I believe the LA would work like a charm. Keep it light. Other possibles might be the Brodak 40 or an OS 35S. The Brodak is really strong and light, but does need a fair amount of breakin. The 35S is an old motor, but a good one would make a lovely match with a Magician. It would just take a little looking to find one. And actually, a properly broken in Fox 35 makes a neat combo with the Magician. The sound of the 4-2 break and the smell of the castor oil are nice.

In other words, I'd stuff an LA in the thing in a NY minute. The Magician is a killer airplane. That first "real" CL plane you fly is a revelation, isn't it? I felt that way the first time I flew a Pathfinder. Big airplane at 620 square inches, modified OS 40. Then I felt the same way again after getting on the handle of a Magnum with a Saito 4-stroke. It isn't much of a Magnum, but it really tells me what is possible. Great feeling!

On a side note, one of my buddies turned up one day with a Magician and a Ueda 40. First Ueda I ever saw outside of a magazine ad. I think they probably imported about six of these motors in the 60's. It had a venturi the size of a storm drain. Would hardly run. We went to the trash barrel, ripped a balsa stick from a wreck, whittled it a little and stuffed it in that huge venturi. Suddenly, he was flying the pattern with it! You just never know....