Thanks Eaglet,

I just perfer the sound of a 4 stroke. When I was a kid I had a line controlled 0.49 engine with no muffler. It gave my stomach very nerve wracking butterflies. I have listened to a .46 engine with a muffler. It's in the Eagle 2 I'm training on and it isn't so bad while flying, but still gives me a bit of a case of the jitters when I'm close enough to tune it.

I figure the dough is well spent if it makes the hobby more pleasant. I can see the merits of stick building now over the speed and convenience of ARF.

The reply just after yours affirms that vibration is the reason the 4 stroke isn't recommended for the plane. So, I guess I could get the plane first then look to see if there is some reinforcing I can do.

A member of my club recently got an Eagle. Even better than me getting the ARF then experimenting I can ask his opinon on the possibility and ease adding reinforcement to the ARF. He has more experience than I do.

There's balance to consider too. The 4 stroke is already heavier than a 2 stroke, then adding reinforcement also adds weight. Then I'm thinking if the reinforcement isn't taken back far enough from the beginning I could build myself a fuselage with a case of the creeping cracks.

Again, thanks for the input,

elad