I bought a 3W Fun Xtra from Cactus aviation around Christmas and it has been a endless headache.

The instructions are terrible and in German to boot. The engine install is terribly obscure. (This is my first gasser, so I may just be stupid) I have called Cactus and while they have been friendly, they have not been very helpful.

I had to solder a throttle arm on the engine (on what is supposed to be one of the premier brands of gas engines). Then when I finally get the engine mounted with the throttle and choke, the canister muffler install begins. The screws are much harder then the engine head they screw into, and both screws immediately cross thread. One hour later, after much cursing and sweating, on about the fifth attempt to install the header, one of the bolts breaks off in the engine.

Now I will have to send the engine back to 3W if I can't get the bolt out. It makes me want to scream.

I don't know how much of this is poor design/instructions from 3W and how much is my own inexperience with gas. I have been flying glow for years and you would think I could install a muffler, for pete's sake. I don't think I will be buying any more 3W products, though.

Leonard