I started with a Cox Space Hopper which was given to me around '95. I ran it on the bench, then scratch built a CL stunt looking model. I got about 2-3 circles in before it threw the prop. I think I flew it some more until it was broken. Someone gave my cousin a BD-4 trainer with an Enya .30 or .35 and Airtronics 3 channel green box. I managed one turn after take off before piling it into the ground. I made many flights, which I have on video, with a scratch built rudder/elevator 1/2A model with an Ace foam wing and a Cox Black Widow. I think I built a Bee-Tween before that but it was fragile and didn't last long. I got my first solo at the club with a scratch built Midwest Aero Electric trainer with a semisymmetrycal foam wing and an MVVS .09 diesel to which I adapted a probably Enya carb and home made header to remove the mess. On one of the first flights with the instructor the throttle arm failed at wide open and I flew it around until the 2 oz tank ran out some 15 minutes later. I had my first solo landing on that flight. I added an MVVS .15 diesel in '96-'97 or so and flew it for a year before switching to electric until about 1 year ago, now I'm flying diesels again. My small engine collection consists of many engines which predate my hobby career and some my birth.