Poly,

So by that logic the "Maltese Cross" arrangement is perhaps an effort to minimize the effects of sequential firing? That's what I thought was the difference in approach.

See how the V between 1 and 2 and 7-8 is quite narrow at the bottom while wider at the top so I suppose the sum of the area (haven't calc 'ed it yet) needs to be larger area than the 2 rectangular intake ports it feeds. A standard Max wedge port is 2.6 x 1.3 so in this case it needs to be larger than 6.76". Just Eyeballing it it is about 3.5" across and the top (allowing for the curved roof) and 1.25" at the bottom so with 3.25" high walls that's roughly 7.7 square inches so that's about 14% more cross section than the sum of the 2 ports that "window" feeds. Again it reminds me a bit of the Team G except the G has absolutely NO FLOOR at all, it's an inverted V.

Also regarding your write-up.... on a traditional single plane I'm having trouble understanding the 1-7 correlation as they are on the opposing sides of the plenum and 180 crank degrees apart in firing.