over the holidays ive put together my own DE fleet, using 1 box of reavers, 2 of hellions and a handful of older jetbike spikes. will post pics when i can, but im happy with the result. the escorts are simply the hellion boards with the rider backs stuck on the front like a double cockpit (anyone remember the toad fighters in bucky o hare?)
2 of my cruisers have been done like the OP's, and as i had a few spares the last i did the right side up with the top half of a hellion slotted into the 'seat'. needless to say they are all exceptionally spiky, and ive gone for a very 'tron' colour scheme - black with orange neon stripes along the edges.
the general principle of the cruisers is to build the jetbike as normal, but stick the front hull on upside down, so that the undercarriage vent forms a bridge/launch bay of some kind, and the seat is tucked underneath (i covered it up with classice reaver spikes, which have a convenient hole for the flight stand)
as i say i hope to get pics soon, until then you will have to imaginate it.
PS. the firestorm armada pirate fleet is perfectly suited for DE if you like the squarier look of the ships, for a similar price to the plastics kitbash.