Mike, I tested out the pack, and both rockets just flip out at some point, and they are near uncontrollable. - - - Updated - - - Also, the parachutes do not work. They deploy, but do not slow down the craft.
Azimech, I think Columbia was going more for the aesthetics rather than the size and weight; by b-17, somewhere on pg.2 of the spacecraft exchange was built for dimensional accuracy; try it out! (shameless advertizing, anyone? )
Well it isn't for RSS, but selfish_meme is working on the Dunatian (http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/130493-The-Dunatian-Crafts-and-Playable-Save-File-Scenario), which is putting together a save file based on the martian, if you are interested.