thanks for all the comments guys, it makes me feel real good to hear positive responces.............especially from an esteemed group of great modellers.
as far as ignition all i was using for this run was a good old model T buzz coil, i hope to use a relay (as the buzz part) and a ignition coil from a motorcycle. this relay/motorcycle setup should fit in the battery box that I'm making.
i will post pictures of that set up when i get it done.
the carb was just one i had left over from another model that i was working on. about 3 years ago i was building a free lance model and i took it to a show (it was not running but as a static display) i was working on the carb the night before the show and never put it on the engine. so the engine went to the show (with no carb) and while at the show i went for a walk around to see the full sized gas and steam engines. while i was gone some SOB stole my engine, and that is how i ended up with this carb on this engine.
in almost 30 years of going to steam engine shows and fairs that was the only thing that was stolen.
i hope it brought the guy who took it nothing but grief and frustration.
to answer alphawolf's question, it was some kind of strobe effect with the camera because i have another video of the same engine and the crank looks like it is running backwards.
i didn't get to run it much today, the family wanted to go to a locale flee market. i went there and looked at all the usual stuff (nothing to exciting) then i found a guy selling rusty old junk (my kind of stuff) and in his junk pile i found a small electric motor that i think will work real well to make a small high speed spindle for my mill drill. this smaller spindle will allow me to use end mills under 1/8"
if i get around to making this spindle i will post some pics.
i hope this answer all the questions and again thanks for the positive feed back, it helps motivate me to keep on going.
thanks guys
(still grinning ear to ear)
chuck