I am looking for some information on engine selection for this model. I recently purchased one of these and it seems like I saw somewhere on a thread that some people have put 2-stroke .61's and even bigger power up front.

I would like to find out what configurations can be (or have been) used and how to do it if I decide to go with the .61 size engine, (either an OS .61 FX or a Thunder Tiger Pro .61).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

T.

Do you want speed, vertical, or a little of both?

I have a 61FX that runs great but is gutless compared to my Rossi-60...

Also, if you can find a YS-60 (2 cy.) that would be perfect!

One of these days I will get a Dago or Voo-doo, and I will go for speed only!

I think a Saito-100 or YS-91 would be great if they are not too heavy up front-

Keep us posted as to what you decide

I built a couple of these for my friends. One has a 61fx sideways with a pitts underneath and the other a 91saito. Both are an excellent combination and the plane just moves! Sweet and fast. 61pro will also be good.

Hello, I have a WM Dago Red with a Saito 1.20. The engine is inverted with a Perry Pump and no muffler. I cut a hatch in the bottom rear of the fuselage and used about 2oz of weight to get it to balance. I get 130mph, straight and level, with a 12x13 APC and that number is from the radar gun

Thanks for the input guys, keep them coming.

Razor, I am mostly looking for speed, we fly at altitude, (about 6000 ft. ASL), so I need as much power as I can get without overdoing the weight.

tddave, did you have to add weight to the nose or tail?

For anyone who has built one of these, the instructions leave a little to be desired if you haven't done much building. So any other ideas/improvements/changes that can or should be made, please let me know.

T.

P.S. Dave, I like your choice of reading material in your shop. I guess it gives you something to do while you wait for the epoxy to cure? *just kidding*...

I have a Saito .72 in mine. Plenty fast for me. Seen a couple with OS 61's in them. Fast also. I pulled the retracts on mine and Epoxied the cavity they go in real good. Also epoxied the firewall to the fiberglass. Makes me feel better if nothing else. One great flying plane

I have seen Daves plane. He, no lie!~)

Joe

Tsawyer, I added the weight to the tail. I actually set the engine into the firewall about an 1/8", knowing that it would be nose heavy. Battery is in the back and the receiver is in the back. Definitely epoxy the landing gear bays. I didn't do it and I still regret it. I've had the gear break out a couple times.

Funny about the magazine, I never noticed it in the picture before. Also, I have your avatar tattooed on my shoulder.
I see we have the same tastes......I had him change the face to an original, otherwise the same.

Another trick that I use is thin CA for the tailfeathers. No epoxy to wipe away as you fiddle to get everything aligned. Just wick a bunch of thin CA in the joint and finish it off with some medium or thick at the fillet. I had this plane ready to fly in only a few nights.

Best of Luck.

Thanks for the kind words, Joe.

Just another teenage dirtbag, as the song goes.....

I run a os91surpass in mine and a radr gun got it at 128 with a 14x7 APC pattern prop

Maidened mine today, new OS 61FX, pitts muffler and APC 12 X 10. Despite being conservative on the given throws it still seemed very, very pitch sensitive. I triple checked the CG, and I needed about an ounce or so on the tail to offset the engine. Is the CG as shown in the manual correct? (128 mm from LE adjacent to fuselage) I flew three short (5) minute flights, and with about minus 15 - 20 expo dialed in (Futaba Super 8) it was still a bit "twitchy" in pitch. Any suggestions?

Thanks....

BTW, other than that is was perfect from the building table. NICE kit.

I balanced mine a couple millimeters nose heavy from the factory setting. Seems good to me.

Unfortunately, Mine went in hard today. Had a mid air with my flying buddy and his 1.50size H9 Mustang. Doing upwards of 100mph in the base/final turn and we hit. We do a lot of formation flying and knew it was only a matter of time until one of us took the other out. Broke my right wing off completely and I had an uncontrollable plane at that point. It took off his entire left flap and some of the wing in front of the flap. He nearly lost it a couple times but was able to get it pretty close in and set it down in the brush. No damage beyond the wing and he already has a spare wing. Mine is a total loss except the engine and radio gear should be ok--I hope.
Very, very spectacular and lots of good words from our buddies in the pits. Still a good show for all.
I'll have a new one in about 3 weeks and we'll go at it again.......

I got to maiden mine about 2 weeks ago, still having a little trouble with the control throws. It seems to be very sensitive so I am having to work with the expo and the amount, especially with the elevator. Flies great other than that. I ended up going with the Thunder Tiger pro .61 mounted inverted, so far have just left the stock muffler on it and have been flying with a 11X7 prop until I get the controls....well....under control. Take offs are a bit hairy but it lands much better than I thought it would, slows well and settles better than I expected.

T.

Checked CG again tonight, and with no gas it sits perfectly level on the GP CG machine at 128 mm from the LE. I am wondering if perhaps with 10 - 11 ounces of fuel on initial takeoff, and the long nose and fuel tank forward of the CG, the excessive pitching is caused by a too far foward CG. As I burned off about 1/2 tank after 5 minutes, it did seem to settle down (and I stopped shaking...) and all landings were no problem. I will try about a half tank next time out, and see if that settles it down initially, coupled with a bit less elevator. I have the 40 sized World P-51, with YS63 and it flies rock solid, really grooves. This is essentially the same wing planform, but the D.R.'s longer nose might be causing the differences in behavior...

I have mine set a little nose heavy and it flies great. I replaced the prop with a 14x8 and picked up about 8 miles more which put it at 136. I fly at the Anderson Aero Modelers in In. so if anyone close needs a radar check let me know and I will have my brother take care of you. I have found that it flies better nose heavy at the speeds I fly but if you fly slow it takes a lot of up elevator. But who flies a mustang slow

I propped it "back" to an APC 12 X 8 and increased the throws to =/- 15 mm on the elevator (I had it set at about 10 or 11 to be conservative) and the airplane flew two full tanks tonight like a completely different bird. Increased the aileron throws a bit as well, and it just got dialed in, like on rails. Probably a case of just a few things off a tiny bit, and some nervousness on my part which resulted in a twitchy first few flights.

Ensure your throws and CG are set to specs and all should be fine...