nice start to the concept jramauri

it just so happens that after my initial design studies on paper I'm doing exactly the same as you - blocking things in to get an idea of if it'll work and where the bits go.

I think you could make more of the hoop though - maybe split it into 2 or 4 bits which could overlay on the body to give it some curves or something. Maybe as pipes curving off the back of the bot? You could also split the pipe along the length giving you two circles instead of one.