Do-335 did fly just fine... actually better than fine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_Do_335
http://www.nasm.si.edu/aircraft/dornier_do335.htm
In a tandem layout the engines are mounted back-to-back in pairs, the front engine 'pulling' and the rear one 'pushing'. There are many advantages to this design, when used in the so-called center-line thrust layout as the Do 335 had, over the more traditional system of placing one engine on each wing, the most important being providing the power from two engines with the frontal area (and thus drag) of a single engine design, allowing for higher performance. It also keeps the weight of the twin powerplants near-to or on the centerline, so the plane can roll faster than a traditional twin. In addition, a single engine failure doesn't lead to asymmetric thrust, and in normal flight there is no net torque so the plane is easy to handle. The choice of a full "four-surface" set of cruciform tail surfaces in the Do 335's design, allowed the ventral vertical fin/rudder assembly to project downwards from the extreme rear of the fuselage, in order to protect the rear propeller from an accidental ground strike on take-off.
I like the first design more... how about twin fuselage Mustang, modified? (Yes, I know they built and even twin fuselage Mustangs).
Actually, what I'd personally do might be a copy of the Dornier layout and design, using P-51 shapes and engines etc. Nose would be sleeker than 335's and you could use non-bubble canopy instead of D-version bubble... although that might work too. I'll do some quick PS-hacks and post my design here (might take a day or so, weekends are so busy for me).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_Do_335
http://www.nasm.si.edu/aircraft/dornier_do335.htm
In a tandem layout the engines are mounted back-to-back in pairs, the front engine 'pulling' and the rear one 'pushing'. There are many advantages to this design, when used in the so-called center-line thrust layout as the Do 335 had, over the more traditional system of placing one engine on each wing, the most important being providing the power from two engines with the frontal area (and thus drag) of a single engine design, allowing for higher performance. It also keeps the weight of the twin powerplants near-to or on the centerline, so the plane can roll faster than a traditional twin. In addition, a single engine failure doesn't lead to asymmetric thrust, and in normal flight there is no net torque so the plane is easy to handle. The choice of a full "four-surface" set of cruciform tail surfaces in the Do 335's design, allowed the ventral vertical fin/rudder assembly to project downwards from the extreme rear of the fuselage, in order to protect the rear propeller from an accidental ground strike on take-off.
I like the first design more... how about twin fuselage Mustang, modified? (Yes, I know they built and even twin fuselage Mustangs).
Actually, what I'd personally do might be a copy of the Dornier layout and design, using P-51 shapes and engines etc. Nose would be sleeker than 335's and you could use non-bubble canopy instead of D-version bubble... although that might work too. I'll do some quick PS-hacks and post my design here (might take a day or so, weekends are so busy for me).