Here is my finished(?) effort at the plane from that book.

I basically completely rebuilt the Monarch from scratch.
I still don't think I got the nose right, but it is better than it was.

It flies pretty nicely, even getting it off the water is fairly easy.

Trim for full flap and be ready to go back to neutral as soon as it clears the water.

The engines are not mounted on top of the wing, they are hidden away inside the fuselage just above the black/gold line and a bit behind the wings.

It is very slightly nose heavy, but it won't give you any nasty surprises.

Wing floats are very definitely floaty.
VTOL up will move them into flight position.
Avoid making sudden big movements as I have had them break off. lol

Edit: Turns out I'll have to link it instead.
Link to plane info. The book is "Sea of Greed" by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown, first page of chapter 11, page 71

Other information on what it carries;
Two vehicles, a boat, 2 jet skis among other things.

I look forward to what other people come up with, if anyone actually wants to.

Edit 2: I did not know what detail to add, it is basically a big freight carrier when it comes right down to it.
Maybe the next one will have a working cargo bay door with some cargo inside, if I make another one. heh