RE: can this work
Um, okay. You guys are right. The K&B 18 is made in America, and ripped off by a Japanese company who, in turn, sold the same design to about eight other manufacturers. It's a snarling beastie, worth a "long hard look". You should buy one. Lots of them.
Me, I only have eight of these, including a few that are dead, I only have some 600 flights or so on this engine with the Tokifan, across a half-dozen different airplanes. *** do I know about it? Not a thing.
Call them up. Buy some of those engines. Go for it!
(Shakes head sadly and walks away...)