I am new to this site and to rc modeling. I bought a balsa usa phaeton 90 kit and I'm about 80% finished with it. I want to use a 4 cycle engine on it . It suggests using up to a 1.20 4 cycle engine. Can I use a bigger engine and can I get some suggestions on what brand to buy. Also if someone can help me or help me find a site on how and where to mount servos, fuel tank, etc. I probably should have bought a trainer first, but I wanted to get what I wanted the first time out.
Thanks

That is one sweet plane. Nice troll, I'm sure you'll catch someone....

You could probably put in a bigger engine, just it might be nose heavy. As for brands, Saito makes good 4 strokes.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...hType=Standard

O.S. are good

Coyote, if you are really new to this site, then I suggest more posts about how long a plane lasts when they try to learn on their own ot try to learn on a high performance plane. If you can't land a 5 lb. plane that will float in at at 5 mph, do you really think that you can land a 12 lb. plane that comes in at 15 mph??

Here we go![:@][:'(]

Coyote, I'll be a little more direct than others. People can't believe you chose this as your first R/C plane. It is a nice plane, but definitely not for beginners. The thought of you choosing this as a first plane is so outrageous that they think you fabricated the story to get attention. On the internet, this kind of thing is called "trolling".

I'll give you the benefit of doubt and provide a short list of the things you should do if you are serious.
1) Immediately stop work on the Phaeton. It is not a trainer plane and you should not even complete it before you've got experience with simpler planes. Put it in a safe place and get back to it when you have more experience.

2) Find a local R/C club or instructor. Some people have learned to fly without help. Most who try this crash their planes within the first 10-15 seconds. After going through several rounds of crashing and repairing, many give up. The few who survive usually go through way more repairs and $$ than was necessary. An instructor helps you avoid all of this.

3) Spend some time searching RCU for advice on trainers, radios, and engines. There's lots of choices, and these subjects have been thoroughly discussed.

4) AFTER you've made contact with an instructor, buy a trainer, radio, and engine. If you've already got a radio, you can use it in your trainer. Generally, people suggest .45 size ARF trainers. Since you've obviously decided to go bigger, you could also look at .60 size trainers. I haven't heard of people starting with 1.20 or larger engines, but I guess it's possible. However, the larger the trainer, the harder it cra$hes. If you prefer kits, and want something really big, the Sr Telemaster from Hobby Lobby might work for you.

Good luck

I think I'll jump on the troll train too....he has a kit that doesnt tell him where to put the servo's???

Good point Rog. Every kit I've ever seen (including the Phaetons) is pretty specific on mounting the fuel tank and the servos.

If there really is a chance that the thread is genuine, listen to Piper Chuck, he's been nice enough to tell you what we'd all like to.
Dennis-

For those who tried to answer my question, THANK YOU. I added a picture of my progress on my plane for those who think I'm trolling(whatever that means). I plan on finding someone to train me when I'm finished building it. The plans do NOT specify where to mount servos or fuel tank. It came with two sheets of prints and a small booklet that is not very informative. I'm not asking for donations from anyone, just a little info. Hope all new members aren't bashed for asking questions.

Coyote, thats a sweet plane and quite an accomplishment as a first build. Take pipers advise, that plane is more like a 3rd plane than a first.

I know you said "I wanted to get what I wanted the first time out." Well, that plane will be what you want the first time out and then it will be a pile of balsa seconds afterwards.

This hobby is great fun, but can be frustrating if you dont get off on the right foot. It would be terrible to invest all that time in that beautiful plane and then crash it on its first flight.

Start out with a trainer and have the phaeton kind of as a goal to reach in a year or so. I have been flying for two years and have a fair bit of flying and simulator time and I know I would still be a little nervous with that plane.

If you have any other questions, you will find that the folks here are generally super helpful. Good luck and welcome to our addiction.[8D]

Coyote ... I fly my students high wing trainer and its boring like heck for me, I actually hate it. When he flies it he says its twitchy ... that will put things in perspective. Also, it would not be a nice sight when the Phaeton's prop is sticking out of the club president's daughter.

Coyote, I'll be direct again. The reason the plans and instructions do not say exactly where to mount the radio and other equipment is because it is not a beginner plane. This kind of kit is supposed to be built by someone with experience. This experience will teach them how to properly locate these components, and how to properly link them to the appropriate places. Choosing this kind of kit as your first build means you know none of this. People here are very helpful, but I think there are few who want to take on the number of questions you are likely to have trying to complete this plane.

I think I speak for many others who wish you would get a trainer plane. The reason for this is first, because you are much more likely to have success learning with a trainer. It's not a right of passage thing (I learned on a trainer, so everyone after me has to too), it's because this is what works best. Even if you build the Phaeton well enough to fly, it's hard to imagine that you would ever learn to fly with it. An instructor may be willing to maiden it for you, but I doubt you will find one who would be willing to turn over the controls to you. It's just not the right plane to learn on. Bad things will happen so quickly that the instructor will be constantly recovering the plane for you. I've seen someone do exactly what you are doing, built a beautiful bipe. Brought it to the field, instructor flew it around a bit and then landed. All he got to do is watch. Instructor refused to fly it any more because he did not want to break someone else's plane. Is this what you want from the hobby? The second reason people suggest a trainer plane is because it will come with instructions that are written for beginners. It will teach you about radio and tank location, radio installation, balancing the plane, etc, etc, etc.

Nobody is trying to prevent you from enjoying this hobby, or witholding information from you. They are just trying, each in his own way, to help you.

coyote732,
Why do you come on here and ask a question and then ignore the advice you get. I've watched this thread from the start and that is exactly what you have been doing. I will add this bit to the thread.

I am an instructor at our field (6 new flyers taught last year). If you showed up with that plane asking to be taught to fly, I'd tell you to take it back home and get a trainer. There is no way I would every think about training you on a biplane. There is a reason why a trainer airplane flies slow and stable, that's so it will be easier for you to learn.

By all means, finish the Phaeton, it's a beautiful plane. After you finish it, hang it up in your workshop and save it. Get a trainer and learn to fly on that.

If this is going to be his trainer so be it, but lets not stop with the plane. I'd use a YS 140 and a JR 10X for a radio. And let the show begin. Dennis

Coyote,

As is usual for piper_chuck, he has tried to explain to you why that plane is not a good 1st plane in a very polite way. I bet I can speak for almost everyone when we say the pics of the build that you posted shows that this is not a troll post. BTW a troll is someone who posts a question or statement with no actual bearing or purpose just to get a rise out of everyone.

Anyway, the build looks wonderful and definitely shows you have the skill to do that part of the hobby. I personally do not own that plane but have seen one fly and they can be a handful for someone that has no experience in higher performance aircraft. Now this is not to say you cannot do it and there are people out there who started on a trainer and very quickly moved onto the second or third plane

For that matter I even trained one of my students last year on my Twist after he did one demo flight on my LT-40. He was a "natural" and maybe you will be also. If you have not done so already, if you can, purchase a simulator and give it a try or even better still, go to a local club if you have one close, and see if someone there will give you a demo flight on a buddy box. Then and only then will you know what you can and cannot do.

And just one more point, I have seen (which includes myself) full scale pilots who think that because they fly large high performance aircraft that this is a peice of cake. Once then get on the sticks, they quickly learn that orientation is a problem and so even decide that it is too hard and quit. Flying full scale is easy in respect that you can feel the plane, models do not give you the true feeling in the seat of your pants. The only thing that transfers to models from full scale is aerodynamics.

In any case, welcome to the hobby and to RCU.

Now as far as answering your original question, try posting it in the kit forum, you may get the answer you originally asked as far as the servos are concerned. When it comes to the engine, the best would be a YS110 or an OS120 Surpass or a Saito 150. Do not let the YS110 number fool you, that engine has gobs of power and puts out more than the OS120. The problem with YS engines is they are so popular and in demand it's hard to find one.