ORIGINAL: Pat Roy
How many people do you suppose have bought one of every 26 out there and tried to interchange parts? This 26 stuff has gotten to be so crazy that LS Pro actually had some guy calling him up for information, warranty service, and parts for an engine that the dude bought from another company of manufacture. The engine didn't even have the same name.
If you're shopping price buy the cheapest and live with the results. If you're buying quality and performance go with the proven winners and don't look back. Some of you guys are penny wise and pound foolish.
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There are many R/C pilots (such as myself) that fly gas models occasionally, but really tend to enjoy flying glow and electric the most.
I have a Pacific Aero (sp?) Clipped Wing Monocoupe ARF. I bought it because I love the looks of the plane. Will I fly it a lot? No, because I tend to fly classic pattern or fun fly type models the most. I do not need a four hundred dollar engine sitting in this model for months on end without being used, when a $150 26cc Chinese two-stroke powers it just fine - when I do get around to flying it. See what I mean?
Yeah, the 26cc Chinese two-stroke engine doesn't produce as much power as my Zenoah G26 Lite that Ralph built for me or my Evolution 26GT with tuned pipe. So what? This is a sport model that doesn't need infinite vertical and wouldn't look right doing it anyway.
You say my cheapie Chinese engine won't last as long as the Zenoah? Probably not, but I seldom fly the engine/plane combo anyway. I honestly don't "care" if this engine isn't top shelf, as long as it does the job - and it does.
Not everyone is into maximum performance 3D or IMAC flying.
Ed Cregger