Hi Tom,

Am I the "Blind Hog" again?  The reason I ask is this........

You remarks on the motor mounts, thrustline, etc., had me thinking.....I had been routinely cutting down the motor mounts behind f-1 to give an 1/8th" adjustment to the tank.  Then we started adding 1/8th" pads under the engines........  Not a problem since it added even more adjustment for the tank (though never needed that much!).

Idea came........ use 3/8th" square maple to start with, add the 1/8th" pad, and make it "crutch style"!  This was accompanied by tapering (in overhead view) and extending the motor mounts to the nose ring.  The "new" engines are pretty smooth, not like the Fox 35 usually was, the advent of the crutch, and attendant nose structure, really makes a much more solid nose anyway.  Of course, some videos of Windy building noses for Cardinals was a good bit of inspiration.  The Big Jim nose is solid.

Haven't had any issues with engine runs using this, and the added fact that epoxy wasn't around as much way back in the Classic Era, along with some 1/2 oz. fiberglass on the nose, makes me think that this is viable.

What 'cha think?