Re: alu plate/sacrificial pad?
Agree with the lack of need of the allu plate - that way you don't risk melting the structure of Vulture 2 with the any exhaust reflecting off the plate as well as not risking melting a plate? Plus you then remove mass from the end you want to be lighter in case of a downward slide launch...
Is there some possibility that the v-tail could become entangled in the truss, if it rotates about the the rod? A possible way round this would be to have a predator drone style v-tail (upside down)...