I kinda like the Miller 1/2A starter that I've used for the past few years on my TD .010s and .020s. I decided on the Miller because I liked their soft spinner cones that come in all sizes to fit Cox's spinner nuts. So far my only complaint is that the pushbutton switch is not always reliable. Thanks to this post, it reminds me to look up their address (no website that I ever found) and see about sending it back for repair. (I'm gonna need it soon because I have two multiple .010 projects going - one ready for paint).

I had a homemade 1/2A starter version that I made from my first Astro 05 motor done pretty much the same way as Bipe's with a push-on, push-off switch from the Shack and some prop adapter that was large enough to hold some plumbing tubing from Lowes. Its not arouind anymore so I must have given it away or traded it.

As for too much torque, my dear old mother always told me, "son, when we're talking about torque enough is ok, but too much is just right." She also insisted that I turn the prop over slowly a couple of times before attaching the glow lighter. I thought this was to ensure that atomized fuel was in the upper cylinder, but it might have been to avoid vapor lock. She didn't always share her knowledge with me - to this day I still don't know how she got her pie crusts to be sooo flaky. Anyway, back then I'd have used anything to avoid those bloody spring starters and I'd have given anything to have one of those hand-cranked, geared starters that the speed guys used. Now there was some torque and speed.

Well, knock on wood, I've never broken a Cox crank or pin even when pitting Mouse racers and the trick was to slap the prop as hard and fast as you could to get that covetted one-flip, hot restart. Ah, yoot.