RCU Forums - View Single Post - Engine Selection: Zero 120 ARF from CMP / GSP / Chief
Old 09-02-2004 | 11:17 AM
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seanychen
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From: Canton, MI
Default Engine Selection: Zero 120 ARF from CMP / GSP / Chief

I got one @ Toledo trade show from GSP stand. But I have not been able to settle on an engine choice yet. Looking at the next-to-nothing nose moment (wing LE budds right onto the firewall), I'd think a really heavy engine is required to achieve a flyable CG. I have a Moki 1.80 that I am thinking of mounting inverted w/ a BCM inverted scale muffler. This setup will weigh 3 lb.

I'd love to have the Saito 170R 3-cylinder for the look and the multi-cylinder 4-stroke sound, but from the Saito dimension chart it may be just a hair to large to be completely enclosed by the cowl. Also, I won't get very good power with it, not to mention its price tag.

I also consider Saito 180 or YS 140. Its power would be perfect, but it may be too light for the balance.

I would like to swing a 16"+ 3-blade prop. So my choices are Graupner 16x8, MA 16x8 or MA 16x10. Judging from the photographs, it looks like a 18"~20" 3-blade prop would be more to scale. I figured this by comparing the length of 1 prop blade from outside the spinner to the blade tip, this is about the same as the cowl height on the real plane. Since this model's cowl is 8" tall, the right size prop should be 8" per blade outside the spinner. Assuming 3" spinner (which looks consistant with real plane's photos), it comes to about 19" for prop diameter. I'd settle for an 18" 3-blade prop if I can find one that doesn't cost a fortune.

Has anyone else flown this plane? What engine do you have? Where is your CG? Thanks.