now, after testing more, i realised that when i updated this Engine Mod, i also renamed the PAL_VisualMod9 to load just after the Engine Mod in load sequence, and it now seems as if this is the cause of the 30% problem.
when i reverted back to the previous Engine Mod, i found i was still getting the same 30% crash, so it could not be the new Engine Mod patch....
when i renamed the VisulaMod9 to load before Engine Mod again, i no longer get the 30% crash.
now, i f memory serves, this is exactly the opposite of the VisualMod instructions - i'm sure it's supposed to load AFTER the Engine Mod - either way, it doesn't work that way, so i have it again loading early in the load order, with only the Common Utils and the A-6 beta Weapons Pack_Gen2016 in the load order before it.
i should also inform that i have been experiencing some of the VisualMod features not functioning, even though it loads so early in the sequence.
i won't repeat them all here, but you will see if you look in the VisualMod thread, there are numerous posts where i am just adding problem after problem. it does seem i'm in a minority of one with these problems, but i can't really make any progress until i resolve this seeming problems between the VisualMod and the Engine Mod.