RCU Forums - Tuned pipes forSemi-Scale ARFs?

There’s a group of us who like to fiddle around with small semi-scale racers and aerobats in the .46 to .91range, making them go as quick as we can and chasing each other around the field. We’d all like to have racer replicas but there’s a lack of racer ARFs in this size range. Not extreme speed or serious racing of course but fun none the less and sometimes we’ll have up to five models buzzing around. I do have some limited experience with tuned piped C/L engines.

In the latest issue of MA, in the pattern column, the author shows his Giles with a tuned pipe. It’s a slick installation that I think could be adapted to smaller, quicker models. It’s really just an extended muffler tunnel that tucks the pipe out of sight when viewed from the top or sides. As a side benefit, without a big muffler within the cowl area, it seems like you could have a sleek cowl with fewer or smaller cut-outs. I know that tuned pipes can be angled down, up, enclosed or whatever but think the tucked-in-the-bottom (but exposed) approach is something I would like to try. Has anyone done this to a smaller semi-scale ARF (extending the muffler tunnel for a pipe)? Are there any smaller (.46 size) ARFs that have plug-in wings or wings that mount from the top? Any pitfalls or recommendations? Any good ARF candidates to modify? Engines? pipes? etc?

For the engine, I’m thinking of the TT .61 with a 90 degree header and a pipe. I prefer a budget-priced .61 but are there any other suggestions? I would not be interested in a rear-exhaust, piped engine because I don’t want an inverted mount engine, but the canted-down side mount, typical of models with a centered muffler tunnel should be fine. Thanks for the help.