Problem Solved ! The solution was to simply choke the engine before the aircraft was completely assembled. This permitted me to invert the fuselage without the big wing attached, and choke the engine upright. This insured that the fuel went down the carb, and not out. I then completed assembly, and then left the plane sit for one hour, to simulate waiting for the start of an event. After one hour, as soon as I grabbed the prop, and felt fuel in the cylinder ( a mild hydra-lock, ) I knew that I was going to be alright. The big engine started by hand easily. I then shut it down, and waited for another hour, just to see if it would start again after being wet. Well it started on the first back flip ! Yipeeeee, I nailed it ! Problem solved !

Perhaps someone can explain this, but while waiting between flights, I move the prop by hand until I can feel the piston at TDC. I get the feeling that this locks some fuel in the upper cylinder, and prevents things from drying out. Maybe Pe can comment on this ? I don't know where I got in the habit of doing this, maybe someone suggested it to me at one time, but it seems to work. Have y'all ever herd of such nonsense ?

Thanks for all of your help.

... zak