Kevin,
Your tip is my second to last hope and will precede purchasing a petrol burner to preheat the engine. My money is on you.
Never saw this operating in Australia but NZ is quite a lot colder. Might buy a calibrated hammer to encourage the carb too. I did hit the helicopter with a small calibrated stick today but nowhere near the carb.
I will try that tomorrow and report.
I hope your suggestion of 'draining the carb' is a matter of just waiting while drinking the cuppa or is there a manual procedure. Luckily there is a cafe near the hangar.
Chargers on for the third night running.
OOW