Magnum facts:

Magnum #1- 6 hours, 30 minutes of hard running. 39 flights. How does it go? Ask these guys- check posts 73, 83 & 89.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...1367771&page=5

Also this: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1448239

Magnum #2, this one running a pipe- 3 hours, 52 minutes total time, 29 flights.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1457310

The harder that you run these things the better they run.

As far as connecting rod longevity goes, my first one was shimmed too tight (too high of a compression ratio). I was blowing plugs, and loosened up the rod from detonation. Fortunately, I know what I am doing, and was able to identify the problem and fix it. the Chinese push the CR to get max power. Sometimes a bit too tight. Best of all, Global replaced the rod gratis. Great customer service for a 100$ engine. Don't let it detonate and it will give you good service. I've had higher dollar engines do worse.

Replacing the bearings is a great idea. that applies to the high dollar OS engines as well. They put sub par bearings in some of their engines from time to time. Yes the Magnum engines have had a few quirks, but bang for the buck, they are a great value.

Put one in the front of your favorite Ballistic Pattern plane and be prepared from folks to ask "What the heck do you have in the nose of that thing?"Then get used to the slack jawed looks when you tell them its a $100 engine!