Also, an old-time engine guru told me to NEVER run more than 10% nitro in and O&R because any more causes the cylinder to launch off the engine!
Confirmed!
The reason I was doing that was that it didn't show the slightest inclination to keep running without the battery no matter what plug I used on Fox Superfuel. I discovered that the first successful glow mixes were 3/8 Nitromethane, 1/8 ether, and 1/8 nitrobenzine, 3/8 castor(!), and the rest methanol. If that's what they thought it took in 1947, it was probably for use in engines like the converted ignition engines, so, that's what I used*. I had also heard that it was common to blow up these wimpy FF "chugger" ignition engines trying to run them on glow, and sure enough, that's exactly what happened. The other issue was that it was a 9-6 Top Flite, rather than the more typical FF ignition prop like a 12-8 at 4000 rpm.
It was no great loss, it was my dad's engine, and he hated it because it would be running along fine, misfire ,and then 50/50 start back up backwards, which led to some entertaining stories, like when his Mr Mulligan backed over my Uncle Donnie.
BTW, I ran a converted McCoy 29RR Red Head on the same fuel, no problem, and amazing (for the time...) power, and outstanding "shoe polish" smell that is probably still hanging in the garage.
Brett
p.s. another interesting point was that it was absolutely no problem for a 14-year-old to get a pint of nitrobenzine in central Arkansas in 1975, go to the drugstore and the pharmacist would order it for you. He did balk at the 20 lbs of powdered Sulfur and 40 lbs of zinc powder, because he knew me.
*p.s. Technically it was Cox Racing fuel with "additives", but that did not affect the results!