I'm new to rc flying... i seem to have had several problems with my evo 46NT that i bought...

my first problem was that the tubing between the needle valve and the carb was rotted away or torn up or watever, i didnt have the experience to check something like that so i got fuel everywhere... it was a simple fix, just replace it, but for a newbie, almost any kind of problem is frustrating.

My next problem was (and is, actually) that it seems to be very difficult to start. I don't have an electric starter so i flip it over with a rubber hose. when it's cold, (as in not warmed up) it takes anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes to start!! It may be my technique... how do you guys start it without an electric turner (or whatever u call it) ? but even when its hot, it seldom starts right up on the first flip.

My third problem... after the first time i ran it, the gasket broke! the gentleman at the LHS told me to use high-temp silicone instead of the gasket because he had none in stock and the silicone would work just as well, if not better. So i used that.

now heres a problem that i've had for every time i ran it... gunk. I dont know if this is normal or not, but theres this gunk that is sprayed almost everywhere on my plane, especially on the right side (the muffler side). I ran the motor on a concrete patio, and you can see the drops of this gunk on the concrete. I dont know what it is... maybe leaking fuel? unburnt fuel coming out of the exhaust? maybe im running it way too rich. because the motor smokes a little too... I seem to be unable to get rid of this smoke!! If i richen the motor, it just smokes more, if i lean it out, the motor dies after about half throttle, but it still smokes a little. I don't have a tachometer so i cant tell you what rpm's this happens at.

Oh, and 1 more thing, I think this is normal but i just want to be sure... the rmps fluctuates when I run it above 1/2 throttle... it goes up and down noticeably, and it fluctuates more the higher the throttle.

Whew, that was a long thing. I think i just confused most of you, but in order to clear it up a little i'll just try to answer some questions you might have for me... i have 5% sport fuel, brand of XP fuels. The plane is a PT-40 from Great Planes. The LHS is a 40-min drive so its much more convenient for me to go here (rcu) than to the LHS, but i will eventually of course, just to get them to do a final check and help me at my first flight.
umm... i have ran it basically 3 times... the first time i had no idea what i was doing so it probly ran for only 2 minutes before i gave up. the 2nd time was when i noticed the gunk and the broken gasket. the 3rd time was when i decided that the smoking and the gunk was a problem and thats when i came here to write this.
I do have fuel filters... one on the intake for my hand fuel pump, one on the tank intake, and another one (supposed to be very good filter) between the tank and the carb so its not crap from the fuel.
before i ever ran it, I did take apart some of the motor and look for shavings and other crap but i found nothing. I took off the back plate and the top cylinder cover. I did not take apart the carb or needle valves tho, they looked too complicated for me
uh, i think thats about all i can think of. If you people can help me, i would be ever so grateful, heheh. like i said, its quite a drive to the LHS, and im only 15 so i cant go there on my own (yet), i have to have someone drive me [&o]. So thankyou to anyone that can help me.
Just ask for information and i'll do my best to figure it out.