Oct. 7th: Visit from Richard Giles!
Oct. 24th: Cut off NACA duct scoops from the inside of the cowling.
Before:
After: 
Next step: decide how to remove the hinge tabs (used to modulate air flow from the now-removed ducts). 
Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing left to add, but when there's nothing left to take away. -- St. Exupery