Two biplane setup questions

[Lon Enloe]

I'm playing with my first biplane design and the thing has been giving me fits. After a couple of unsuccessful "flights" and subsequent repairs, I took it out today and tried short hops across the parking lot--and still managed to smash the nose to bits. It really didn't want to track very straight nor even get off the ground at all, and the last crack-up was the result of a viscious ground loop. (I have plenty of power and yes, the surfaces themselves are straight--I may be an inept designer but I'm a careful builder.)

Generally, the surface areas and moments are similar to my previous monoplane efforts, which were generally successful, so I didn't think this would be so tricky.

Let me pose my questions directly:

The wings are unstaggered, one chord length apart, and have a symmetric airfoil. Where should the thrust line of the motor be? Is there any reason not to put it right between the wings?

I have one wide strut between the wings on each side half way out. It's about 45% of the chord wide, and is behind the CG. Each strut is about the same area as the rudder. Do these detract from the rudder authority, even through they're behind the CG? Should I get rid of these for directional stability's sake? I figured that so near the CG they'd be working through a very small moment arm and hence present not such a problem.

Thanks!

[Sparky Paul]

Where's the landing gear located?
A picture is worth many words. :)

[Lon Enloe]

OK, here they are...mid-reconstructive-surgery photos. Ugliest ones I've posted so far.

You can probably see the plug in the fuselage to push the tail feathers back. The nose was a total loss--but I know the wing structure is strong, since it's survived three hard crashes essentially intact.

The gear are pretty much sitting over the leading edge of the wing.

[Sparky Paul]

The vertical looks a little puny, for that moment arm.

[Lon Enloe]

Yeah, I'm thnking of giving it about a +50% boost. (I was comparing it with the latest bipe that's being reviewed on the home page here, and that's got a monster of a vertical stab.)