I've been really looking at buying the U-Can-Do 3D .46 from Great Planes. It has a great reputation and all the guys at the local airfield love them. In fact, in the club, there's over 9 of them. So I have the Hobbico Nexstar and I've learned to fly on that great with the help of RealFlight G3. Now the guys at the field are suggesting me move up to the next level. They say I could take out everything from my Nexstar and put it in the UCD, along with the extra servo or two and wires I might need.

The Nexstar came with a .46 FX and I was wondering if that would be sufficient power for the UCD or if it would be a better choice just to buy a new engine (maybe a four stroke). The 3 main engines everyone seems to have in their UCD's are the OS FS-70 Surpass, the YS .63, and the Saito .82. I could also go with the Saito .72 if the .82 is too much power (yeah right!).
Another engine from OS is the FL-70. It's $30 less than the FS-70 but the advertising says it has 20% more power and weighs less. I don't know how it's less than the FS-70 then.
I really need your guys input on this. Thanks a lot in advance!
Cojim14

id go with the saito 82, fits perfect and weighs just right for the cgand like ya said....... power[X(]
actually just the right amount of power[8D]

Put all your gear from the NexStar into the UCD.

Put a APC 11.5-4 on it.

Perfect. No need to buy anything else.

NEVER fly it wide open unless going straight up.

I have a saito 82 with a 15-4 apc prop on mine flys great nice & slow ,hover at just over 1/2 throttle.
Oh yeh watch the elevator hinges I broke 3 sets , put in plastic dubros

I have been flying mine for more than a year including, 2 moderate crashes . The ca hinges are fine so far.

The best engine would be the Saito 82. Perfect fit, lots of power without being grossly overpowered. I had the 72 on one of mine at first and didn't like it's power. Went to the 82 and haven't looked back for 5 planes. I fly at 4800' so I use 30% just to perk it up a bit. I use the APC14x4W prop. I can't quite pull the 15x4W but at lower elevations I think that prop would work.

This is one of the great planes for 3D. With the 82 it will do anything. My favorite maneuver is the rising flat spin. That and of course the flat spin landing. But waterfalls, spins, hovers etc. are just as good as it gets with this plane and the 82.

I've had several CA hinges fail but not on the 46. But I only ran CA hinges on the first 2. Just to be safe I now use the Dubrol plastic pinned hinges.

Thanks
Barry

I have flown mine with a YS 63, OS 91fs and Saito 91. At sea level on 15% nitro. except I used 20% with the YS. This is a 6 lb (more or less) plane. The profile guys are flying 4 lb Mojos with Saito 82s , some on 30% nitro. Right now I am flying it with my new Saito 91 that will go on my Mojo 60 as soon as I get comfortable with it. The UCD has been a very user friendly plane so I use it to check out new stuff.

I think the Saito 82 will work fine on the UCD 46.

Sold my ucd with YS 63 in it, kept my ucd 60 size with YS 110 as for me is a better flying plane. Suggest you use the gear you have for your first 3d'r. Gonna need a decent transmitter with dual rates and expo soon. Most 6 channel size units are adequate for your needs for a lot of years. I fly JR because of their ease in programming as compaired to Fatuba who in my opinion, still after all these years can not get their manuals undestandable for the computer dummy I am. ENJOY

Yeah, I bought a used Futaba 6EXA from one of the guys at the field. I've used it on the nexstar but haven't experimented what all it can do. I've also been told that the .46 FX will work fine on the UCD if I use the right prop, which is understandable. It'll hover probably. I'm thinking either the YS .63 or the OS Surpass 70 II. Both fairly inexpensive and very reliable. I've also seen both been flow. I hope I can fly both myself before I make my choice.

I can't imagine that the 46 FX will work for 3D type flying on this plane. Ain't gonna happen. Out of the YS and OS you mentioned, the YS 63 would be the best pick. The Surpass is too heavy and lacks the power. Good luck with your UCD.

I use an OS 50SX-H, helicopter engine with a 12 x 4 apc prop (not wide). It will hover just fine at around 60% throttle. Also has very little weight.