RE: What was your first engine?
My first engine was a K&B .29 on ignition. Damaged it on my first U/Control flight, sent it in for repair, and bought a K&B .24, on ignition. Same result. Got the .29 back and finally soloed a Goldberg "Zing". All of this was in 1946 or '47. Not too much longer and the glow plug came out, and I ran the Ohlson .23 front rotors, Forester .29, etc. Too many to count now, and loved'em all (well, maybe MOST of them)!
Clair