Well ...here is an update on my Simple Extra saga. I replaced the Black Widow with a Norvel .074, It was just too heavy to get an easy launch with the BW. It flew fine once up to speed, but just about to stall the first 10 seconds after launch.
So.....after hearing all the great things about how good the Norvel .074 was(on this forum) I ordered one. I learned I needed a glow driver for the plug and an electric starter to make it start. (after my first night of trying to make it start by hand). The break-in was not a problem.
I had a two channel radio system with only two servos in the plane. I changed the receiver to a three channel system from another plane. I put a Hobbico CS-12 micro servo near the tail for the elevator and changed the old elevator servo to operate throttle. A DuBro 2 oz tank was a perfect fit in the front of the plane.
My first flight was today and it was a different plane. The plane was 100 ft up in just a few seconds after launch and I had to power back some. The trim was just where I left it with the BW.There was some wind up high and that seemed to have an effect on it, but it flew like a .40 powered plane. The engine is smooth, quiet and has more than enough power.
I decided to bring it down after 14 minutes of flying. The wind was starting to pick up some and my landing wasn't the best but no harm done. I'm going to wait for calm air for the next flight.

Here are some pictures:

another view:

Big Mig

It's great to hear how the plane is progressing. Sounds like you're having fun.

thanks Bro.,
I have gone from being ready to throw it in the trash can.(when it had the upside down wing) to being truly amazed by this little plane. This is FUN stuff!

Isn't it great when that happens? I built a Sopwith Pup and it flew terrible. It sat for a couple of years before I made a few adjustments. Now it flies beautifully.

Lynn:

I built the same plane, but I used carbon tow on top and bottom of the wing, then sheeted it. For the engine I used an inverted Cox 09, and built it four channel from the start. And I used the landing gear.

Guess what? Right. It was a lead sled.

Gave it to my son, I don't think he's done anything with it.

Yours looks nice.

Bill.

Hey Lynn is this your first plane?..the norvels way better huh..pretty quiet too and with a 2 oz tank it'll run for awhile I think mine went full throttle for 11 minutes.....Rog

Bill-
The strapping tape on the top and bottom of the wing really works well. The first few times I tried to make it fly(w/inverted wing) the wing and landing gear took a terrible beating, so I just took the gear off. (I may need to put it back on due to the engine is not dead stick on landing now. )I did manage to break the wing when I hit a power line a few weeks ago. It was a clean break and I repaired it with three wood skewer sticks and epoxy.

Rog..
This is the first 1/2 A I built.(not counting the LS)The 150 LS was the second. I have been flying 150LS the most so far.
I have been flying off and on since the late 60s, but not a good pilot until the late 70s when I finally bought a radio that worked.....
Yep, glad to learn about Norvels here.

cool looking plane too! glad to hear you like it! p.s I flew the low wing today...hehe