Camelot... congrats!  I just had my first experience with a Tacony vacuum (mine is a very similar Simplicity...  Riccar and Simplicty are the same, Tacony is the parent company, but you may already know that)...  I too have made bags out of other bags because I've just gotten a new machine and couldn't wait to play with them... I also use the original collar on the new bag, but use super glue to attach it.  It's always worked well and allowed me to play with the vacuum before the real bags could be ordered/sent.  

If you look about 15 threads down, you'll see my thread called Simplicty 7 Series... you can see how similar our machines are.  Mine might be a little higher end because it has the loop style handle, and doesn't require a screw driver to remove the bottom plate and has the automatically adjusting wheels, but still yours is a great vacuum with metal where it matters and great power.  I wonder if yours has two fans?  

About the bags...  Mine was dirty when I got it and in really bad shape, but whoever owned it before me used genuine Simplicity paper B bags and there wasn't once speck of dust in the bag chamber.  I didn't have any Simplicity bags, so I used a Kenmore/Panasonic bag that fit perfectly, and after a week, there is dust right on the inside of the bag door directly where the hole is.  So, that speaks to the quality of even the paper bags... though I'm sure the HEPA bags will last longer and maintain airflow longer.  My bag check light just came on this morning, so I put a new Kenmore bag in it (still waiting on the correct bags, should be here any day)...  I thought I'd notice a huge difference in the suction with a full versus new bag...  I didn't.  I could barely tell any difference at all, so that really shows how well it maintains airflow even with a full bag.  It was easier to push with a full bag (and that will only be magnified when the correct belt arrives)... it seemed to pull itself forward more, almost like a direct drive or self propelled vacuum.  

So glad you got all the attachments with yours.  

If you get bored, I made a video about mine that I'll link below and you can see how similar our two machines are...  I'm completely in love with it...  Our one week anniversary is tomorrow and I plan to make it a mud pie to celebrate :o)  LOL

I vacuumed my small apartment with mine... toward the end, the light came on, so I changed the bag and vacuumed again.  Look at all the dirt it got up with a new bag.  And that is just what I could shake out of the bag.. mostly sand.  Keep in mind it's a small 1 bedroom apartment with thin flat carpet that dirt doesn't sink into very well and that I vacuum every day, usually more than once a day.  

I had to wash the hose on mine too because it smelled like a dog...  take the bag off and insert a flat bladed screwdriver in the "bag hole" and just gently pry one of the "tabs" up just a little... use your other hand to pull the hose straight out on the the back of the machine.  It is easy, but be careful not to break it when prying the tab.  Took me about 5 seconds and you should have seen the color of the water when I washed the hose.