I agree w/ corndog in a sense, but you can hack out a flat baffle on your own, at least just to play with. You could just get a precut 2x4 piece of 3/4" MDF from you local big box home supply place, cut out 11" holes by hand w/ a sabre saw (they don't have to be pretty....the flange will cover the slop) and use a couple of big shelf brackets for feet. Put the drivers close together in the center and near the floor. Don't even finish it. Just try it and see if you like it. You're out maybe $25, assuming you have a saw. I always viewed my setup as test mules. I'm running sandwiched 2x3/4" but for testing, I wouldn't bother. Ignoring the time to drive to the store for the wood and the brackets, you can have 'em up and running in a hour or two. Even if you have no tools, you might be able to find a friend who could do this for you. To just get a nice taste, you do not have to have professional quality woodwork!! That to me, is part of the beauty of this whole concept. I also think OBs don't have some of the same problems w/ room interactions as conventional subs, but that is a subject for much debate.
I know the H frame will be better, but I've really enjoyed what I've thrown together for several months now. I get the tight articulate bass I got from my Maggies, but w/ real balls. Even w/ my less than ideal setup...it will punch pretty hard.
Actually...the H frame doesn't really look all that hard, but you do need a few more precision cuts, but could probably be done w/ a good rip guide. Of course, you need some way to glue it all up square.
I hear you on the time and money. I'm about to become very poor by going back to school....
cheers,
joe
BTW: Do you already have the drivers and the amp?