RichardGee

My Feedback: (156)

A couple of the current RC aircraft publications have tests on this aircraft and engine combo.

J_Lombard

My Feedback: (1)

I'm building a Pica 1/5 scale T-28.The kit calls for a .9 - 1.20 glo or a 1.2 - 1.6 4 cycle. If I were to opt for a gasser what size would some of you suggest. Also with all the new engines coming online which ones show good promise as to quality?

av8tor1977

My Feedback: (6)

Sorry, but this isn't intended to be a "gas/glow" versus electric argument. It couldn't be, because everyone here knows that internal combustion is better than electric!!!

AV8TOR

AA5BY

30cc but not at the cost of adding any tail weight.

larry@coyotenet

My Feedback: (21)

Like most gas flyers I switched to gas years ago in order to fly bigger planes. Just recently I removed a 35cc gas engine from a scale Fiat CR32 bipe because I needed it for another plane. I replaced it with an old ST 2500 running straight methanol and oil. around 10% oil. The ease and power of this old glow engine was a real eye opener! I think we tend to forget how good the bigger glow engines were because we get caught up in the "gas thing". The performance of the old ST 2500 was easily 50% better than the newer gas engine and starting was one flip. Turned the same prop at least 1500 rpm more. So, I guess what I am saying is, don't look down your noses at big glow engines. They do have some advantages. I would use one up to about 40cc. I also got a new ST4500 for almost nothing because it was a glow engine. I use it in planes designed for 60 to 70 cc engines. Yes, it does use more fuel, but straight methanol and oil is not much more than gas and oil now. I use a 24 oz tank and get 8 to 10 min. flight time. Not much different than my Sachs 4.2 and only a little less power. It would fly any of the Top Flight giant warbirds quite well.
Larry

MTK

Hi Chris,

Here's my take on the gas vs. glow...

If you like to fly less than about 1.2 cuin, hard to beat glow for the power/weight. 1.2 cuin (20cc) is my personal cut off. I have a few glow engines up to a 1.7 cuin, but they are in their boxes, unused.

Does it make sense to convert? Don't know from personal experience since I've not done it. But from the several comments I read, it probably doesn't. The cost of conversion can be equal to purchasing a gassie of the size needed, that's been designed to run on gas with appropriate amount of fin area to cool properly. Cooling is the key in my experience for long trouble free life of the gassie (and the glow too, but they are a little easier to keep cool since soooo much fuel is running through these)

Do you trade one set of issues for another? I'd have to say NO. Current day gas design especially in the 20 -60cc range is outstanding in its power to weight, ability to reject heat, operational simplicity, lack of maintenance (no more rusty bearings), and simple, superb field manners. Operational cost is also easy on the pocket, even if you use Avgas which is what I use. I do that for the lack of stink and long storage capability,

A gallon of avgas plus oil will run around 7$. A gallon of premium auto gas plus oil will run 4.50$. A gallon of 15% nitro cool power will run around 20$. A 16 ounce tank of gas will run an OS GT33 about 25 minutes. A 16 oz tank of 15% nitro will run a OS160/Webra 160 around 14 minutes and produce much less power. So the cost per unit op time is about 1 for gas to 6 to9for glow, for these specific fuels I mention. Other combinations will produce a higher or lower ratio

Tuning the gas engine is not the "set it and forget it" that some think, but it is very close. And I don't doubt that some do exactly that and just put up with the slight rich or lean runs. But in my experience VERYsmall adjustments do need to be done from summer to winter for optimal running.

But with glow, adjustments were needed just about every day for good running. Also, spark plugs are usually good for years andmany 100'sof flights. Glow plugs need changing fairly frequently for good consistent running, and you need to learn what to look for. Gas running is simply, well, simpler.!

I use and reccommend the TECHAEROIBEC for powering the CDI module. There are many advantages, some safety related (remote arming and disarmingby the TX is one big one), and some terrific conveniences. The filtering in this gizmo simply doesn't allow any RFI to get back into the RX. The IBEC weighs almost nothing (around 1/2 ounce) so for smaller planes, you save weight of the ignition battery and switch

My well tuned OS GT33 on its rubber isolation mount and pipe is supremely quiet. At last week's contest it was hard to tell when mine was running compared to all the electrics flying. And it wasn't just hype; fellow competitors told me so. Either way, gas engines don't have to sound like chain saws......

hsukaria

I crack up when a gas flyer comes out to the field with only his plane and a can of gas trying to make a fashion statement that "you don't need to lug around a big field box with gas". Then when they need a tool, they go around bumming from the glow guys.

I have electric park flyers, glow powered planes from the 40-90 size, and one gasser at 38cc. Like most, I would consider the cutoff for gas at 20cc and for electric to smaller than .40 c.i. The smaller gassers would use more oil, dictating the need for a separate gas can with different oil ratio (my gasser runs at 50:1 gas/oil). So, I will not be converting all my smaller glow planes to gas anytime soon, although I am considering a NV GX-40 for one of my planes for the future.

If the OP really likes his Webra glow and it fits his application well, I would recommend that he stick with it. I like the idea of running 0% nitro and lower oil content on the big glows. If you mix your own fuel at 10-12% oil and 0 nitro, you will reduce the cost of the fuel quite a bit.

[email protected]

My Feedback: (1)

i always carry my tool box it serves for gas or electric or glow it stays in my pick up all the time i use regular gas [87] i use only a half gallon gas 2 oz oil to it i do like gas and i do like nitro but i do find gas way cheaper >> but we all like what we like happy flying

hsukaria

Yep, I like them all too. I do like my big field box (used for gas, nitro, and electric), I just wish I could get me a bigger one. Hmmm, sounds like a good winter project!!!

TimBle

There is no point or step or point of no return. Go when to gasoline whenever you feel like it. Heck you can even start the hobby flying gasoline now. Just do it

Jim Branaum

My Feedback: (3)

Years ago I made the mistake of taking my flight box to a bathroom scale. The weight astounded me!

Now I have 4 smaller boxes, each for a different issue I might have to deal with, and a much smaller flight box that generally stay in the vehicle unless one of my models develops a problem.

As I get older, the less weight I have to lug from here to there the more time and energy I have for enjoyment. Oh, that is also one of the things I like about gas - it is simple and does not take much in place (in the pits or at the flight station) gear. Some folks have seen me fuel up.. a la gravity feed because I am too lazy to crank. That tank of mixed gas and a glove and I am ready to fly.

fly24-7

So long as you're not financially strapped such that you can't afford glow fuel and you continue to enjoy operating glow engines, ride it out until you're no longer left with a choice.

hsukaria

Leaving the big field box in the car/truck and carrying the minimum to the pits area makes sense. I have a small portable field box, but my big field box is NOT BIG ENOUGH. I NEED a BIGGER field box and plan on keeping the small portable box and put what is needed for the occasion, whether it is batteries for electrics, leather glove for gas, or the starting gear for glow. Even with gas planes, I still carry a battery tester and a tachometer, besides the gas and hand glove.

hsukaria

There are also compromises and creative ways to get around a local hobby store gouging the glow prices. I am fortunate that the LHS I deal with does not jack up the price of glow fuel like I keep hearing from guys in this site. Last year, I made a deal with a club member who had 6 gallons of 5% nitro fuel that he did not want to use. I gave him 2 gallons of 15% glow fuel that I bought for about $15/gallon at the Toledo Show. So, I am flying with 5% fuel at $5/gallon. I burn about 1 gallon per season for my 2-strokes, so I am set for another 5-6 years[8D].

Besides, you can always mix your own fuel if you are so inclined. So, glow fuel availability is not an issue, IMHO. Also, most people think that they gotta have more nitro in their fuel. With the exception of 4-strokes, I have been able to get good performance out of my 2-strokes with only 5% nitro (I even got decent results with 0% nitro in one of my engines).

Jim Branaum

My Feedback: (3)

I have been taught that when folks say that it is generally because there is some minor issue they are missing in setting the engine up. The guy who taught me that also made sure I knew the correct ways and how to test for them. It seems that many leave the low end of 2S engines too rich and that comes back to bite you elsewhere that is not evident when you are setting the high end on the ground. The other 'trick' is to do ALL engine tuning at 1/2 tank. I don't know if he was always right, but once I took his advice on when and how to tune the low end and high end, I began getting lots more consistent runs. He taught me one way to test if the set up was right and another gave me yet a different way and between the two, my 2S engines are almost always good or I need a new glow plug or new fuel. The nitro content has nothing (well, little) to do with quality of the run.