RE: Contender with Saito .56???
I actually think you'd be better off with the Saito .56 than the 1.00. I have a Tiger Moth biplane (similar in size to a Contender) with a Saito .56 and it moves out just fine. I am also nearly finished building a Contender (including the engine-specific balsa cowl), and I think the 1.00 would be very difficult to fit well. Not to mention the weight/balance issue you'd have to 'contend' with.
The biplane, which has much more drag than a Contender, flys very scale-like at 1/3 throttle on a 12*6 prop, and will jump straight out into a loop when I go to full throttle.
Think about it this way... the .56 is within the Contender's recommended engine range, while the 1.00 isn't.
Just my 2 cents...
Robert