone seal to double up the attachment of the wheel pants to the LG.
9.  Aim to use 65'x.012 solid lines and the Fancher Handle.

Now with the questions:   

1.  Are the motor bearers hard enough?  They seem awfully soft.  How can they be strengthened?  I am worried about them compressing and allowing the engine to loosen up and go out of alignment.  I am not worried about vibration, as they are supported by the fuselage sides and filled-in in the tank compartment.
2.  Where can I get the Carbon Fiber LG that were mentioned in one post?
3.  What am I missing? 

Larry, you might do like we used to do with our F2C planes,  drill thru the motor mounts and insert hardwood dowel rod.  We used it on all our planes and never had a failure as far as compression.  I tried to use the brass thread inserts on my newest  plane and discarded the idea when the wood kept splitting as I put the insert in.  If you don't like the dowel rod idea, you can insert brass tubing layered up to a usable wall thickness.  Later, DOC Holliday

Hi Larry: Sorry about the rant. Having seen some of your models I figured the ARF route would be only because of time constraints, as you related - I just couldn't resist the segway from "What am I missing".  Thanks for taking my post with a grain of salt - truth is, the Vector 40 is the best of all the "mass produced" pre-built planes, IMHO of course. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with next. 

So far, I have drilled the motor mounts and installed vertical pieces of dowel, then drilled those for the engine mounting holes.  So far, so good!

Currently I am working on carbon mat for the flaps, and covering other pieces with tissue or polyspan, depending on whether it is an open bay or solid wood.  This is going to be a LOOOOOONG project, as I have never done a super-zoot stunt finish before.  I expect to do Carbon on the fuselage too.   

Since I have the Smoothie to fly, and it is outstanding (in my book, anyway), there is no hurry.  If the Smoothie bites the big one, I can always zap out the Oriental ARF I have tucked away.