ORIGINAL: JohnBuckner
Yes GB noise is a factor and lack of is the prime reason I have and continue to see most of the locals who swear off glow mumbling about cleanup, selling all their stuff cheaply do soon ultimately return right back to glow at a considerable further investment.
Cleanup is a time honored period to relax with the buds as you clean up a bit. How awful to forever loose that ritual, no wonder the dedicated electric only flyers tend to be lonely.
Well having said that and involking so much anger with the dedicated electric flyers so be it that is my opinion and not afraid to say it.
Also keep in mind I certainly do have some electrics but they will always be just an interesting little sideroad in my modeling interest. I obtained my first electric in 1959 it was a Japanese free flight kit called a TK-1 and I still have the original drive system that used a fuse to shut it down and prevent fly aways.
Now the very thought of an Electric conversion of the magnificent Swoose leaves me dismayed and thinking what a waste. You will have destroyed something that is just like multi engine airplanes part and parcel a major attraction of that beautiful airplane: Sound and Yes Noise.
Derikmac I fully concur with Jaka the .25LA will also work fine with that airplane even on floats But my preferance would be the AX's which are great engines and have superb long term idle characteristics better than the LA and yes the 25 is fine.
John
John, for me, cleanup really doesn't bother me as I run nitro trucks, and at the end of the day it usually takes me about an hour or so to clean it up. I do enjoy taking it apart to clean it as it allows me to inspect the truck for any damage, and it's also fun to take it apart and put it back together. The mess and toxicity of nitro fuel does concern me though, especially with young children around. I am always very cautious when handling it, and making sure it is put away, way out of reach of them, but there's always a chance, even though it might be small, that they could get into it.
Personally I would rather have a glow engine in my plane, but the pros of the electric, for what I want to do with, and the size of the plane, outway the pros of going nitro. I do also agree that the risk is greater when running electric and water is your runway, but I think I'll be alright with it. If I'm wrong, than I'm out some money! You do also run the risk of bending or breaking a rod on a nitro if you swamp it, as it has happened to me when one of my trucks decided to loose a wheel and end up in the drink. Now if you can cut the engine before that happens, then yes, you'll be fine.
This is actually my first plane, but I do not plan on it being my last. I want to get into this hobby, getting more ARFs, RTFs and kits, and I really want to get a big gas plane later down the road.