Some stuff I know and some stuff I think....

Engines:

Just cause the engine "says/is called" SPE does not mean it is the same engine when bought from BCMA, Brillelli, Peak Models, or other far east sellers. While the cylinder head and crankcase may be cast by the same manufacturer (ergo the SPE designation), that's about where the likeness ends. In addition to those two components (general purpose/utility 2-stroke gasoline engine), there are big differences in other components such as the carb, piston/rings, bearings and ignition etc.. Moreover, the person/team that assembles the engine, runs it and tunes it also factors in to the ease of starting and trouble or not one may have running the engine. There is a lot that can be done to these engines such as expanding the various transfer/exhuast ports and so on.

Some companies will use the same cylinder head, piston and crankshaft, but will machine/mill (CNC) the crankcase and other parts for better mounting, performance and to lighten the engine. When that is done the price goes up significantly. DA, BME, 3W and I think even Brillelli, Fox and others have milled crankcases and other parts on their engines. In the process they remove themselves further and further from the general purpose gasoline 2-strokes that the business may have started on to performance designed and built engines such as 3W, DA, RCS, BME and so on. But even those manufacturers will distinguish models made from more common or specialized parts and the time spent assembling and tuning eash specific engine. E.g. 3W has a performance line of engines.

I would venture to say however, that in the power range these 26cc SPE gassers operate, once they run well tehy probably have similar performance. But if someone knows better please correct me.

You will however, find that service and support varies greatly among these manufacturers. Some like BCMA and Brillelli will offer excellent service that goes above and beyond what you will get from big brand vendors such as Horizon (Evo engines) but that you still see with DA, BME and a few others.


Now on Manufacturers in China:

Stuff produced in China can be had really cheap. This is indeed a problem for many american and european manufacturers that take up manufacturing on contract in China (elsewhere too). What is not unusual is that the contract manufacturer begins to distribute the brand product through his own channels at significantly reduced rates. He may even introduce new models that the vendor e.g. BME, Hangar9, Accell Hobby/OMP have not designed, endoresed or have been made aware of.... Sometimes it's merely the covering that's different, but the underlying structure is the same as that designed by a well known designer e.g. Mike McConville, Quique etc.

It's almost impossible for the american/european brand to stop the "pirate" manufacturing. This is something that New Balance, the american running-shoe company, found out the hard way. There are now lots of fake New Balance products on the market (particularly outside the US where the company has less influence and legal reach) and they are no longer in the shoe business but in the sue business.

It's a tricky game for the larger, established-brand vendors (i.e., they are at risk of damage to their brand because of a rogue manufacturer). However, for the entrepreneur, small-shop, start-up hobby vendor it can lower the threshold for entry into the market - enter Peak Models and others. Peak Models may even be the storefront for the manufacturer that produces the Maxair Velox (pure speculation on my part of course). Being a "New Zealand" company may keep Maxxair unaware for a while....

For hobbyists it means access to more and cheaper product that sometimes can be as good (because it's actually the same) as brand products. Quique's aircraft are according to some sources also sold as China Models - I cannot verify the accuracy of this claim but if it is not true there are a dozen others that are.

Bottom line, there are more and cheaper products on the market. Quality varies so buyer beware or at least do your research - see if anyone else has started a build thread. We should however expect that for a time there will be even more and even cheaper models and that the larger models come down in price.

Cheers,

Stig