[Elecraft] XV50 question

[Jim KO5V]

First, Happy Holidays to everyone, and thanks for all of the helpful advice over the past few months.

I purchased a badly-built and fried XV144 several years ago (I got it really cheap). The builder had shorted leads 1 & 2 of T1 above the PC board, and during initial testing, I think that caused a burned a trace on the board. The adjustable cores of L15, L16 and L17 were driven to the bottom of the inductors, and were broken from contacting the board.

I removed all of the XV144-specific parts including the SMT stuff, and replaced them with the correct XV50 parts. I repaired the trace and re-wound T1, and checked that each component was correct and properly installed. I also tested all of the active devices. I then re-soldered every joint. It looks pretty good now, but I hope the processor isn't also ruined from the smoke test.

Here's my question: in the XV144 and XV222 sections of the assembly manual, Q1 is installed with long leads, standing above the board. The XV50 instructions do not mention this. Should I re-install it in the usual way (close to the board), or leave it. Also, can anyone tell me the reason for elevating it in the other XVs? That seems like a good way to pick up noise to me, but a lot of you have forgotten more than I know about this stuff...

Thanks in advance. 73

Jim KO5V