My feelings are if you want to particiapte in a hobby you participate, not just take the fastest, easiest means to barely get involved. As a nation we have become lazy and seem to think someone or everyone owes us the means to accomplish anything that we want to have or do. That problem extends into this hobby as well with many failing or refusing to learn basic skills required to particiapte. Learning how to mount an engine is a very basic skill. Learning how to center one is another very basic skill. Learning how to remove and reinstall a carb is pretty much a necessity. What happens when it gets dirty? Discovering that an engine manufacturer took the time to provide information on engine mounting and template making should have been easy to find when ordering from a website. That is unless the only web pages visited was the price and shopping cart page. I don't know many that limit themselves that severely.
I hear ya and I don't absolutely disagree. I called and talked to Henry on the advice of Bob P. No I did not explore the website, and yes a do know a little about engines.
What bothers me is the arrogance that goes along with some in this hobby. Everybody's lives a different life to different extremes in different areas. Let me explain.
I have been an AMA member since 1989 and my first plane was a LT 40 with an OS FP40 and it took me (with no help from anybody) 6 weeks to build. My second plane was a Sig Kougar and then a Commander. Did it all myself and did not even know the AMA existed until I went to fly them. I built 3 planes before I soloed. In the middle 90s and lastly in 2006 I went through burnout twice and sold out twice. The first time I sold 16 giant flyers to a gent who drove from WV. The maintanence was more than I had time for and all of my time went to RC. I have built more kits and ARFs than I care to remember. Whenever I would crash, I veiwed it as a positive since it gave me an excuse to try something different. For about 15 years I lived, breathed, ate, drank, read everything RC plane related.
Fast forward to today.When entering my 3rd venture into RC planes, I made a deal with the wife that I would not be consumed by this hobby again. I would not buy tools that I would use 2 times a decade to sit in the way in the garage. I promised that I would not spend the whole afternoon at the field hoping the wind would die for enought time for 1 flight while she waited at home. I am now enjoying the hobby again, but in a different way and at a different level and at a different speed. As part of the deal I enjoy other hobbies, also. (This helps with my OCD
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I am qualified and know how to mount an engine. I have assembled many World Model ARFs and every review calles attention to the clear template they provide for cutting relief for the muffler and head. It is a nice touch that makes cowl cutting neater and yes, eaiser. Quite a few of my friends here on RCU know I have a sense of humor and the title and large letters were more of an attempt at good natured emphisis more than demanding manufatures give in and make my job easier. The origional idea was "What should we demand from all manufactures as acceptable". Years ago, engines came with tools and shems for 4 strokes. Now they don't. Engines used to NOT come with glow plugs, and now they do. My DAs and FPE engines come with extended arms on the carb for throttle linkage while the CCRC, DL, RCGR and many others do not. Should we expect this or just say "any modeler should be able to figure it out so let them buy thier own hardware and FIX IT!
My point is that my involvement in this hobby is not what it was and it will never be, again. Any time saved is valuable. It is only by raising the demands and expectations will changes come about. Were it not for Sachs and Brisons changing the standard, everybody would be flying with magneto G62s and Qutra 75s on aerobatic planes.
It does hit my "hot button" when I ask the modeling community of RCU if they think we should send a message to companies asking them to raise the bar to make their product "throttle linkage friendly" or tell them "yes we want them to glue our hinges and install our control horns". All I asked is "Is it asking too DARN MUCH?" GO BACK AND READ THE ORIGIONAL POST. A simple yes or no was the answer I was hoping for. Not to be painted as somebody who does not know how to install an engine after 20 years of modeling, and if you don't know how to do that then you shouldn't be flying.
That is all I am trying to say.