david714

Hi everyone,

I'd like to make the switch from glow fuel to gasoline but I don't want a BIG plane. I have flown .46 engine based glow planes and this is a good size for flying, transporting and storing. I just want to get away from the mess of glow fuel now. It looks like the smallest gasoline engine available is around 25cc (1.5 cu in.) like this one:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXRAW2&P=ML

Can anyone recommend a good sport ARF plane for such an engine size? Like I said, I don't want a big plane, I'd like a wingspan of about 65" or less, or if anyone knows of smaller gasoline engines I'd love to hear about them also...

David

3d-aholic

My Feedback: (7)

When you buy an engine your buying an investment. It will be around long after the plane is gone. I would not buy that engine if I were you. Buy something that will grow with you.

Right now the best combo on the market --> http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/announcement.asp?id=284
RCUniverse Review--> http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=881

Best plane, in fact you could probably turn around and sell it for a profit if you wait awhile when you can't get anymore.
Great engine...perfect size and can be easily reused in a plethoria of models.
Only 10 inches bigger than what you asking for.

http://www.brillelli.com/brillelli_013.htm $795, plane and engine, + all the stuff to get started with gas.

That Fuji engine will NOT grow with you and is a paperweight...you will wish you didn't have it about 6 months after you purchase it IMHO.

3d-aholic

My Feedback: (7)

Also, if you decide not to do the combo.

This is a better engine.
http://www.brillelli.com/brillelli_008.htm

Costs Less, more powerful, and weighs less...a lot less...a lb less.

david714

The Brillelli 25cc engine looks very nice, I can't believe that it's 16oz lighter than the same size Fuji. Thanks for telling me about it. I did not have my heart set on the Fuji, I was just using it as an example of the size I am looking for. So it looks like Fuji makes a lot of different gas engines, but from what I can tell they don't get a lot of respect, why is that? Are they junky quality or just unnecessarily heavy? Anyway, I would definitely go with the Brillelli after reading the reviews and comparing the specs/price...

That Yak looks very nice and I will consider it. That Yak runs a 46cc motor and ideally I'd like to find an ARF plane better suited for the smaller 25cc engine, just to keep the size down. I'd be really happy if I could find a plane to put that little Brillelli 25cc motor in.

David

3d-aholic

My Feedback: (7)

The Fuji motors are just heavier. Once upon a time there was little really to choose from but thats no necessarily the case anymore. There are now a lot more choices. I have a Brillilli motor and it has been top notch. The power to weight ratio is really the best in its case IMHO. The customer service is top notch as well. I can not say enough good things about my treatment and my Brillilli motor.

The Fuji motor is going to be a boat anchor in comparison power to weight ratio wise.

I think most of the planes that the 25cc will fit into when not necessarily be designated as gas planes. Many of them will be glow engine planes where you are simply converting the power plant to gas. You can choose any glow plane in the size/weigh range. You just need to find a plane thats light up front ---as the gas motors add a bit more weight. However, you can use a smaller fuel tank though and get weight savings there. Gas planes are cheaper to run and operate both in the cost of the fuel as well as the amount of fuel they use during a typical flight.

Another thing that would help on plane choice is "what kind" of plane are you looking for? Aerobatics, scale war birds, fun fly. A general classification would probably reduce the number of recommendations someone could make.

3d-aholic

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Picture of a GSP Giles 202 140 size with a Brillilli 25cc. Anything around that size or slightly smaller glow can be converted. I'm more of an acrobatic or 3d guy so naturally the planes I would recommend would be those.

3d-aholic

My Feedback: (7)

Try this...

http://www.aero-works.net/store/detail.aspx?ID=288

david714

I'm interested in a sport plane with some acrobatic capability but I will not be doing extreme 3d stuff. I also want something that will assemble fast, I really don't care about eye candy such as having the engine under a cowl.

3d-aholic

My Feedback: (7)

Look for any glow fuel between 110-140 size 4 stroke and it probably is a candidate for conversion.

Did you look at that first one....it will be better for IMAC than 3d. http://www.nitroplanes.com/cmpgi2021407.html.
Nitroplanes has a couple other candidates as well more in line with your wing size requirements....and a bit smaller/lighter.

Also keep in mind that the power to weight ratio of gas engines in that range where glow overlaps is not quite as good or comparable as a glow engine...3d in general will be difficult.

SunShyne

My Feedback: (68)

while on the subject of small gassers I would also consider the 3mm 53cc motor. For the price its real hard to beat. It can be found here: http://www.wildharerc.com/products/engines/index.html Price includes a muffler and all reports are positive on it. It is too big for a 65" plane but at the price point a little bit more could get you into a 50cc bird. Looking at the prices for Lanier and Goldberg plane and you can get a 50cc bird from Wildhare for a few mroe bucks. its all relative I guess so get what makes you happy.

Evlotion has a nice line of 26 and 35cc engines that fit a variety of airplanes from 60-120 as well. Link is [link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Stores/Products.aspx?StoreCatId=E&CatId=EA&BrandId=EVO]Evo Engines[/link]

good luck with your search

david714

Thanks for the replies, what do you guys think about these combinations:

combo1
plane: http://www.hangar-9.com/Products/Def...ProdID=HAN4200
+
engine: http://www.bmeengine.com/html/point90.htm

or

combo2
plane: http://www.hangar-9.com/Products/Def...ProdID=HAN4525
+
engine: http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...odID=EVOE26GT2


I don't know if the BME .90 glow to gas converted engine is any good or not...

3d-aholic

My Feedback: (7)

I don't know either about the BME conversion.

I personally hate the twist series planes...but there are quite a few people that swear by them. I think they are heavy for what they do....but I fly a lot of profiles. I have flown them and they are like flying a weight attached to an engine.

The EVO engine looks pretty. Also, take a look in the gas engine threads for the past week or so. There have been a lot of comments on that engine up and down especially the ignition.

I'm with DiabloKid really. Your going to be paying a high price to just barely dip your foot into the gas arena and for just a tiny bit more, you into the 46 and 50cc range. Better value and gas planes fly better in that size range. Gas barely works "in comparison" in the size your looking at. Glow still excels in that size range in terms of price to power and weight ratios.

I understand what your trying to do but hate to see you spend a lot of money and end up concluding gas planes don't fly well.

david714

I took your advice and decided to stay with glow for this size. Having an extra ignition battery + the heavier weight of the gas motor does make it tough to work in the wingspan size I wanted. I ended up buying a Hangar 9 Twist 40 PnP. It was $250 and came with an Evolution .46 plus 5 servos all installed with linkages connected, control surfaces mounted, wings joined, and canopy in place. Now that's what I call an ARF!

rcflyer54

Make sure to test all of the joints in there (chinese glue[:'(])

3d-aholic

My Feedback: (7)

Not my advice...[:'(]
I never told you to get a twist.

ke4jjh

Don't worry David714, you are going to love the Twist. I have 2 twist pnps and they are a blast to fly. The .46 engine is a little under powered for 3D, but for fun flying it has more than enough. I can take it vertical right off the runway and it hits 150 feet before it falls out of it. It can do some pretty agressive manuvers on high rates and float in like a trainer for a landing on low. For me, it was easier the fly than my trainer. There is a very long thread devoted to just Twists were you can get all the info you could ever want. Check it out.

[link]http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5162687/tm.htm[/link]