MDS did produce a few real dogs but if you got a good one they were powerful and with a really reliable throttle. Run an Enya no 3 plug, no more than 10% nitro and less if you are flying in hot conditions. They take a while to run in. Most of mine needed an hour before the throttle response became predicctable. The exception was the 38 which seemed to be good right out of the box. I had two in helis and they were both good.

The needle is sensitive, unlike some engines, adjust by 1 or 2 clicks at a time. Once it is set LEAVE IT ALONE unless conditions change radically. My 38s and 148 would be 2 to 3 clicks richer in winter.

I used to get in trouble from the club safety officer. I would never do the classic nose up test, just flick it into life then take off some times straight into a prop hang. Told me I was setting a bad example.