ORIGINAL: asmund
I guess you are one of them OS lovers,
Er, no. I'm seldom emotionally irrational about anything material. I recognise O.S.' strengths as well as their few weaknesses, and don't slavishly follow brand association as a substitute for craved recognition at the field. Bottom line is this. When a nOOb asks me to recommend him an engine, whilst I'd sooner sugget Thunder Tiger, I know he'll baulk at the name, the unfamiliar red box and more often than not presented with an insecurity born of irrational bias at the hobby shop which he is simply not able to assess or counter. OTOH I can confidently recommend an O.S. knowing it'll be available everywhere, he'll be able to brand associate the blue box he's seen, the hobby shop will happily sell him one and not try to dissuade him to buy another brand, and most importantly, on balance of probability, he'll bolt in for an absolutely problem free first or second RC engine experience.
What more can he ask for or you want other than a lower price?
As it is, O.S. have rationialised ther pricing over the past couple of years so that it's still fair and reasonable compared with western incomes, if still not the cheapest. The price of spares has only become a major issue since the price drop of some of their engines which makes items such as replacement carbs or N/V assemblies disproportionately expensive in comparion with buying a complete unit. Probably the most salient example of this was the ABN liner fiasco of the .46FX, where replacement with a new P&L, gudgeon and clips is simply economically triaged out of the equation. For the record, I have yet to see a failed .46AX liner..and I see a lot of them in ops every other day. O.S. seem to have solved the problem with their new dual coating process. Longevity? Well the engines are made for the U.S market's consumption driven sales model and buying trends.
I have no brand loyalty really
Don't you? I do. Well kind of. That is to say, there are sport brands I prefer generally (Enya & TT) and would prefer to buy which are a hallmark of the quailities I seek, but I buy what suits my need or the purpose and triage on value vs price: eg: TTPRO 46 vs O.S. 46AX. However O.S. has since narrowed that price margin as well as offering a wider range of type and size options. FTR superb european product such as MVVS aren't marketed in Australia, and Moki only in a low profile and very limited distribution. Brands I own and operate myself. Cipolla, Rossi, Enya, O.S., PAW, Super Tigre (all Italian), Thunder Tiger, Irvine (U.K. Manuf) to name but a few.
What I refuse to buy is high probability "maybe it will, maybe it" won't unreliability or outright trash.
that are very happy with their Sanye engines from these days.
And equally as many who aren't. I've deduced my own minimum acceptabilty threshold parameters. Sanye doesn't meet them, nor does Super Tigre until they rid themselves of that MAG monstrosity.
this is just a hobby and I just gave my opinions about this matter, it might differ slightly from yours, but in general I think we agree on most parts
Never lost sight on that Asmund, as you haven't. I will never understand why there is this vile PC perception today that disagreeing over a point can't be done with civility and acceptance on both sides, and that adults shouldn't have to sit here typing one another infantile 'group hugs' or fuzzy warm feeling trite nonsense so that those who can't identify that personalising opinion into indication of self-worth is as stupid as they are can play too.