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Findings.

I ran the Brodak 40 inverted on the mule fora 5 minute flight. There was no excess fuel/oil residue on the plane. I don't know why. Maybe because I opened the groove in the crand case bushing or the smaller venturi or running at a higher rpm.Today I mounted the engine on the test stand with the original venturi installed. I ran it for a couple minutes and there was no leakage either. The bottom line is that the engine seems to be operating properly but now it has no home. The OS .40 is a better engine for the Vector as it's 2.3 ounces heavier whick is what the Brodak 40 needed for extra nose weight. I weighed the electric system I had on the Mule and compared that to the engines weight. 12 ounces for the electric vs. 9.0 for the motor and 3 for the stock muffler should I use it. Even up you may think but the weights are without battery or fuel. The smallest battery I use is 12 ounces and the most fuel I use is 4 ounces. Electric is better in cold weather.

The Mule.

I made one of my Nomad designs into a multi use model for testing stuff. I use a flat firewall and a BHE r/c mount that has symmetrical mounting holes for testing engine set ups and the hole spread also fits the moounting bracket of electric motors. I use nylon stands to extend the motor for balance. I can turn the r/c mount 4 ways to test various engine runs.

Leak test.

The Vector/Brodak 40 combo is flying quite well. The only problem is there is a leak somewhere in the fuel system. I removed the engine and tank in one piece and submerged it in a pan of water while I pressureized the parts with a large syringe. I cicn't see any bubbles anywhere. I ran the systemn on the test bench and didn't see or feel any fuel escaping the engine or tank. Then I put it back in the plane and ran it. There was fuel starting to come out of the fuselage. The only place it could be coming from is the needle valve assembly. I removed the engine again and pressurized the n.v.a. and felt air escaping. I had another n.v.a. so I changed it and did a pressure test again with much better results. I may fly it in the morning along with the re built Jamison.

What's old is new again.

I built a Jamison Special in 2018 to compete in Old Time Stunt. I flew it to several podium finishes and changed the color scheme once. A month ago while preparing for the Zachary contest I crashed it. The wing was still usable so I built a new fuselage and tail feathers. It's assembled and painted and ready for clear coat.

The center picture is before the crash. Weight as it sits is 38 ounces.

How did that happen?

We carried 8 model kits and an engine to the El Dorado contest Nov. 4 and 5. I brought the newly fixed motor mount Mo' Best to fly in profile and on again Sunday. The plane was flying better with the fixed motor mount as it should have. I managed a second place finish in profile and 5th out of 7 on Sunday. I did get my highest score ever on sunday and only got beat by Joe by 10 points instead of the usual 20 or more. I was happy about that. One of the batteries didn't charge properly but I had two good ones for Sunday any way. I was hoping to win a kit or two in the raffle but I didn't get anything. The kit, engine and fuel I got in the spring will have to suffice for now. We got home about 6:30 pm. Sunday evening. On monday I took the Mo'Best and the problem battery to the park and it flew the plane like it always had. I guess I still have 3 good batteries. I brought the Vector I built from the kit I won at the spring El Dorado contest. The engine, a Brodak 40, was acting up the last time I flew it. I ran some primes through it to warm it a bit and then tried to start it for a flight. It wouldn't start so I turned it over and tried to start it but it still wouldn't start. As I tried to remove the starter battery the glow plug came out with it. I re installed the plug and tightened it. The engine ran very well for two short flights. The first flight I had hooked the lines up wrong but the second flight was much better.